Yesterday we saw the consequences of years of Trump fanning the flames of fear and distrust, and urging his followers to act on these impulses.
In my book Defund Fear, I describe Trump as an “architect of anxiety”; someone who tells us not to trust our neighbors down the block, at the border, or in distant lands. Trump used people’s fears to fuel marginalization and dehumanization. He promised to lock up or lock out all those he claims have caused the downfall of the nation.
And since the election, his focus has been on telling us not to trust our country’s democratic process. Our democracy has been compromised by the climate of scarcity, suspicion, and dehumanization that the fear-based model of safety has propagated.
Yesterday was a stark reminder that our work is far from over, that we must continue to move forward collectively and make transformational change for our communities. We must not allow the events of January 7th to overshadow the victory of January 6th, when Black-led, woman-led grassroots community-based organizing in Georgia elected Georgia’s first Black Senator and its first Jewish Senator. Georgia recognized that we are stronger and safer together.
We must continue to stand together and ensure that the new administration will advance our demands for a safer future.