The events of yesterday should not be regarded as un-American.
They were horrific, sickening, and absolutely abhorrent, and deserve full condemnation. Yet they were simply a bold manifestation of the American culture of white supremacy and fascism that has existed since the founding of this country; and has only been strengthened and emboldened by Donald Trump since the 2016 presidential election. They were not a deformity in American politics. This disgusting display was an explosion of centuries of systemic racism, the subtle racism that has been underlying United States politics has simply come to light. Do not treat Trump like an aberration, he is a manifestation of systemic, deeply-rooted racism. This is America.
This is not the fall of democracy; democracy in the United States has always been an illusion. The United States was never a democracy - this government has relentlessly dehumanized people of color and created countless barriers for marginalized groups to vote; therefore preventing any true "will of the people".
We can have a president who comes into power after losing the popular vote; proving the little impact that genuine popular opinion holds, and innumerable incarcerated people cannot vote at all. Black people are disproportionately arrested; therefore losing their political power, an act of unjust and undemocratic repression. Our Election Day is not a federal holiday, and working-class people who cannot take the day off are hindered in their ability to vote. Moreover, this country constantly presents two presidential candidates who serve only a privileged class, regardless of whether they are Democratic or Republican - although it is worse in the latter party, there is bipartisan sheer and utter disregard for marginalized communities. Electoral politics consistently do painfully little to fight systemic issues. Regardless of what impeachment proceedings are enacted, there will always be prejudice in mainstream political discourse - unless we choose to fight it.
The police negligence towards this behavior represented the support that authority offers towards fascism and nationalism; as racism is built into the system, it is fruitless to believe that the police as an entity will protect civilians of color. White supremacy is all too tolerated.
The police, as an institution, do not protect marginalized people; they protect property, and they protect the existing social order. The police brutality displayed against Black Lives Matter, disability justice, and Standing Rock protests stands in sharp contrast to the complete lenience displayed with the violently racist and antisemitic riots - the police are a critical component to the institution that these rioters strove to protect and uphold. As we saw yesterday, the police could have used nonviolence when dealing with peaceful protestors demanding equality; and yet they chose not to - their allegiance should be painfully obvious to all.
Resistance is critical.
Mutual aid is extremely important - we must band together and help each other survive in a society deeply entrenched with prejudice. Solidarity and community care are absolutely essential.
Furthermore, I implore allies to speak out and decry prejudice when they hear it. Please listen to us. We are counting on you.
