We’re approaching one year since the 2024 election, and I can’t help but reflect on my decision not to vote for either candidate. Though some might view that decision as impulsive and naive, I could not in good conscience participate in a system that I felt was morally corrupt.
Following Donald Trump’s presidential election, my concern for the future of the United States was at an all-time high. The previously theoretical rise of fascism quickly turned into a reality, arriving full force in rhetoric on social media, in the streets of American cities, at the nation’s borders and overseas. It seemed to me, at the time, that the geopolitical state of the world was rapidly deteriorating.
Fascism is characterized as a far-right, authoritarian and ultranationalist political ideology defined by a dictatorial leader, strict social and economic control and forcible suppression of opposition, all of which are demonstrated in Trump’s actions throughout his presidency so far. His administration actively suppressed opposition by censoring protests online and using authoritarian rhetoric against national allies like Canada to display power.
These moves point to the danger of fascist ideology, in which checks and balances no longer matter and the dictator has full control over what and how his followers think, believe and behave. This danger is evident in the way that Trump’s administration has outright ignored court orders, and threatened to form a “thought police” seeking to punish immigrants for free speech. He has also weaponized race in matters of immigration and fueled white supremacy.
Even amid these troubling realities, I have regained hope over the past few months through leftist movements, thinkers and activists uniting across their respective ideological differences in solidarity against this rise in fascism. Watching New York’s socialist movement rally behind Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, seeing protests in Los Angeles against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) concerning use of force on immigrants and witnessing the courts fight for justice in cases like the closing of Alligator Alcatraz gives me hope in the power of people’s ability to unite for the common good.
Socialists, communists, anarchists and other left-leaning groups reached this level of organization to combat the surge of far-right ideology that took place after the Republican Party’s election victory. This is not to suggest that the devastation many households faced under Trump’s policies was worth it, but it did push many on the left to action against what they viewed as the Republican Party’s abuse of the U.S. democratic system.
I think nothing shocked the nation’s collective political unconscious and individual disheartened Americans more than the current administration’s fervent push towards the past. The rise of fascism and unchecked capitalist interest characterized by increased corporate power and influence in the government is a danger to every American, regardless of class, race, gender or any other intersectional identity.
Despite these ongoing concerns, witnessing the growth of unions, solidarity groups and other activist organizations against the capitalist sentiment of “profits over people” has been encouraging to witness. If you or others are looking to get involved in resistance efforts, consider checking out the No Kings protest in St. Louis on Oct. 18.
Much of this organizing power depends on the rapid circulation of information made possible by social media. Though it has its pitfalls, the presence of social media has revolutionized the field of journalism and the way we interact with the news. Social media has helped news travel faster than ever, keeping more people informed about real-time events.
The same platforms that quicken news delivery have magnified digital hatred. Hate on social media serves a political role that can be harmful or helpful to either political party depending on its use. In this case, hate is used as a powerful motivator. I believe the collective disdain for Trump is partially responsible for unity among the left; we are united in hate. To me, he has become nothing more than a symbol of a patriarchy that sets the standard of oppression and seeks conflict rather than global peace.
Under Trump’s leadership, we can hopefully learn once and for all what the people should never allow to happen again. So that the pain that his administration has brought and will continue to bring upon so many people not just in the U.S. but globally may not be repeated again.
The discourse that resulted from Trump’s actions in only the first nine months of his presidency is necessary for pushing society towards a more just and equitable world. We must learn from our mistakes in real time. We no longer need to refer back to history–we are actively living through it now.
