We have had to think about the importance of community so much since Donald Trump has been hanging out in the People’s White House. People who’ve never been on a picket line before now find themselves there. People who’ve been relatively quiet are speaking out against Trump and the unbelievable things he is doing.
Those of us who listened to him during the campaign and remember his behavior when he was in office previously know he’s as vindictive as he said he would be. Some believed him, and that’s why they gave their all to work for the best candidate in the presidential race.
There’s no doubt that then-Vice President Kamala Harris was so far above Trump in intelligence, education, truth, experience and whatever good things you can think of that no fair, non-racist, non-sexist community-minded person should have voted against her. Well, unfortunately, she was the only intelligent, brilliant, non-racist candidate with a background of serving her community well. Her opponent had no such record and is now proving right those of us who voted against him.
Donald Trump hasn’t the slightest idea what community means. He only knows about abusing power and having his way, believing the only path to winning is destroying all who can see through him. For once in his life, he told the truth: Those who didn’t support him would be on his retribution list. New York Attorney General Letitia James was on it. So was former FBI Director Jim Comey.
He lost no time showing the world what he meant. He stepped up his support of Vladimir Putin and other authoritarian leaders. He knows nothing about community. He still doesn’t understand that however he became president, it’s his responsibility to work for the benefit of every American community — even those who didn’t vote for him — but he doesn’t know how.
The late A. Philip Randolph left us with a message Trump needs to learn: “A community is democratic only when the humblest and weakest person can enjoy the highest civil, economic and social rights that the biggest and most powerful possess.”
When Trump admitted he intended to send a private message to Attorney General Pam Bondi but sent it publicly instead, he confirmed what we already knew: He’s vindictive and fully intended to punish people on his enemies list, ordering Bondi to get it done.
Neither Comey nor James were surprised to find themselves targeted. James had already beaten Trump in court before and plans to do so again. Both are expected to prevail in court and teach him a lesson about weaponizing the justice system.
We must stand up for our democracy without fear. As James said, “I am not fearful; I am fearless.”
It’s time for not only Democratic leaders but Republican leaders to support James and Comey against these blatant perversions of the law and what it means to live by the principles of our democracy and work for the good of all our communities and citizens.
Some of us still have faith in truth and justice, and in the words of the Lord. Like many others, I’m glad trouble don’t last always. Let us continue to pray and work for righteousness to prevail.
E. Faye Williams is president of The Dick Gregory Society (www.thedickgregorysociety.org).