Sights & Sounds from #OUTNOW Volunteers in DC
Week 1

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RefuseFascism.org has called for masses of people to converge and stage nonviolent mass protest in Washington, DC during the impeachment trial in the Senate to demand the whole Trump/Pence regime be removed from power—#OUTNOW!—because they are fascist and pose a catastrophic danger to humanity. Volunteers have responded from around the country and have been on the ground in DC for over a week and the responses they are getting when they take this message out to the people throughout DC reveal a visceral hatred for Trump. However, as of now, growing numbers of people have not yet responded to this call in a way corresponding to the need, or the stakes, of the immediate battle—when a fascist President in the world’s most powerful imperialist country is both under impeachment and attempting to further consolidate his fascist regime. This is a real window, but it could close fast! This is a problem that everyone—in DC and across the country—needs to be part of fighting to transform—by volunteering to travel to DC as part of this effort, by donating financially to support the work going on there, by spreading the word of this effort online, and by organizing or joining #OUTNOW protests in cities across the country. Find plans for a day of mass protest in DC, with satellite actions around the country, on Wednesday, January 29, here.

The following include sights and sounds from some of the efforts that have been undertaken by the RefuseFascism.org volunteers.

Responding to this call from Refuse Fascism, volunteers came to Washington, DC, to seize the moment of Trump’s impeachment trial and step up the fight to get Trump/Pence #OUTNOW!

Several other groups were also in DC “Swarming the Senate” to put pressure on senators.

People got on buses from New York and other cities to come to DC for the January 18 Women’s March. Refuse Fascism and the Revolution Tour both had a strong presence at the march in DC.

One of the volunteers wrote this reflection:

If ever there were a time to protest, this is the time. A journalist from Switzerland told one of our volunteers: “Do people in this country even know what’s happening? Your president’s on trial! Where are all the people?” When I told my Uber driver this story, this resonated with him: “I get embarrassed to travel because people ask me, what is happening in America? Why are people letting this happen?”

Yesterday thousands poured into the streets for the Women’s March in Washington and around the country. Even though the numbers were far fewer than previous Women’s Marches, the people who came were driven by a deeply felt desire to see Trump removed from power. I was on a bus that came from New York City to join the Women’s March. The bus ride itself was transformative for new people who met us. Some people went from wondering why there weren’t more people coming to DC to actually being part of a force consciously working to change that and join the #OUTNOW movement.

We impacted thousands in DC at the Women’s March. People from all over the country joined the #OUTNOW contingent on the spot, taking up the signs, getting out tons of stickers and flyers, collecting donations, buying beanies and T-shirts, taking up our chants very passionately. When we said “Trump/Pence OUT NOW! RIGHT NOW!” people were really feeling the “RIGHT NOW!”

Still the question remains, will this be yet another time where people protest and then go back to normal? Or will we wrench growing numbers of people to see the need to fight now for the kind of sustained, nonviolent, repeated, and growing protest that can drive the whole regime from power? This is the mission of the #OUTNOW! Movement and this is what we brought to the march, are staying in DC to spread, and are fighting to build across the country.

There is a crucial crossroads that we face and what we do now can determine the future. A couple of nights ago, we learned that there were heavily armed NRA supporters, white supremacists, and open fascists gathering in Richmond, Virginia on January 20, supposedly to protest for “gun rights.” Threats have been made against Democratic Party leaders and calls have been made for a “race war.” The Revolution Tour is headed down to Virginia to stand up to this and call for a whole different future.

On MLK Day, the day before Trump’s impeachment trial began, armed militia, white supremacists, and fascists converged on Richmond, Virginia, for a phony “gun rights” rally.

The Revolution Tour, whose mission it is to organize thousands into the movement for an actual revolution based on the new communism forged by Bob Avakian, was the only group to openly counterprotest them and stand for a radically different future right up against them. Read more about this here.

