By Bill Fletcher, Jr. (NNPA Newswire Columnist)
I was sitting at a Starbucks trying to mind my own business and right next to me two individuals were discussing the aftermath of the November 8th presidential elections. At one point, they began discussing the protests that have spontaneously spread across the United States in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s so-called victory.
I listened carefully when I heard them both express their opposition to the protests and their agreement that Trump must be given a chance. One of the two indicated that she would certainly protest, if Trump did something wrong, but that we needed to wait and see.
While I wished that I could have entered the conversation, I respected their privacy. Nevertheless, what I wish that I could have said runs something like this.
There is no giving Trump a chance. What would anyone hope to see happen? Seriously. Think about it. We have witnessed the rise to the Presidency of an open misogynist, racist and xenophobe. We are now watching appointments being made, including that of neo-fascists. Word continues to spread that the new administration intends on setting up a registry for all Muslims in the U.S. There is not one piece of this scene that can give anyone of conscience any degree of confidence that this incoming administration will be moderate and reasonable.
The youth who are protesting and those people who are speaking out against Trump understand the gravity of the situation we are facing. The incoming administration has made it clear that they plan on orchestrating an ultra-conservative agenda, irrespective of Trump’s campaign promises. An unsettling example of this is Medicare. Trump promised that Medicare would not be touched. Congressman Paul Ryan announced that he intends to end Medicare. The Trump team then started mumbling about “reforming” entitlement programs. You know and I know where this is going.
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