Repression is speeding up, so must resistance

What many feared when Donald Trump rose to power in the United States in 2016 has become a reality.

Of course, Trump is not the cause of these problems, only the most severe symptom of the disease of capitalism. But the repression that Trump’s regime has paved the way for seems to be increasing daily.

The regime gave its religious fascist supporters a gift they have long craved when it announced it would move the US Embassy in the settler-colonial state of Israel to Jerusalem. The Israeli government murdered more than 50 Palestinian protesters, almost all of whom were young men and no real threat to the armored troops. The Israeli government continues to oppress Gaza with airstrikes.

The regime continues to support Saudi Arabia’s campaign of genocide in Yemen. It is also beating the drum of war against Iran with absurd propaganda blaming Iran for terrorism in Syria, when it is Saudi Arabia which is responsible for financing groups like Al Qaeda and ISIL.

The Trump government – like governments from both Republican and Democratic presidents the last two decades – has declared Venezuela’s recent election a sham. Venezuela re-elected Nicolas Maduro of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, in the face of US support of the right-wing and fascist opposition movement.

In the United States itself, the Trump government has pushed through the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) and Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) laws. These laws  have been opposed by sex workers, with many workers saying it has led to more deaths of sex workers.

All of these acts – and many more – are linked by the desire by capitalists to control every aspect of our lives. They are links in a single chain that must be broken – not by voting for rich politicians (even when they claim to be progressive) – but by resistance and revolution.

The growing movement of teacher strikes in the US is an encouraging sign. But these resistance movements must be broader and deeper to truly bring about a better world.