WASHINGTON, DC -- Speakers representing the group Refuse Fascism addressed a crowd gathered at the Upper Senate Park in Washington, DC, the afternoon of March 4, 2025. The purpose of the rally was to create awareness of President Donald Trump's speech to the joint session of Congress that evening and to protest that the Trump Administration's policies recall the fascism of Adolf Hitler's Germany preceding World War II.
According to their Web site, Refuse Fascism is a national movement mobilizing people through nonviolent, mass sustained protest in order to prevent the consolidation of fascism in the United States. Founded in 2016 in response to Trump’s first election, their goal is to unite people around the pledge "In The Name of Humanity, We Refuse To Accept a Fascist America!" and adding the slogan, "Trump Must Go!" Signs and chants at the rally stated that pledge and the speakers warned that the Trump Administration's policies are leading to fascism similar to Hitler's.*
One of the first speakers was Carlos Álvarez-Aranyos, founder of American Opposition, a non-profit, non-connected political action committee created to counter the rise of fascism in the United States of America.
American Opposition "focuses on building strategic communications and community engagement campaigns in support of American democracy," according to their Web site.**
Their current project is the "'Trump Administrative Action Database' (TAAD) -- an online repository that meticulously catalogues the actions and policies of the Trump administration." The database was launched on Feb. 25, 2025.**
Álvarez-Aranyos considers the database, which will be updated continually, a means of accountability and a historical document.
"At American Opposition, we believe that accountability is the cornerstone of a thriving democracy," he said. "By making this database accessible to everyone -- from seasoned journalists to concerned citizens -- we are not only promoting accountability but also ensuring that the history of this era is preserved for future generations."**
Álvarez-Aranyos told attendees at the rally that he experienced a fascist dictator while growing up in the Dominican Republic, and he warned that Trump's anti-democratic policies are fascist.
Álvarez-Aranyos continued with a message to Democrats.
Álvarez-Aranyos speaks to the audience of protesters about what he believes the Democrats in Congress should do in defiant opposition to President Trump, who would be addressing the joint session of Congress that evening.Also addressing the crowd was Sunsara Taylor, one of the founders of the Refuse Fascism movement. She compared the present fascist actions of the Trump Administration to Germany in the 1930s as Adolf Hitler took over the government with escalating abuse of human rights and increasing atrocities leading to the Holocaust.
Sunsara Taylor of Refuse Fascism, compares the present actions of the Trump Administration to the increasingly fascist Nazi government under Hitler leading up to World War II.Taylor concludes by inviting the audience to join the Refuse Fascism movement and to contribute their own ideas and talents to defeat fascism.
Sunsara Taylor of Refuse Fascism tells the audience of supporters what needs to be done, encourages the audience to refuse to accept a fascist America, and thanks them for their participation.The special guest speaker at the rally was Marione Ingram, a German-born, Jewish Holocaust survivor and Civil Rights activist. She began her speech to the crowd with the story of her childhood experience in Nazi Germany.
Holocaust survivor Marione Ingram addresses the crowd at the rally, comparing her experience under Nazi fascism in World War II with the present situation under the Trump Administration in the US.Ingram continues, comparing her experience with that of the victims of Israeli aggression in Gaza.
Holocaust survivor Marione Ingram compares her childhood experience during World War II, being pursued by the Nazis, to Israel's aggression against Palestinians in Gaza, while Israel is supported by the present and past US Administrations.Ingram was active in the Civil Rights movement in the US and was a volunteer for the 1963 March on Washington. She has protested actively against Israel's actions in Gaza, repeating that war is not the answer and calling for peace and love.***
Following the main speakers, some participants in a nearby Rally for Ukraine walked to the Refuse Fascism Rally in the park because police had asked them to leave the area near the Russell Senate building where they were meeting the same afternoon. Some stayed, displaying their signs for Ukraine.
On March 4, 2025, Ukraine supporters leave the site of their Ukraine Rally in Washington, DC, at the request of police clearing the area near the Russell Senate building. Some join the Refuse Fascism Rally nearby.
The Refuse Fascism Rally was very peaceful. The group emphasizes determined, defiant, non-violent action.
From the Refuse Fascism Mission Statement for 2025:
"Refuse Fascism leads people to understand and resist Trump/MAGA fascism. We unite with people from diverse perspectives to stop the second Trump regime from consolidating power and carrying out great horrors. Through our podcast and other public programs we expose and analyze the threat we face, promote efforts to defend people targeted by the fascists, and most essentially challenge and inspire the non-fascist majority of people living in the United States, the tens of millions of people who care about humanity and hate what Trump represents, to break out of the deadly confines of politics-as-usual and engage in determined, defiant action to defeat this American Fascism."****
Editor's Notes:
* See refusefascism.org for more information on the movement.
** See https://www.americanopposition.org/about
Click here for the Trump Administrative Action Database (TAAD).
*** Read more about Marione Ingram here.
**** Click here for the full mission statement.
No comments:
Post a Comment