Back To The Streets

The Midterm Elections are over and for #theresistance, it's kind of a mixed bag. Democrats now have control of the US House, won back some State Governorships, but lost ground in the US Senate.

But now it's time to get back to what has been a major part of the opposition to Trump, direct action. In the last two or so years, I have seen more rallies, marches and disruptions than since the opposition to the post 9-11 "War on Terror". Women, Muslims, Latinx, LGBT, people with disabilities have all be in the streets. The rise of the "Alt-Right" has been met with the United States' first real large-scale anti-fascist actions.

The campaign may have shifted a lot of activists focus to the ballot box, instead of the the streets. Time that would have been spent rallying and marching shifted to phone banking and canvassing.

But there are opportunities to act in the streets as we speak. The migrant caravan is creeping towards the Southern Border, and right-wing radicals are already planning to be there, if not on their way. Progressive activists would be useful monitors and chronicles, as well as being able to provide mutual aid. While a Democratic House would be able to defund the border wall or ICE, the political will may not be there. Actions in the halls of power to this end may be a great way to start the new term. The transgender community is Trump's latest target, and they too will probably be planning and staging events.

"What about 2020" one may ask. That's a ways down the road, it may be a matter of striking a balance between electoral action and direct action. By Spring of 2019, there should be a few candidates with clear intents, but the communities affected now by Trump's policies will still be around, and still need assistance, etc.