Black Lives Must Always Matter

Monday morning started noisily about a block from the White House as jackhammers began removing a mural that was once a symbol of unity. One doesn’t have to be that old to remember when the mural was created. After the death of George Floyd in 2020, black people stood up and demanded justice. ‘Black Lives Matter’ was their call, and despite pushback from neanderlithic Republicans, a number of cities embraced them with various street murals. One of the biggest and most visible was the one in Washington, D.C. Just a block from the White House.

Felonious Punk was president and he railed against the mural when it was created. Now, in his second round of disastrous leadership, Punk was able to convince D.C.’s mayor Muriel Bowser to remove the 48-foot mural in return for consideration that some of the funding for D.C.’s operational budget would be preserved. Even as jackhammers were removing the asphalt on Monday, Republicans in the House of Representatives praised a stop-gap funding bill that would eliminate $1.1 billion in operational funding from the D.C. budget.

Europeans have a dark, brutal history of disrespecting people of color all across North America. From the moment the Mayflower landed, they threatened the lives of the red-skinned indigenous people living here. Before long, they began bringing black people, some from Caribbean islands, and many more from Africa, and forcing them into slavery. Europeans willingly, sometimes gleefully, shed the blood of black and red lives because they never considered them as humans, encoding that idea in their early laws. Wars were fought. Protests happened. People of color screamed, shouted, and cried over every shred of dignity, every drop of humanity, and every right they could wrench from the tight-fisted claws of white politicians.

Now, many fear they could be put back on boats, sent to lands they’ve never seen, and not allowed to return.

Throughout his campaign, Punk promised that “On day one, I will launch the largest deportation program of criminals in the history of America.” What he didn’t do was explain that his definition of ‘criminal’ includes everyone who disagrees with his policies, speaks out, or (checking notes) boycotts Tesla. No, that’s not a joke. Check Snopes if you want. The president referred to ‘illegal’ boycotts against the company whose stock price has suffered as Muskrat has spent his time fucking around with the US budget.

Immigration news fills our newsfeed every day. The arrest of a permanent resident over the weekend was enough to finally cause many to sit up and start paying attention. A group of some 200 deported prisoners were released by the country that was supposed to jail them, but they have nowhere to go. Military bases, especially those in the South, are being outfitted to act as detention and expulsion centers.

Last month, El Salvador’s far-right President Nayib Bukele “offered to house in his jails dangerous American criminals in custody in our country, including those of U.S. citizenship and legal residents.” While the deportation of US citizens is disturbing enough, we have to realize that it’s people of color, specifically black people, who are the most in danger. Speaking earnestly of his desire to make the slave trade great again, Punk said about El Salvador’s offer, “If we had the legal right to do it, I’d do it in a heartbeat.” 

“Look at Chicago,” Punk said. “The volume of crime they have and the viciousness of the crime. These people are horrible people. And if somebody thinks they’re going to be wonderful citizens someday, they’re wrong. It’s not going to happen.” He continued,” I’d love to get them the hell out of our country.”

In picking on Chicago, Punk is attempting to put a noose around the necks of black people. The intracommunity violence in that city has a long history. One has to be naive to think that Punk wouldn’t happily scoop up entire neighborhoods, without any pretense of a trial, both the guilty and innocent, and deport them.

Yesterday (Monday, March 10), the United States was placed on CIVICUS’s monitor list of potential human rights threats directly in response to the President’s rhetoric. “Restrictive executive orders, unjustifiable institutional cutbacks, and intimidation tactics through threatening pronouncements by senior officials in the administration are creating an atmosphere to chill democratic dissent, a cherished American ideal,” CIVICUS interim co-Secretary General Mandeep Tiwana said in a statement. “The Trump administration seems hellbent on dismantling the system of checks and balances which are the pillars of a democratic society.”

The U.S. is among 42 countries that CIVICUS rates as “narrowed” on freedom, which is the group’s second tier after “open” and used to signify countries where citizens face occasional violations of basic rights. ‘Closed’ would be the next step, joining Russia, China, and South Korea.

Black people have long been suspicious of this president. Black scholars are carefully noting how Punk’s rhetoric toward black people echoes the statement Adolph Hitler made before beginning the round-up of Jews. There is a deep awareness that just because there are not jackbooted stormtroopers at the door today doesn’t mean they won’t be there tomorrow.

This morning, a black rideshare driver automatically flinched as a police car passed him on the Interstate. A black receptionist quietly fought back tears as an older white person berated her. Black students cover their heads and run home from the bus stop in fear. These events occurred today, but they occur every day, in every city in the US. Punk’s America is racist as hell and too many people are embracing that sin.

Systemic oppression and mass incarceration of Black low-income communities, under the guise of public safety, is the American way. Today, Punk said that he would label protests against Tesla as ‘domestic violence,’ Too easily, the President could move to declare a state of emergency if protests of any kind were to begin to grow.

Many people are feeling helpless at the moment. Marches are dangerous and could incite acts of retribution. Boycotts could be deemed economic terrorism. Large public acts of any kind can make one a target.

What we can do, however, is influence our sphere of friends and acquaintances. When you witness racist jokes, microaggressions, or discriminatory comments in your daily life (at work, with friends, in public), find safe and appropriate ways to speak up. This could be a direct but calm challenge, a private conversation with the person, or offering support to the person targeted. Actively support and participate in initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in your workplace, school, community groups, or religious organizations. Donate to or volunteer with organizations that are actively working to address systemic racism through policy advocacy, legal action, community organizing, and direct services in areas like racial justice, civil rights, and poverty reduction. There is a lot that everyone can do to change the attitudes of people around them without being belligerent or unnecessarily accusatory.

However, be constantly aware that, in this current environment, saying anything to anyone could put you, your family, and your neighbors in danger. Consider the following safety guards.

• Prioritize Your Safety: Assess the context and potential risks before speaking out or taking action. Your safety and well-being are paramount.
• Choose Your Battles Wisely: You don’t have to engage in every single instance of racism you encounter. Focus your energy on actions that you feel are safe and impactful for you.
• Find Allies and Support Networks: Connect with others who are also working for racial justice. Having a support network can provide strength, encouragement, and safety in numbers.
• Focus on Systemic Issues, Not Just Individual Blame: When discussing systemic racism, focus on policies and systems rather than making personal accusations, which can be more likely to provoke defensive or hostile reactions.
• Use Education and Information as Your Primary Tools: Educating yourself and sharing information is a powerful way to contribute to change and can be less confrontational than direct activism in some situations.
• Self-Care is Essential: Fighting systemic racism can be emotionally taxing. Practice self-care and prioritize your mental and emotional well-being to sustain your efforts long-term.

Fighting systemic racism, and battling against this moronic President and his Apartheid-loving friend Muskrat is a marathon, not a sprint. Consistent, thoughtful action in your daily life, combined with civic engagement and community building, can collectively make a significant difference over time. Focus on actions that feel authentic to you and that you can sustain in the long run.

But do fight. The people who Punk wants to deport won’t be coming back if they ever have to leave. He will make it sound as thought it’s a matter of national security, but don’t buy the lie. We have to resist every step of the way.

Black Lives Still Matter. They always will.