United We Stand

Friends,

It’s difficult this evening for me to think about much else than my impressions from my participation in the local “No Kings Day” demonstration and in gratitude for those held throughout the nation and internationally. I am grateful to Invincible and other organizers for the well maintained discipline that provided for our safety and for the uplifting music that brought joy to the seriousness of our gathering today,

The primary success of the rallies was to demonstrate just how many Americans are willing to confront the current juggernaut of the Trump administration. But the negative “No Kings” opposition rallying cry has run its course, and we now need to establish a positive strategic plan to take advantage of the enthusiasm and support the demonstrations have created. In other words, mass movements initiated by demonstrations are only a necessary precursor to the much more difficult preparation for how best to establish a sustained and well-supported movement.

I have been looking to what made the Indian independence movement and our civil rights movement successful, and how it may well inform how we are to proceed in our campaign to confront the frightening, well established power base of the Trump administration.

At least three specific elements are missing from the current anti-Trump movement compared to the successful strategic plans of the American civil rights movement and the Gandhi’s Indian independence movement.

First, the movements had specific and identifiable goals. For the civil rights movement it was ending Jim Crow laws and passing voting rights administration. For Gandhi it was winning Indian independence from England. The goal to depose Trump and to restore democracy is too broad. I believe a more effective uniting goal for most Americans might be the protection of children. How are our children now endangered by the threat of autocracy and the neglect of the health and welfare of all of them? What are specific issues that most threaten our children and can we provide a “poster case” around which we can rally. Francis Perkins, for example, used the inhumane child labor laws as a successful issue as a base from which to advocate for a broader range of labor laws.

Second, these movements were inspired and sustained by a common spiritual base, King’s Christianity and Gandhi’s Hinduism. We cannot today offer a common religious reference point, but we know from how moving it has been to read about the suffering of children in Gaza, and we could apply that spiritual sentiment to our current child neglect issues.

Third, the civil rights and independence movements had powerful, spiritually motivated leadership committed to nonviolence. I am wary of charismatic leadership, but an exemplary person with strong character and vision is needed. Unfortunately no one person fills that role at present.

And finally, both movements provided serious training in nonviolent direct action. Gandhi believed nonviolent resistance needed as much training as a soldier preparing for war. Much experience now informs a nonviolent training program, and a number of groups are providing such programs. Can a training regimen be centrally organized especially in the face of likely opposition from the administration?

In sum, I believe that unless the current nascent mass movement against autocracy has articulate, strategic, heartfelt leadership that is able to inspire people willing to prepare and perhaps sacrifice on its behalf we will not be successful. [At this point I know that for my vision to have integrity I should now express my own personal commitment to participate and even lead as I have in the past.. I cannot lead at this time, but I will commit to participation as I am able.]

Regrettably some form of dramatic event will likely test our resolve. It appears the Trump administration is actively trying to instigate enough violence through ICE or by violently abusing nonviolent protesters that these aggressive acts will elicit some form of violent response which will then justify full mobilization of armed forces to control the movement with various forms of suppression.

It is my commitment to end my Saturday Evening Posts on a more positive note than I have above. I find deep gratitude and admiration for those who have demonstrated that nonviolent movements are possible and effective. I have studied hundreds of examples, in addition to our civil rights and Indian independence, and it is a profound inspiration to learn that people, like those in today’s demonstrations, can and will stand up against tyranny. And may it continue to be so.

Peace,
Tom