Thread by @lacymacauley

Two years ago today, I was at an intersection in Charlottesville, with other antifascists and anti-racists, when a white supremacist rammed his car into the crowd.

The whole world sent thoughts and prayers.

But two years later, the US seems more fascist and racist than ever.

The first thing I heard, coming from the uphill side of the crowd, was a low death roar. I knew something terrible was happening.

I looked over and saw a grey minivan knocking into people. This was one of two cars that the white supremacist had hit, which stood mid-crowd.

The next moments were a blur.

I dashed without hesitation to the minivan, and realized that it had just been rear-ended.

Blood and injured people were everywhere. I joined a team helping a woman who was severely bloodied. It turned out all four of her limbs were broken or hurt.

Phone calls and messages turned into a mad rush to ensure that friends and comrades from Washington DC were okay. Not all were, but all were alive.

It was announced that afternoon that #HeatherHeyer was dead.

It seemed like everyone who had a voice was using it to condemn the attack and speak out against white supremacy.

It seemed like the US might be waking up to the rising danger.

But two years after Charlottesville, we have a president who continually sends out white supremacist messages and dog whistles.

We have ICE tearing people’s lives apart.

We have a continuous war on people of color, women, LGBTQ, indigenous, Muslims, migrants, dissidents, etc.

White supremacists are bigger and bolder than ever, shooting up Walmarts, marching through Portland, calling for attacks on migrant communities and activists who defend them. They are in the White House, the police departments, immigration control offices, churches, shops, bars.

The US under the current white supremacist regime is a mess.

So anyone pretending today that we learned something from Charlottesville is missing the larger picture.

The US is descending into fascism.