The Providence General Assembly marches and speaks out to "refuse and resist Trump's fascist agenda"
"We are here to say that we are going to protect our communities, and we’re going to do everything in our power to organize and defend our democratic rights."
“I think we all know why we’re here,” said Liv, an organizer with the Providence General Assembly (PGA). “We’re here to oppose this fascistic regime that has just come into power, that wants to destroy our communities and our ways of life. We are here to say that we are going to protect our communities, and we’re going to do everything in our power to organize and defend our democratic rights. The Democrats aren’t willing to step up and fight a fascist - who they said was fascist. They’re fucking doing nothing - pardon my language. ‘It’s a peaceful transition.’
“The Providence General Assembly is our attempt as community members to build a front that unites us for that defense. We want to unite anyone who wants to fight back. We are trying to build a movement that can include all political backgrounds that want to fight back.”
Over 100 people aligned with the Providence General Assembly gathered in Burnside Park in Downtown Providence on Saturday to speak out, march, organize, and “refuse and resist Trump’s fascist agenda.”
Here’s the first speaking program:
We are building a diverse movement to defend our community and fight back. We need to help defend against deportations and attacks on LGBTQ+ people. We need to strike, rent strike, and take action to fight for what we need.
We are creating a culture of resistance, real solidarity and open, democratic organizing.
“I want to give you a sense of who called for this march, what the PGA is, what we’re doing, and how you can get involved,” said Mike, an organizer with the Providence General Assembly. “We called for this march because our neighbors are under attack. Immigrants, trans folks, and the unhoused are all being criminalized and attacked by Trump and the resurgent white supremacist / Christian nationalist movements. Are we going to let that happen?”
Crowd: No!
Mike: Fuck no. Are we going just to let Trump’s Trump’sds terrorize immigrant communities in our City?
Crowd: No!
Mike: Are we going to let Christian Nationalists criminalize transgender people?
Crowd: No.
Mike: Do we have an obligation to stop these things? Are we going to do that alone on our computers?
Crowd: No!
Mike: Are the Democrats going to be effective at stopping Trump?
Crowd: No!
Mike: Will the small political groups we belong to or the cash-strapped nonprofits be able to do this independently?
Crowd: No!
Mike: So what are we going to do? This is the question several dozen of us started asking. Back in October, we decided to form a General Assembly, an open democratic political space that meets regularly to deal with these threats—to defend our communities, mobilize and strengthen our resolve, and build a better world.
The PGA is not an organization in a traditional sense. We have points of unity and a mission but no singular collective political line. This is not a party or group beholden to one idea. There are Marxists, Anarchists, and Progressives. Some people don’t associate with a political label.
Our first meeting was in late November of last year. Since then, over 200 people have attended our meetings, which range in size from about 50 to 150 people. We welcome and encourage you to come to our next meeting on February 15th, two weeks from today, at noon at Mathewson Street Church.
Mike: There are people who are oriented towards workplace organizing and who engage with tenant struggles. There are people working on helping unhoused people survive the winter. There are people opposed to war and United States imperialism. There are people oriented toward defending undocumented people and efforts to provide effective trans defense in the City.
We do this across political ideologies. Individuals and political groups cooperate to do something more rather than fighting with each other about what we can’t get done. We don’t do this to get someone elected. We don’t do this for grants. We don’t do this for people to make a name for themselves. We see the fucked up things going on in this world. We want to see them change and do our best to help make those changes.
The march:
Two parts of the event were devoted to speaking, over 80 minutes in all. Here’s a tiny sampling:
“At this time, it’s important to remind ourselves that community is the number one thing that we have,” said Sophia. “We have to stick together, be out here, and be heard. It’s our duty. We have to stick together. None of us are alone. We’re all here for each other. Tell your people that you’re here for them. Remind them that you are backing them up. You are fighting for them. You are fighting for yourselves. This is important. This is our future. This is our children’s future. This is for future generations, the future of this country. We have to keep on them. We have to.”
“I’m 17 years old, and I feel like my generation has become increasingly more aware of the social issues that plague this country - but I feel like there’s a lack of empathy for the people impacted by those social issues,” said Ace. “I feel like my generation does not care about the unhoused, does not care about the disabled, and treats them all as if they’re diseased as if they have a social contagion.
“You can fight as long as you want for trans rights, the right to abortion, and the right to protect immigrants. But as long as your actions on the streets alienate the people who are the most impacted by this evil legislation - that did not start with Trump and will not end with Trump - your efforts will only go so far. In this time, it’s so important to show empathy to the disabled and the homeless and to connect with the people around you, even if it’s scary or different from you. You’ve been taught to fear the person at the bus stop asking for money so that they can buy water or starve to death in the summer. You need to do that and work with your community because that is the only way we’re going to build a better future.
Here’s the second speaking program:
Love the "Who would Jesus deport?" sign.
I thought it was the General Assembly lol...I thought we were a sanctuary state - correct me if I'm wrong.
Trump is in violation of the Constitution with many of his EOs. There is a Republican party holding the reins. None of them have the guts to do anything. We can call or email them but, since we're not constituents, they don't or will not answer. We know our Reps & Senators are outraged. I sent an email to Jack Reed on Saturday.
There is a petition to impeach Trump - Free Speech for People. It has 100,000 signatures. I can't sign it as they use social media which I can't access anymore. I tried their Contact but nothing comes up.
The last post was on Jan. 20th (the day the petition started) but hasn't kept up. They have many petitions but some are too old and should be deleted.
You folks keep up but in case you missed it, Musk has the "keys" to the Treasury Dept. He now has access to everyone's records - SS#s, health, Medicare, Medicaid, IRS, and anything where you & the gov't. had money involved. These are not public records. It's a hacker's paradise.
IMO - Musk is a citizen. He was "hired'' to head what was a transitional department of Government Efficiency. This department is now a legit department. How it formally becomes one, I don't know.
Moving on, it's now an official dept. Musk is the Head of it. How is Congress bypassing any confirmation hearings for him? They question everyone except him?? Did Pope Trump extend a special exemption for him and how? DOGE was created to find ways to save money and make it efficient. Per an article from the Associated Press on Sat., 2/1, Trump is using the data to fire people. I think that's a stretch but Trump is violating the 1st Amendment. Congress holds the purse. Only Congress gets a say. It's part of our checks and balances. Treasury is not part of the Executive branch. This is a Trump move - his hands are clean. Musk sent his lackeys so his hands are clean. I wonder who is going to get the blame? They don't cover their tracks too well.
Are carrying signs and protesting going to convince Trump or his 'Congress'? It hasn't worked on anything else in my lifetime. I'm impatient as is everyone. I want this coup to end. So now what?
Two years is a long time until elections. Talking to a Trumper is like talking to a wall. I've tried and failed. My best guess is when inflation hits everyone (including us) in the pocketbook Trumpers will wake up, Trumpers are betting on Trump's policies. They're in for a surprise. It's not what I'd like to see but we need to prepare for that as best as we can. Stock up and stash the cash. Buy what you need now and forget the nice to haves. Right now, we're in freefall unless the GOP congress does the right thing for us, not them.