Some of the thousands making voices heard in Denver last night
Almost on cue, the right wing, authoritarian blowhards in their assorted blogs were issuing threats and warnings to the "left wing brats, libtard punks and apes" disrupting cities across the nation. This was in the wake of the Trump electoral coup d'état. From assorted "alt-Right" bloggers we have now beheld warnings to the effect that once Trump assumes power in January "these rat-faced apes" can expect to be hauled into behavior modification "boot camps" and "taught a lesson". What can they expect? "Mild water boarding alternating with sleep deprivation, to start" - then being force -read all of Trump's books. Jeezus Peace, sounds almost like Chairman Mao's "re-education camps" during the Cultural Revolution.. I guess it takes a tyrant to know one and use a former one's methods, eh?
The funny thing about these Rush Limbaugh-lubbing, cigar chomping characters is while they cherish their 2nd amendment rights - to carry and collect as many weapons as they choose- they have no use for any other amendments - especially the first and the fourth. I have news for these alt-Right folks, you're going to see a lot more protests especially on inauguration day.
These energized citizens, like in Denver last night - who came about by the thousands to march - aren't just protesting for the hell of it or to act like "spoiled brats". They feel under threat by a grade A asshole, whose stark racism attracted enough red state bumpkins and others to vote for a crass pig billionaire who has no use for them or theirs. They could as well be members of 'Black Lives Matter' for all Trump cares. He only channeled their stupid rage to get them to cast ballots for him.
The thousands who came out last night in Denver managed to block vehicular intersections around downtown backing up traffic for blocks to exercise their first amendment rights. Drivers were patient, as the Denver Post reported, understanding that and also delivering thumbs ups and peace signs. The protestors themselves covered a vast sampling from across the demographic spectrum including LGBTQ couples, Hispanics, blacks, poor homeless whites as well as college kids who now fear Trump and his denizens will allow student loan rates to spike (see my previous post).
Kayla Styles, 25, of Metropolitan State University, spoke for many when she said (quoted in today's Denver Post):
"I'm here because I fear my rights will be taken away and my loved ones' rights. "
She added that she is petrified the Trump administration will not only trample on the rights of people of color but also the LGBTQ community. She has good reason to fear, because already news reports have come through of hate crimes across the nation committed by pro-Trump baboons wearing the signature red Trump caps.
Denver attorney David Lane, also quoted by the Post, nailed it when he said:
"I am witnessing the first amendment at its best. Thousands and thousands have taken to the streets to protest the election of a racist, misogynist, xenophobic man".
One 80 -year old woman who "survived World War II" - escaping from a death camp- was also part of the protest. She noted she'd seen similar events before and now expressed fear of what may happen again.. She has good reason to fear when you see and hear Trump supporters blustering about taking protestors and objectors to "camps" after Trump is sworn in. Will we all stand by and watch as a re-enactment of the Hitler-spawned Reichstag fire takes place? Will we wait to see a repeat of the "Enabling Act" that abolished the German constitution and citizen rights?
She and the other protesters then headed past the Pepsi Center and the Denver Nuggets game, disrupting a bit of traffic, before heading to I-25 where they entered the highway and blocked traffic. Note here, by the way, that when spontaneous (unplanned) marches occur traffic blockage is often a byproduct because of the large masses of people involved. It is not intentional but rather a consequence of the act of protest itself and most citizens caught up in it understand that though a number of Trump supporters didn't. Like our innominate blogger they issued threats of what will happen after Trump gets in and starts fouling his White House nest.
At the end, community activists assembled and articulated their fight against bigotry and hatred. They railed against Trump - the man they said "had made intolerance, racism and misogyny acceptable to much of the electorate."
Doug GoodFeather, a representative of the American Indian Community, summed up the night's events:
"I'm just a pebble but a pebble can be very irritating in a shoe. Let's all be pebbles."
Let us indeed be "pebbles" and ensure the Trumpies every footfall en route to authoritarian fascism is rendered excruciatingly painful.
One last thing: It's really choice reading the blogs of these blowhards about how the "punks need to just accept reality and settle down" when that is the last thing they would have done if Clinton had won. By now, if the election tables had been turned, they'd be fire -bombing black churches and synagogues and lynching or torturing any gays or Latinos they found wearing HRC apparel. But - IF they could have accepted Hillary without batting an eyelash- then they have room to complain about the anti-Trump protests now. If not, they don't.
See also:
http://smirkingchimp.com/thread/henry-giroux/69802/a-call-for-resistance-in-dark-times
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