A Point of Rigidity

We do not abandon each other.

In 2024 when anti-trans themed commercials were splashed across prime-time, sporting events, and local newscasts it represented the culmination of an ultimate failure of liberal politics to build a movement with real solidarity that would defend us against the attacks of the right.

Anti-trans politics have been a rising tide within the right for years, and the Democratic Party failed to answer those attacks in a meaningful way, and so the attacks gained traction. In the immediate aftermath of Trump’s re-election, many party “strategists” are rushing to throw trans people under the wheels of so-called pragmatism, arguing that we had to secede some ground to the right if their party was to remain in the mainstream, win elections, and reverse the damage that has been done.

It is repugnant. Those that push it are showing us who they really are, an enemy. A slower version the voracious hatred of the other party.

Building coalitions and alliances means compromise; but not on the subject of who is human and deserving of human rights. To do so is not only morally wrong, it is a losing strategy.

Immigration is a stunning example of when we do not articulate and push for solidarity, we end up in a downward spiral of capitulation and powerlessness. 

For decades Democrats have tried to play tough on immigration to undercut Republican electoral gains on the issue. Obama was reviled by immigration activists as the “Deporter and Chief” because that administration was determined to beat the Republicans at this cruel game. That led to the election of Donald Trump in 2016. Joe Biden did the same thing during his administration. Look at where we are now. Sacrificing others who have no choice in their sacrifice wins us nothing, and only advances the cause of cruelty.

We cannot ever back away from defending the basic humanity and right to exist of any one of us because of who we are. There is a reason why after the Holocaust was ended and exposed a maxim of “never again,” was adopted.

Those who are attacked by fascism as it rises to power are groups that have always been marginalized and discriminated against. They, more than those of us who are assigned a more privileged class, are intimately familiar with how the ruling classes oppress and exploit everyone else. Marginalized people have lived with oppression constantly, and they have defended themselves, fought back, and won. All of us are stronger with them by our side. Solidarity not only builds power through numbers, it builds it by adding new perspectives and ideas on how to fight in this crisis.

It gives us back what the forces of oppression and hatred have stolen from us, ourselves.

We do not abandon each other.