By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The Trump administration’s crackdown on dissent, exemplified by the deportation of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil on vague “foreign policy” grounds, signals a broader assault on freedom of speech. This repression extends beyond immigrant communities and targets academics, activists, and even U.S. citizens, as evidenced by the DHS’s attempts to deport a U.S.-born lawyer. The government’s actions, including freezing federal funding for Harvard and pursuing oppressive new legislation, indicate a deliberate silencing of opposition. This alarming trend mirrors Israel’s repressive tactics and reflects a dangerous erosion of democratic norms within the United States itself, demanding intensified mass opposition.
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Fascists always target marginalized groups first. Their initial victims are often those already facing systemic oppression – racial minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, religious minorities, immigrants, and political dissidents. This methodical approach allows them to consolidate power by neutralizing opposition without triggering widespread resistance initially. The cruelty inflicted on these groups serves a dual purpose: to instill fear in the broader population and to test the limits of societal tolerance.
Fascist regimes don’t halt their expansion after silencing dissenters. Their ideology, rooted in a desire for total control, demands the suppression of any challenge to their authority. Once the initial targets are subdued, the fascist regime expands its reach to encompass broader segments of society. The initial acts of oppression create a climate of fear, which makes further repression easier. This is not a gradual process; it is an acceleration.
The assumption that one’s own group will be exempt from fascist oppression is a dangerous fallacy. History repeatedly demonstrates that once a fascist regime achieves power, it systematically dismantles all forms of opposition. The rights of all citizens, even those who initially supported or condoned the fascist rise, are ultimately violated. Their ability to speak freely, to assemble, and to participate in political life is curtailed, often violently.
The justification for fascist actions frequently shifts. The initial claims of defending national interests or social order quickly give way to a blatant assertion of power. Any criticism of the regime, however mild, is labeled as sedition or treason, paving the way for arbitrary arrests, imprisonment, and extrajudicial killings. The rule of law becomes a mere instrument for the fascist regime’s will, without regard for justice or fairness.
The chilling effect of witnessing the oppression of others is a powerful tool used by fascist regimes. Silence in the face of injustice emboldens the perpetrators and undermines the resistance capacity of the population. The classic poem illustrating this dynamic serves as a stark reminder: the failure to speak out against the persecution of one group makes the eventual persecution of all inevitable. This is not an exaggeration but a direct consequence of the fascist project’s core tenets.
The belief that one can remain unaffected while others suffer under fascism is a dangerous illusion. The very structure of fascist ideology necessitates a constant expansion of control. Every individual’s rights, freedoms, and liberties are eventually threatened. The systematic dehumanization of targeted groups, often using propaganda and fear-mongering, erodes the moral fabric of society making more widespread atrocities easier to commit.
A clear understanding of how fascism operates is crucial. Fascist regimes often exploit existing social and economic tensions for their advantage, playing on prejudices and anxieties to gather support. This support however is conditional. Their aim is to seize total control and this necessitates the removal of anyone who opposes them.
It is crucial to recognize that complacency is a tool of the fascist. The belief that fascism only affects certain segments of the population plays directly into the hands of the fascist regime. It fuels the false hope that one can remain uninvolved and unaffected, whilst simultaneously undermining resistance to their rise.
The consequences of ignoring the escalating threat of fascism are dire. History offers countless examples of societies that have succumbed to totalitarian rule with devastating outcomes for all involved. The initial stages of fascist takeover may seem incremental, but the eventual totalitarianism is rapid and brutal. This history underscores the necessity of vigilant opposition to fascism from its earliest stages. It is not enough to hope that it will not reach your community or social group. The active and persistent opposition to fascism, from its very beginning, is the only viable path to preventing its complete takeover.