by E. Faye Williams
(TriceEdneyWire.com) — Before his death in 2017, my friend, Dick Gregory, predicted that Trump’s election would bring chaos to our country, that the military would be called to quell it, and Trump would not go quietly when his term ended.
After enjoying the Senate sweep in Georgia, my rejoicing ended abruptly. With only two weeks remaining in Trump’s term, I thought Mr. Gregory’s prediction an overreaction, but, as usual, I was wrong to question him.
Watching the assault on Congress on January 6, 2021, I was sympathetic to all who were in disbelief. It was difficult to believe that few were initially prepared to acknowledge that the violent, riotous siege was expected.
Early in his administration, Trump surrounded himself with sycophants whose sole goal was to edify the “glorious leader.” He also cultivated a coarse, cult-like following which reacted with vocal and physical belligerence at his every disappointment.
Like a spoiled child, he rejected suffering disappointments, but suffer them he did. The intensity of his childish tantrums was proportional to his disappointments. His remedy was violating or disregarding laws which were inconsistent with his goals.
Since November 7, 2020, Trump’s greatest disappointment was his reelection loss. Normally, the rational loser would concede. Trump is neither normal nor rational. Over 60 multi-state lawsuits and court decisions have rejected his appeals, yet, in his heart or whatever he uses as one, he remains the loser. He adamantly refuses to concede.
Instead of the truth, Trump has retreated into a fantasyland which he can invite his acolytes to share his many imaginary things. Failing to obstruct the state certification of votes, January 6th became the date of last resort for him—that is, his last chance to prevent Congressional certification of the 2020 Presidential Election. That’s the short version of how we got to January 6, 2021.
In December 2020, Trump invited his Trumpeters to Washington, DC for a “wild” event to “Stop the Steal.”—a lie he uses to explain his loss. He gave a rousing speech falsely accusing “the deep state” of manipulating and stealing the election from him. Trump, Trump Jr., and Giuliani encouraged followers to go to the Capitol to express their objection to election results. Trump even promised to join them. He didn’t!
I doubt that anyone in the world blessed with a television does not know what happened next!
Trump clearly demonstrates his disregard for voting Americans of color. His efforts to overturn votes are focused on urban areas central to populations of color.
Trump clearly demonstrates his disregard for the rule of law. He has shown his belief that his personal interests supersede the lawful conduct of elections and the expressed “will” of America’s voters.
Trump clearly demonstrates his disregard for the health and welfare of Americans. By inciting his followers to lay siege upon the Capitol, he placed them in jeopardy of injury and death—at least four people died, and many others were injured!
Trump clearly demonstrates his disregard for the edifice and essence of our democratic republic. He incited a mob of insurrectionists to assault the Congressional Complex in order to delay or halt the House and Senate in the conduct of their Constitutionally mandated duties. The extent of vandalism has not yet been measured.
My readers know that I consider voting the most important right and responsibility of citizenship. It is the primary expression of my voice as a citizen. Trump’s efforts to rework the vote count of a legitimate election by “finding” new votes or by attempting to coerce state officials into illegal acts are inexcusable.
Our democracy is a fragile commodity. Faults notwithstanding, we mustn’t relinquish it to an autocrat whose only design is to use it for self-aggrandizement.
(Dr. E. Faye Williams is President of the National Congress of Black Women.)
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