I love good demonstrations, and I have participated in many and led others over the years. It is interesting to see large numbers of people once again taking to the streets, and the courts, and standing up to protect the rights of immigrants in their communities. I only wish the same energy we see now had been present at the polls.
We all knew who Trump was and the hatred he harbored for immigrants, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, Muslims, and anyone who dared to defy him.
So it is no surprise that Trump and his allies continue to attack immigrants. For over a decade, Trump has publicly vilified them, spreading outrageous lies—such as claiming there is a crisis at the border or that immigrants are eating the pets of U.S. citizens. He has also exploited the tragic death of a young woman at the hands of an immigrant to further stoke fear. He claims to be targeting criminals among immigrants, but the truth is that there are very few to be found. While we were all shocked and saddened by the horrific case of this young woman’s murder, it remains an isolated incident.
Meanwhile, hundreds of young people have been killed in mass shootings, yet no legislation has been passed in their honor, nor have any meaningful steps been taken to limit the sale of high-powered weapons of war. In recent years, I have worked with families devastated by the killings in Uvalde—where 19 students and two teachers lost their lives while nearly 400 law enforcement officers stood by for 77 minutes, allowing some victims to bleed to death. And what about Club Q, a cherished gathering space for the LGBTQ+ community in Colorado Springs, where seven were killed and 15 injured? That night, a heroic military veteran prevented an even greater tragedy.
Every life is precious, and we must fight to protect everyone. Yet the Trump team has taken a racist approach, targeting immigrants and their families. If we had true transparency about those being arrested and deported, we would see that the vast majority are neither violent nor criminals. Immigrants are not being rounded up for committing crimes but because of deep-seated racism against people of color.
I am proud of all those resisting this racist and inhumane attack on poor and struggling families.
But we knew—or should have known—that Trump would never stop demonizing immigrants to instill fear and hatred in Americans.
I wonder how the presidential election would have turned out if people had shown the same level of enthusiasm for the opposition party. After all, their candidate was the child of immigrants, a seasoned law enforcement officer, while the other side had a man with criminal convictions and no moral compass—someone willing to say and do anything to destroy people and even our democratic institutions.
Of course, I blame Trump, the Republican Party, their donors, and the wealthy elites who funded his campaign for fueling this false hysteria over immigrants coming from the South.
But I must also acknowledge the many people who found reasons not to vote for Vice President Harris. And it wasn’t just about Palestine—I believe this country still struggles to accept a woman in the highest office.
Both Hillary and Kamala are smarter and have better records than Trump ever could. Their commitment to the Constitution and democracy is far greater than his. Yet, when Hillary was running, many so-called progressive intellectuals told me there was no difference between her and Trump. I reminded them that the Supreme Court was at stake.
In Georgia, where I have lived for over five years, we couldn’t even elect Stacey Abrams—one of the smartest women I have ever seen on the campaign trail. Trump was elected because people, either through their votes or their failure to vote for Harris, allowed those I care about to suffer.
I struggle with the idea of following leaders who, in part, enabled Trump’s return to the White House. If we cannot elect qualified women, perhaps we need a Women’s Political Party. I don’t blindly trust all women, but so far, their track record is better than that of many men. That said, Trump’s appointments have shown us that not all women will do the right thing.
Should I trust those who walked away from Harris to now be the spokespersons for the people I care about? They allowed Trump to be elected and enabled harm against vulnerable communities. I am deeply conflicted about following false leadership. For me, I cannot understand how some people could be so shortsighted with their votes.
The immigrants I work with at the border, environmentalists, the LGBTQ+ community, gang members, farmworkers, great women leaders, poets, and artists will all suffer over the next four years. Who will stand with them? This new administration has already broken laws and policies, using fear to suppress those fighting for justice.
Having lived in Nicaragua and Guatemala, I have seen firsthand what happens when governments abuse their people—many were isolated and even killed for standing up against oppression.
There is an old Union song that asks, «Which side are you on?» That is the question we must ask ourselves and each other.
The road ahead will not be easy, but as Bob Marley said:
«Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights. Get up, stand up, don’t give up the fight.»
I will continue to raise my voice, to support legitimate and honest opposition. At times, I will be loud and proud, but I will always act with love, compassion, and inclusion.
So I ask you: Join the resistance. Sing your songs. Paint your murals. Perform your theater. Dream the impossible.
And as we move forward, we must not only listen to women but also to workers, youth, and Dreamers.
Join a march. Stage a sit-in. Sign a petition. Say a prayer or two. And keep moving forward to build a better world.
