Trump is now calling concern about the coronavirus a hoax while also linking it to immigration. He said "open borders" were a public health threat.
People are going to die of this illness. Likely more people than would have if not for Trump's failed governance. He's preemptively drawing a narrative connection between those deaths and a scape-goated community.
This is all so very dangerous.
This is all so very dangerous.
Meanwhile, he is silencing health officials.
If it seems unlikely that Trump could successfully blame this on migrants, you have to remember that the fandom of a fascist is not anchored to the same reality that you and I more or less share. They're anchored to Trump and Fox News.
Trump: “Whether it’s the virus that we’re talking about, or the many other public health threats, the Democrat policy of open borders is a direct threat to the health and wellbeing of all Americans.” He is positioning migrants as an immediate threat to the survival of Americans.
Y'all see the racism Asian people are experiencing already. The violence is literally spreading faster than the disease. What do you think things will look like when more deaths happen and Trump continues to blame migrants? We need to be real about the threat here.
No matter how well US doctors respond, or how well the virus is contained in the coming weeks, this thing already has a death toll, and the person whose death was announced today won't be the last. Panic will spread and it will bring it the worst in some people.
Americans don't respond well to the death of even one American if they think foreign people or entities are to blame.
So what do we do? Head this off at every opportunity. We need to fight this fascist narrative here and now. It may be harder to assemble people in public if folks are panicked about the virus, so we need to put a lot of thought into digital responses and coordination as well.
We also need to be real about what community defense looks like as Trump's followers escalate their violence.
There will be violence against migrants, ppl perceived as migrants and ppl who are simply deemed migrants by racist, xenophobic people who want to attack them, and that's in addition to the escalating violence Asian people are already experiencing.
Also, help people understand what they can actually do about this situation. Knowing how to prepare for a situation and how to take on things you can actually control can help people calm down and focus their energies. Support that process and encourage others to do the same.
More panic leads to a more overwhelmed medical system, which means worse outcomes. And unfortunately, more panic means more violence. So be honest about the situation we're in, but also be measured and sensitive to people's fears. Panic is contagious.
Think about how you hope people will respond to this crisis and whether or not the way you are communicating encourages that response. Also, be ready to fight for people who are scapegoated for this thing. Don't wait for the violence to spread further.
Understand the potential impacts of Trump's fascist political statements about this crisis now. Throughout history, people have been unwilling to acknowledge the unthinkable until it was undeniable -- and that denial always comes at a cost.
I've found this article useful, in terms of giving people a calm and practical take on what they can do to mitigate the threat.
Circling back to the threat of violence: Targeted violence perpetrated by the state AND militant fascistic civilians, without ethical or legal constraint, is some late stage shit in the ascent of fascist leadership. We can't ever let it come to that.
Let's review Trump's recent actions: He makes the DOJ his personal corruption laundromat, he puts one of his stooges in charge of US intelligence, the DOJ forms a new task force focused on stripping ppl of their citizenship, he dispatches Special Ops ICE teams to sanctuary cities
Trump also took over the architectural style of federal buildings, mandating that they all be built in a classical style. This is in keeping w his idealization of a romanticized past -- the dream his followers want restored. There's more but I think you prob see what I'm saying.
I'm not saying this in a "let's panic" kind of way. Trump thrives on chaos. He wants our panic. So we can't give it to him. Be analytical, be strategic. Figure out how you can have a constructive impact and get ready to do it.
I've never believed that the ascent of full-on fascism in the US was by any means inevitable. It's not. But I do believe people who cannot process the possibility or recognize the lines that have already been crossed are at a disadvantage.
The threat exists, whatever you want to call it.
If you want to hear me talk more about the threat of fascism, you can check out the latest episode of Movement Memos. I'll try to refrain from making this thread any longer, but no promises. truthout.org/audio/getting-…
