The popular vote differential between the Democratic and Republican candidates for US President was 1.7%. 49.9 percent of voters put a tyrant in the White House; 48.3 percent lost. The incoming administration (it does not have power, yet) is continuing the vitriolic hateful attacks on immigrants and transgender people that it believes won it the election.
And, last week I was made aware of just how quickly people cave. People who would tell you they'd have acted differently in late 1930s Germany, or during other periods of generalized terror, fingerpointing, othering. People who think they're activists, who think of themselves as fighting for justice.
A little background: A U.S. Congressional representative is trying to make a name for herself by writing a law directed at the first - and so far, only - out transgender member of Congress. Despite a prohibition on writing laws that single out people or enterprises, the House passed her law forbidding the use of Congressional women's bathrooms by transgender women. Two other Representatives stood up quickly and said, "Here, use this bathroom, and let's get on with doing real work." The Representative targeted by the bill said the same thing, "not here to fight about bathrooms, here to do real work" for the people she represents.
Two weeks ago, this happened: The Representative who wrote the law was on a panel talking tech policy. The room was full of people - probably people from a number of organizations that work for a free and fair internet, net neutrality, low cost broadband, etc. Probably organizations that have DEI programs and inclusivity statements and nonharrasment policies. Part way through the panel, an acquaintance of mine stood up and asked the room
"Are you fighting for a fair internet, or are you working for big tech? Technology will either be a force for justice, liberation and resistance to authoritarianism, or it will be a tool for the automation of tyranny, exploitation and greed. I know which side I’m on. I’m asking other tech advocates to figure out where they stand."
They had with them a trans pride flag. They were immediately approached by security and removed from the room. But their questions lingered.
Let's be clear. They were not addressing the stage or the Representative. They were addressing the room. The tech policy wonks. The activists. From organizations you and I may have supported in the past. And NONE of the people in that room stood with my acquaintance. NONE of the other attendees left the room when they did. NO ONE stood with them.
This is heartbreaking. And awful. And scary.
The first rule of fighting authoritarianism is DO NOT OBEY IN ADVANCE. No anticipatory obedience. (See Timothy Snyder, On Tyranny, and every other book written about authoritarianism.)
Another good rule (not from Snyder, from me) is to READ YOUR OPPONENT'S PLANS WHEN THEY PUBLISH THEM. Project 2025. And this synthesis across right wing groups to wipe out progressive civil society.
I bet if I were to ask, the people in that room (or, extrapolating from the election results, 1/2 of the people in that room) would tell you they fight for justice. That they were there in opposition to the Representative. That they care about an internet for all. Well, I can tell you this from watching what happened in that room. When the moment mattered, they didn't. Not 1/2 the room. Not one person.
Standing up for what's right when it's easy is easy. Standing up for what's right when it's hard, and scary, and dangerous? That's what protecting democracy and fighting for our rights takes now.
That room failed. That's terrifying.
This scares me. Scarier than the rhetoric and threats of the incoming Administration is the thought that people I hope will have my back, won't. That 48.3 percent of the country will take the electoral loss and give up, or only focus on the next election, or decide some people, some issues can be sacrificed.
What would you have done? Really? I hope each of us will prepare to fight, safely and effectively, at big moments and small ones. This Administration has made it clear what it wants to do. We who it targets must take care of ourselves and stand with each other. Real allies will also stand.
