I'm trying to diffuse my rage in love, hope, and diligent work - but I'll tell you: The Green Party is dead to me.
I will never forget that night in 2016 when I watched them celebrate while they helped give the country over to fascists.
I will never forget that night in 2016 when I watched them celebrate while they helped give the country over to fascists.
Since many of you don't know, I'll tell the story. There's a local bar where I typically go with my friends to celebrate big events and watch debates and election returns. I was there on election night 2016. /1
The bar is separated by two areas; a raised portion where there are tables for the restaurant, and the lower bar area. All in one room. I was at the bar with my partner and friends. /2
Up above, the local Baltimore, MD Green Party chose this spot as their celebration space. There were news cameras. Their candidates for Senate, Congress, and Mayor were there. I know some of them personally from doing community work in the area /3
They were partying hard. As the drinks kept flowing, they got louder. Meanwhile, myself and the others down at the bar were watching the returns. /4
By later evening, when the rust belt states went to trump, we knew where this was going. It got quiet at the bar. Some folks were crying. The Green Party people got louder and more jovial. They weren't fucking paying any attention at all. /5
And that's when it really struck me just how tone deaf and self centered this group of people was. They took NO responsibility for what was happening. They couldn't even be bothered to notice. /6
I got ready to leave. I didn't need to stay and watch. One of the candidates, whom I was friendly with, came down - he was oblivious. I'll never forget the genuine shock in his face when he looked in my eyes and saw how upset I was. He knows I'm a historian of fascism. /7
Later we all learned about how tight trump's margins were in PA, MI, and WI. We saw the numbers that voted for Jill Stein. Even later we saw Stein photos with Putin, the Mueller Report, Cambridge Analytica targeting and everything else. /8
I have one friend, who was in my wedding, who I've had lots of debate with about the Green Party. He still insists they bear no responsibility because they were never obligated to help Democrats. The second part may be true, but I don't really talk to this friend anymore. /9
And quite frankly, I'm still white hot angry at him for what is really an ego-protecting mechanism. This is populism and people like him flat out refuse to listen. /10
So, fuck the Green Party. They're dead to me. They will always be the ones who helped give America over to the fascists. When it came to the crucial moment to show solidarity, they only cared about themselves. /11
My synagogue has security now. And I hold the Green Partiers partially responsible. Trust is shattered. /end
