Making Black Lives Matter in the Age of Trump
By Johnathan Thompson
What does survival look like in a Trump presidency? More specifically, what does survival look like for people of color during a Trump presidency? Desperate for answers to these questions, I attended a Black Lives Matter(BLM) event moderated by the Head of CCNY’s Journalism Dept. Professor Villarosa on February 21st. The incredibly well versed panelists included lawyer and co-founder of The New York Justice League Angelo Pinto, and Center for Constitutional Rights Bertha Justice Institute Fellow Stephanie Llanes whom is also a lawyer. With backgrounds in law, Llanes and Pinto are well-equipped to find truths in the depths of U.S legislation as well as predict the future of legislation in our country. In all honestly, their predictions are unsettling but logical, which only makes their foreshadowing even more disturbing.
BLM, which is part of the overarching Movement for Black Lives may be considered a terrorist group in the near future. One inaccurate portrayal of BLM identifies it as an anti-police initiative. When in fact BLM upholds principles of anti-police brutality. The movement began as a hashtag in response to the murder of teen Trayvon Martin, which was followed by a stream of state-sanctioned killings of Black males in America by law enforcement. And yet, the government is making moves to further protect law enforcement.
“One of the things that the Trump administration is trying to do, is deputize the local law enforcement,” says Pinto. This grants local law enforcement the power to act as federal agents and do the work of the national government. Pinto also claims that white supremacists groups optimistically anticipate the deputation of citizens. This means that self-appointed sovereign citizens like George Zimmerman, the acquitted murderer of Trayvon Martin, would have free-range to act in the same way as Zimmerman but with lawful reassurance of zero consequences. Pairing this potential legislature with the current Blue Lives Matter Bill that has made it’s debut in Louisiana which makes any attack on a police officer(including an act of self defense) a hate crime punishable by law. As if that wasn’t enough, Pinto spoke on the “systematic infiltration of white supremacists into police departments,” in 2015 the Director of the FBI, James B. Comey even said in a speech that, “In many points in American history, law enforcement enforced the status quo, a status quo that was brutally unfair to disfavored groups.” For a status quo to be in effect, it must exist as common practice. Coincidentally, a status quo of unfair treatment of disfavored groups mirrors a white supremacist’s agenda. How do we survive in a time where it seems like just being, warrants a rightful attack?
With legislation challenging the tools that we have to protect ourselves, Llanes feels that we need “movements that lead lawyers, not the reverse.” If the people are heavily legislated into a corner then their movement has no chance of surviving and neither do they. However, if a movement plays a direct role in the legislation that protects their cause, hope is alive. Llanes also spoke on countermeasures to reinforce our survival.
If you plan to organize BLM-themed events like rallies for example, do not broadcast your plans on Facebook or Twitter. Use apps like Signal, which is an encrypted private messaging app available on both Apple and Android devices, to organize with one another. But once people organize, is protesting really the best thing that we can do?
“I think protesting is important, but limited,” says Pinto. Protesting creates awareness because it serves as a very clear and visual representation of people standing in solidarity for one cause, or many intersecting causes. After awareness, what can a supporter of BLM do?
“Anything that you can,” says Llanes. Whether that anything is a plate of food or even a call to go dancing. Just something to ease the tension of fighting the forces that oppress. Llanes also mentioned a “beautiful increase in intersectionality.” She exemplifies the way that Black people show up for immigration rights. Not everyone is secure behind the privilege to show up to rallies and speak. You must use your privilege to be the voice for people who are not given one.
It is not coincidence that the mechanisms to challenge the nightmarish goals of our legal system live in the acknowledgement of the challenges that we ourselves may not face, but our friends and families do. “If you have community, and you have your spirituality, you’re gonna be alright,” says Pinto. Finding a support system in one another makes us stronger activists and empowers our movement as well.
Pinto has high hopes for the next generation of activists. “Generation Woke” (hurry up and trademark this Angelo!) as he calls them. “It’s gonna take a critical mass of people being woke,” Pinto goes on to say that “History is going to prepare the next generation to fully experience the hell that we are about to go through.” He feels that Trump will expose the lies present in what we teach the youth. If Pinto’s prediction holds truth, dark times stand right before us. However, if “Generation Woke” really lies ahead of us, the journey through darkness will be worth it all.
