(TriceEdneyWire.com)—We must ask ourselves, “Why did so many people ignore the warnings during the last election?”
As we witness the criminal prosecution of one of Trump’s political opponents, former FBI Director James Comey, the demise of the fundamental values of democracy is no longer a threat but is occurring in real time. As the Democratic nominee for president, former Vice President Kamala Harris, warned us about her rival, Donald Trump, as he spoke about “the enemy from within.”
Harris said, “You heard his words, coming from him. He’s talking about the enemy within… he’s talking about that he considers anyone that doesn’t support him, or who will not bend to his will, an enemy of our country.” As Harris’s words become reality, does the truth change the minds of those who were not listening? Are people starting to care now that the retribution campaign is underway, and the fact that New York Attorney General Letitia James could face a similar fate?
While former FBI Director James Comey is maintaining his innocence, he has been indicted on two criminal counts—one count of making false statements and another for obstruction of justice. Ironically, Comey played a significant role in the political landscape that enabled President Trump to obtain the White House. The indictment comes days after President Trump ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue his perceived enemies more aggressively.
The Eastern District of Virginia sought the indictment nearly a week after Trump forced Erik Siebert, the former U.S. attorney of the district, out of his post and replaced him with Lindsey Halligan, one of the president’s former personal attorneys who has no prosecutorial experience. In other words, a seasoned prosecutor was removed and replaced with an unqualified “yes person” who was placed in a high-powered position to carry out Trump’s wrongful bidding.
The public is witnessing another moral failure in presidential leadership, but are voters paying attention? Halligan brought the charges just five days before a Sept. 30 legal deadline, which is when the statute of limitations of the alleged crimes was due to expire. The administration is becoming increasingly bold in its attacks against political opponents and the concept of free speech.
The recent suspension of Jimmy Kimmel after his comments made during his show in response to the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk shows how suppressing prominent figures sends a warning to ordinary citizens and activists. After right-wing websites and TV shows publicized Kimmel’s comments, the Trump-aligned FCC Chairman Brendan Carr called it “the sickest conduct possible” and suggested that the FCC could move to revoke ABC affiliate licenses. ABC’s announcement was made after media giant Nexstar Media Group announced it would pre-empt Kimmel’s show indefinitely on all of its stations over his remarks. Widespread criticism of the Kimmel suspension led to people cancelling their Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions. In his return to the late-night stage, Kimmel stated that “anti-American” efforts to curtail free speech in the United States will not temper his criticism of the president.
These assaults on free speech and politically motivated prosecutions are signs that the true enemy from within continues to be exposed. Letitia James is not the enemy from within. The true enemy was exposed with his 34 felony counts as a candidate for president. Liz Cheney is not the enemy from within. The House January 6 Select Committee exposed the true enemy. Joe Biden is not the enemy from within. Two House impeachments exposed the true enemy. Kamala Harris is not the enemy from within. The true enemy was exposed when he executed Project 2025 as president. Barack Obama is not the true enemy. The true enemy was exposed when he chose not to place his hand on the Bible during his swearing-in as president.
With this increasingly authoritarian government, the Black community must not be silent or divided. There is too much at stake. Black pastors and others in the faith community are speaking out. Our voices cannot be suppressed when we defend the oppressed, the poor, the immigrant, and the fatherless. Our voices cannot be silenced when we speak truth to power, when we hold those accountable who misuse the power of their elected or appointed position. Our voices cannot be silenced when we need to expose the whitewashing of the Black experience. The affront on free speech is a threat to everybody. What happened to Jimmy Kimmel and James Comey can happen to anybody. “Time for leaders—political leaders, business leaders, civic leaders—to pick a side: democracy or autocracy.” Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut posted on X.
(David W. Marshall is the founder of the faith-based organization TRB: The Reconciled Body and the author of the book God Bless Our Divided America.)
Copyright © Trice Edney Communications