Thread by @jeffisbluenow

1/ In honor of International Women’s Day, I want to tell you a story about a woman who changed a country, and also a story about how the People can take power back from a corrupt and dictatorial government. I’m writing, of course, about the …
#InternationalWomensDay

2/ …People Power Revolution in the Republic of the Philippines in 1986, and Corazon (Cory) Aquino, who went from politician’s wife to President of the Philippines. Ferdinand Marcos was elected President of the Philippines in 1965, re-elected in 1969, and amidst growing…

3/ …civil strife due to his corrupt administration, declared martial law, jailed his political opponents, and shut down newspapers and radio stations critical of his administration.

4/ Accusing the main opposition leader, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino of a bombing (that was actually committed by Marcos associates), Marcos had him convicted and sentenced to be shot, then imprisoned him for 8 years before exiling him to the US for medical treatment. After three…

5/ …years in the US, Aquino attempted to return to the Philippines in 1983 to oppose Marcos, but was assassinated immediately upon his arrival at Manila Airport. The public outrage that mounted after Aquino's assassination built the foundations of the Filipino popular…

6/ …democratic movement. The government's investigation into the assassination left the truth hidden, spurring significant political unrest. Through public protests throughout Manila, led by Aquino's wife Cory, Aquino's followers demanded the truth.

7/ Working with the institution that most supported government change, the Catholic Church and Cardinal Jaime Sin, Cory Aquino mobilized a popular democratic movement.

8/ The Church gave Aquino access to the Church’s radio station, Radio Veritas, which she was able to use to broadcast news of her husband’s assassination, which had been suppressed by Marcos. Over 2 million people came to his funeral.

9/ Under pressure from outraged Filipinos and even from the US, Marcos held “snap” elections on Feb 7, 1986, with Cory Aquino running against him. After a grossly fraudulent election that declared Marcos the winner, the opposition shifted gears and launched a multi-faceted…

10/ …nonviolent resistance movement, led by Cory. Following the legacy of her husband, Cory Aquino became a leader of the pro-democracy movement in the Philippines.

11/ Ninoy Aquino had once declared that "the great ‘legitimizer' of government is the ballot, not the bullet," and as such, Cory continued her husband's legacy of nonviolent resistance for accountable government. Cory Aquino announced, "I'm not asking for violent revolution.

12/ This is not the time for that… now is the way of nonviolent struggle for justice. This means active resistance of evil by peaceful means.”

13/ Using Radio Veritas, her movement called for mass boycotts of businesses with ties to Marcos or his regime, including banks, media, and foreign companies. On Feb 15, Aquino held her own swearing-in ceremony, taking the oath of office.

14/ Within a week after her swearing in, military leaders withdrew their support from Marcos. Again, Radio Veritas was used to call out the Filipino people, this time filling the main square in Manila, Epifanio de los Santos Avenida, in support of the military.

15/ In the next days, the pro-democracy movement led to a massive demonstration of over 2 million Filipinos. The massive display of solidarity led to more military defections. To his credit, Marcos ordered military units loyal to him to not fire on protesters. On February 25,…

16/ …his position becoming untenable, with even the US government telling him it was time to go, Marcos and his family were taken by US military helicopter to the US Clark Air Base, and from there flown via Air Force transport to Hawaii, where Marcos would die in exile a few…

17/ …years later. With Marcos’ departure, Cory Aquino was sworn in as President of the Philippines.

18/ The parallels between Ferdinand Marcos and our own would-be autocrat are all too clear. Both viewed their office as a means to wealth. Both sought power for the sake of power. Both built personality cults.

19/ Now Trump has declared his own "national emergency." He hasn't seriously gone after civil liberties or tried to declare martial law - yet. But there is news reporting out of San Diego that DHS is compiling a dossier of journalists and other US citizens who have visited...

20/...migrants in the Mexico border areas. And who doesn't have doubts that Trump wouldn't step down if voted out or removed from office? He's already mused about being President for life, like his buddy Xi of China.

Who will be the woman who leads The People Revolution here in the US? Fortunately we have several who just might do it for us! /end

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