As Trump’s trial began, we went all over DC calling on people to come to the Capitol. A young volunteer who came from Cleveland wrote this:

I’m from Cleveland, Ohio.

I made a 16-hour trip out to DC to be here during the Senate trial.

I did so because eyes are on DC. We are at a pivotal time in history. And I had to make a choice.

Do I acknowledge the importance of taking action in this moment to stand up for what I believe in⏤the future of humanity and condemning this fascist regime for exactly what it is?

Or do I go about business as usual and ignore the immense threat we are facing. Pretend that everything is OK so I can wake up comfortable with a false sense of security—for now? Can I pretend to have faith in some democratic process to halt, to reverse the terror that American chauvinism has promoted?

Can I ignore the crimes against the marginalized communities across this country? Can I ignore the terrifying cruelty of children dying in cages? Being separated from their loved ones? Can I ignore the hateful, racist, sexist & violent agenda of Trump and his regime?

Can I do nothing and allow our power to be stripped away? Can I be complacent?

I can’t.

This is the time to take a stand. Collectively, we the people will be heard.

Drive the Fascist Trump/Pence regime OUT NOW. It is up to us.

I have been apathetic in the past. Overwhelmed by the pain of this existence and choosing instead to put my head in the sand. In fiction. To put faith in distraction and to put blind hope in somebody else taking care of it.

But the history of oppression and revolution has shown us that we can only rely on ourselves.

We are asking you to come out with us. Join our movement in demanding the removal of the fascist Trump/Pence regime.

Let’s demand a better future for all. Stand with us.

Have your voice heard. You are deciding which side of history you are on.

Each day you have a part in deciding what the future will hold for yourself and your fellow humans, across this country and the world.

Don’t let this opportunity slip by you. Don’t be a bystander. Do what you know is right.

Sunsara Taylor delivered a message to Michael Moore and Ralph Nader, and a challenge to everyone:

Meanwhile, the Republicans in the Senate rigged the rules for the trial and blocked every attempt of the Democrats to get documents and witnesses. One of the volunteers in DC wrote this:

I am an organizer with RefuseFascism.org in Los Angeles, but I am writing to you from Washington!

I have been on the ground in DC since January 14. I volunteered to help build the #OUTNOW! movement here during this critical moment in not only this nation’s history, but in world history. The Trump/Pence fascist regime poses a catastrophic threat to all of humanity and the planet itself. The racist, pussy-grabbing fascist president has been impeached, and is now on trial in the Senate facing conviction and removal. This is a moment to seize. We cannot allow this sham trial to steamroll ahead without admittance of evidence or allowing witness testimony.

Yesterday 23 senators left the room during opening arguments. This is just one example of the Republicans not complying with the legal process. Before that, they were not complying with subpoenas. How can we rely on the legal process in itself? Trump and his legal team are claiming impeachment is about reversing the election, and tampering with the 2020 election, when he is actually on trial for doing just that!

The whole world has eyes on DC right now. What difference would it make if there was a movement of people in the streets protesting every day Trump is on trial, demanding a fair trial, demanding the Senate to consider all evidence and testimony, demanding Trump/Pence #OUTNOW! Don’t tell me that flooding the Capitol with protest wouldn’t make a difference.

A core of us have travelled from all over the country to move people in DC into the streets. People who have put their lives on hold and are sacrificing to not only bring the #OUTNOW! demand but to WIN! But we can’t do it alone.

A smattering of people from other parts of the country have come to DC on their own to make their voices heard. Not nearly enough, but this is important, and it shows the potential for many more. Here’s two people we met from Indiana:

A college professor cancelled class, joined us at our daily protests at the Senate building outside the trial, and sent this message to his students:

We are in a singular and critical moment in American history: The President of the United States is on trial for Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress. Tomorrow I will be traveling to the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. to demonstrate and stand up for democracy, justice, truth, rule of law, and the moral values of the U.S. Constitution. As a result, we will not be having class on Tuesday, January 21.

