Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Liberty
When writing about current events, historians often reference a “before time” to help provide context for a recent crisis. During the darkest moments of the peaceful yet powerful marches following the murder of George Floyd, we were reminded of the Civil Rights movement of the 60s and the adversity that activists were forced to face back then. A reminder of the past works as a mantra of sorts, to show that our democracy is a resilient force: we’ve been here before. We’ve done it once and we’ll do it again. We will get through this, together. Our quest for a more perfect union will carry on.
But there is no “before time” in U.S. history to draw upon for what we face today. What we’re living through is unprecedented, and the actions we’re taking have no blueprint written in that history. Donald Trump’s quest to break our democratic system is in overdrive, and his ultimate goal of becoming America’s dictator is within his sights. The only force that can prevent him from turning this government of the people, by the people, and for the people into a government of Donald Trump, by Donald Trump, and for Donald Trump is us. We The People. The pace at which the administration is moving must be matched or exceeded by the pace and resolve of our resistance.
Make no mistake, that pace is blistering. In less than 4 months, Trump has signed executive orders banning DEI, declaring an emergency at the southern border, and recognizing only two sexes. He’s moved aggressively and recklessly on tariffs, carried out mass deportations without any regard for due process, and has alienated our long-standing allies abroad while cozying up to authoritarian regimes. He’s also enriched himself to the tune of billions of dollars in holdings from his corrupt $Trump meme coin scheme. The Department of Justice has become his in-house law firm who he deploys to retaliate against anyone he perceives to be an enemy of his regime, and RFK Jr. is out here suggesting we take Vitamin A to protect ourselves and our children against measles. Trump is waging an all-out assault against our civil society, our freedoms, and our health.
The responsibility we must bear to push back against this runaway train will, at times, be daunting. But if we continue to respect and uphold the rules established in the Constitution, and to demand the rights promised to us by our Founding Fathers, we will not fail to succeed. Whenever we gather to march peacefully and to freely voice our opinions, we become an unstoppable force against which no wannabe autocrat can prevail. Every grain of sand we throw into the gears will slow the march of authoritarianism and fuel the flames of our cause.
So how do we do unprecedented things in an unprecedented time? If you’re reading this post, you’ve probably already completed the first step by joining the fight to save our nation. That’s not hyperbole, but a simple fact. The next step for you now, and for all of us really, is to stay eternally vigilant. Don’t tune out the latest outrageous act of this administration, whether it be the performative posts from Kristy Noem as she cosplays G.I. Jane, or the daily rants from the president in which he blatantly lies to your face. Their goal is to flood the zone: to either overwhelm and exhaust you, or to get you to tune out and accept the abnormal as your new normal. Instead, let the news of the day be your daily dose of caffeine, keeping your pilot light of resistance burning and ready to roar.
Next: don’t forget that the most important rally is always going to be the next one. Your presence matters and your participation is vital. Sitting it out is easy, especially when outside forces bombard you with excuses to stay home or claims that your actions don’t matter. Just know that when you aren’t there it won’t be as big as it should have been and therefore not as effective as it could have been. Size matters, especially to Trump; we need to show him that the numbers are on our side.
Remember that the work is not done when the rally disperses. As an individual, the actions you take in the days between big events are just as crucial to the success of our movement. You must get the word out and recruit others in a way that works for you. Set a democracy-saving goal for every week, be it a letter writing campaign or convincing others to join you at the next rally. Find the social media feed of a 50501 group from a red state and support them. Start your own chat group and brainstorm how you can act locally. Stay connected. Like the old recruitment posters featuring Uncle Sam said, we need you! So please help us do everything in our power to protect our democracy.
Finally, don’t forget the lessons we’ve learned from the “before times” of other countries—about the dangers of inaction. Desmond Tutu famously said of South African apartheid, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” And one of the most disturbing things about Nazi Germany was the number of people who claimed they hated Hitler and Nazis, but then did nothing to stop his rise to power or the horrors that came after. Today, people often say, “If nine people sit down at a table with one Nazi without protest, there are 10 Nazis at the table.” We look back on history now and reject the idea that it was acceptable to stand on the sidelines in those times of extreme injustice. Our approach can be no different in the midst of a threat to our democracy and our constitutional rights to free speech, due process, and civil liberties. It's no longer enough to simply want our democracy to persist; we all have a civic duty to stand up and protect it. We can’t let ourselves give in to the temptation to sit on the sidelines and let this great, messy democracy fall. To do nothing, in these times, is to be complicit.
So keep your fire burning, and draw strength from the knowledge that your voice is as important as any other in the fight to save our nation. Draw strength from the knowledge that millions in the U.S. and across the globe are ready to stand with you. Your time is now. And you’re not alone.
Enjoyed this article? Get updates on the movement, volunteer opportunities, and more by clicking below.