By Isabelle Mercado
The first few months of 2017 saw a remarkable spread of resistance and mass organization across the U.S. and throughout the world. Discontent with the resurgence of alt-right ideologies, climate change denial and xenophobic policies galvanized people across the globe to stand up and rise in solidarity with the oppressed and against the oppressors. Closer to home, LREI students have participated in a number of actions. In the first two months of 2017 alone, LREI students joined The NYC Student Walkout, protests against the DAPL in support of environmental protection and The Women’s March in D.C. and NYC, to name a few.
However, in recent months the resistance against these matters has been losing serious momentum. The horrors of the new administration have become increasingly normalized and commonplace. Important issues and matters such as the DAPL, the crisis in Flint, Michigan and the mass deportation of immigrants have received less and less attention in mainstream media. As a society we have allowed ourselves to become desensitized and increasingly complacent.
It’s easy to understand why, as keeping up with politics and updates on the Trump administration is a task that is both overwhelming and disheartening. It can seem that despite mass effort and hard work to move forward we keep moving back.
- As of this Sunday (05/14/17) construction of the DAPL has been completed and has officially begun transporting oil. There has already been an oil spill.
- On April 26th President Trump signed an executive order that aims to open up the land of national monuments to oil and gas development.
- On May 1st, Trump signed yet another travel ban blocking citizens of six predominantly Muslim countries from entering the US.
And that’s just a few examples.
Now is a frightening time for people of color, the LGBTQ community, the immigrant and undocumented population, Muslims and many more. Now more than ever is the time to stand up and support the people and communities being targeted by the Trump administration. We must not allow ourselves to grow complacent and become cynical. In the words of the indigenous warrior and scholar Sakej Ward, “A ‘helpless’ population is a hopeless generation that can be easily controlled.”
As a community with a many of privileged and progressive individuals we must stand up and use our voices to organize, advocate and resist. In the words of LREI alum Angela Davis, “We live in a society of imposed forgetfulness, a society that depends on public amnesia.” We must continue to stand with Standing Rock and the other indigenous people whose rights and wellbeing continue to be violated and ignored. We must remember the stories of those have died unrightfully at the hands of the police and continue to fight to end racial profiling and police brutality. We must continue to uplift and stand alongside those who are most vulnerable in this new administration. We must continue to resist and to remember.
“It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains.” -Assata Shakur