I believe that this is the right thing for me to do, and is in the best long-term interest of all my students, despite the adverse impact cancelling class may have on the course in the short term. And I cannot, in good conscience, stand before you to teach while shirking this ethical responsibility.

Trump was the first president ever to speak at the “March for Life,” a/k/a the March for Forced Motherhood.

Two of the volunteers described the ugly scene:

We arrived to the rally where Trump was speaking, and heard the opening band say the U.S. was lucky to have a president that cared about the unborn babies. Why is it no surprise that Trump would have no problem speaking at this rally? Because Trump’s patriarchy goes hand in hand with the patriarchy of Pence and the “pro-lifers.” They have no problem sticking to Trump—even if you don’t particularly like Trump, you can still get behind him because he is willing to go all the way to overturn women’s right to abortion and even birth control, and has already made headway on it. What they can all agree on is the enslavement of women.

Trump needs a rabid base, the end-timers, who don’t give a fuck about the future of humanity and future generations. “Trump wants the baby bump” was a chant that young people were taking up—so grossly misogynistic. Giant banners with a massive contingent that said “tradition, family, property.” They looked like crusaders from the Dark Ages. Tons of indoctrinated youth. All of them marching and cheering for a world where women are forced to have children against their will. When we would agitate about Trump bragging about grabbing women by the pussy, people would cheer and yell Trump 2020.

Sunsara Taylor called out the people who are sitting at home while fascism is on the march.

When Trump started speaking, he was disrupted by these courageous women!

People chanted “Trump/Pence #OUTNOW!” in front of the Supreme Court, where Roe v. Wade1 currently hangs by a thread.

The RefuseFascism volunteers joined a small group of pro-choice counter-protesters, raising chants for “Abortion on Demand and Without Apology” and “Trump/Pence #OutNow!”


1. Roe v. Wade is the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. Trump has pledged to overturn Roe v. Wade, and his appointment of two justices to the Supreme Court could provide the votes needed to do that.

If Trump is acquitted in a sham trial, a fascist regime will barrel ahead with disastrous consequences for humanity!

Read the call to FLOOD DC, Wednesday, January 29

If Trump is acquitted in a sham trial, a fascist regime will barrel ahead with disastrous consequences for humanity.

Wednesday, January 29

11:00 am: Come to DC to Protest! Come to DC to Protest! Bring signs with your reasons the whole Trump/Pence regime must go, with the hashtag #OUTNOW! Demand witnesses, evidence, conviction and removal, and most of all demand removal of the whole fascist regime for ALL their crimes against humanity and the planet. Meet on the SW corner of 1st Street NE and Constitution Ave (on the east side of the U.S. Capitol).

5:00 pm Protest and March thru DC! Gather at the east side of the Capitol, Delaware Ave NE and Northeast Drive to protest and then march into the communities of DC.

Nationwide Plan protests and creative actions demanding Trump/Pence #OUTNOW! Find a protest in your area.

ALSO: Volunteer to come to DC to build the #OUTNOW movement demanding the removal of the whole Trump/Pence regime. Volunteer for a day, a few days, or for the whole trial. And sign up to be alerted to emergency actions in response to developments in the impeachment trial.

Read more

See the full film, excerpts and Q&A of this film

RefuseFascism.org is a movement of people coming from diverse perspectives, united in our recognition that the Trump/Pence Regime poses a catastrophic danger to humanity and the planet, and that it is our responsibility to drive them from power through a broad based movement: #OUTNOW! of non-violent protests that grow every day until our demand is met: Trump/Pence #OUTNOW!

RefuseFascism.org welcomes individuals and organizations from many different points of view who share our determination to refuse to accept a fascist America, to join and/or partner with us in this great cause.

Read, share and endorse the full Refuse Fascism Call to Action here.

Find out more about Refuse Fascism here.

 

 

 

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