one angle …

In this post, I’ll walk through the 11 pillars of fascism — as defined by historians and political theorists — and provide concrete proof points that show how each one is manifesting under the Trump administration.

These are not hypotheticals. These are happening now.

Let’s get into it.

1. Authoritarianism: Centralized Power and Suppression of Dissent

Fascist Pattern: Consolidation of power by a single leader or ruling party, often accompanied by the suppression of opposition and the erosion of checks and balances.

Proof Points:

• Retaliation Against Legal Professionals: The Trump administration has targeted law firms representing political opponents, revoking security clearances and initiating investigations, thereby undermining the independence of the legal system.1
• Utilization of the Alien Enemies Act: The administration invoked this rarely used act to deport individuals without due process, exemplifying authoritarian overreach.2
• Project 2025: A comprehensive plan by The Heritage Foundation aiming to consolidate executive power and replace civil servants with loyalists, effectively dismantling the administrative state.3

2. Ultra-nationalism: Elevating the Nation Above All

Fascist Pattern: Promoting a sense of national superiority, often at the expense of marginalized groups and international cooperation.

Proof Points:

• “America First” Policies: The administration’s rhetoric and policies prioritize national interests, leading to strained international relations and the alienation of allies.
• Immigration Crackdowns: Aggressive deportation strategies, including the deportation of individuals to countries where they face persecution, reflect a disregard for international human rights norms.

3. Militarism and Violence: Glorification of Strength and Force

Fascist Pattern: Emphasizing military power and the use of violence to achieve political ends.

Proof Points:

• Deployment of Federal Forces Against Protesters: The use of federal agencies to suppress domestic protests demonstrates a militaristic approach to civil dissent.
• Advocacy for Harsh Law Enforcement Measures: Endorsements of aggressive policing tactics and the pardoning of officials convicted of violent actions signal an acceptance of violence within governance.

4. Scapegoating and Propaganda: Blaming ‘The Other’

Fascist Pattern: Attributing national problems to specific groups, often minorities, to divert attention from governmental shortcomings.

Proof Points:

• Targeting of Immigrants: Labeling migrants as criminals or terrorists without substantial evidence, leading to policies like mass deportations to dangerous environments.4
• Discrediting of Media Outlets: Frequent accusations of “fake news” aimed at undermining the credibility of independent journalism.

5. Anti-democracy and Anti-liberalism: Undermining Democratic Institutions

Fascist Pattern: Erosion of democratic norms and institutions, often through the delegitimization of electoral processes and the judiciary.

Proof Points:

• Challenging Election Legitimacy: Persistent claims of electoral fraud without evidence, aiming to erode public trust in democratic processes.
• Defiance of Court Orders: Ignoring or circumventing judicial rulings, such as the refusal to comply with orders to return wrongfully deported individuals.5

6. Cult of Personality: Elevating the Leader

Fascist Pattern: Creating an idealized and heroic image of the leader, often demanding unwavering loyalty.

Proof Points:

• Personalization of Political Power: The leader’s name and image are prominently used in political campaigns and government communications, emphasizing personal loyalty over institutional allegiance.
• Attacks on Critics: Public denunciations and threats against political opponents, former allies, and dissenting voices within the administration.6

7. Control of Information: Censorship and Manipulation

Fascist Pattern: Manipulating or controlling media and information to suppress dissent and promote the regime’s narrative.

Proof Points:

• Defunding Independent Media: Cutting funds to organizations like Radio Free Asia and Voice of America, jeopardizing journalistic independence.7
• Surveillance of Journalists: Implementing measures that intimidate and suppress investigative journalism.

8. Suppression of Unions and Dissent: Silencing Opposition

Fascist Pattern: Cracking down on labor movements and any form of organized opposition.

Proof Points:

• Targeting Academic Institutions: Freezing federal funds to universities like Cornell and Northwestern under the guise of addressing campus protests, thereby stifling academic freedom.8
• Executive Orders Against Law Firms: Issuing directives that penalize law firms perceived as oppositional, undermining the right to legal representation.9

9. Corporatism / Crony Capitalism: Favoring Loyal Businesses

Fascist Pattern: Economic power is consolidated among favored corporations that align with the state, undermining fair competition.

Proof Points:

• Preferential Treatment for Allies: The administration has implemented policies that benefit certain businesses, often those with political connections, while sidelining competitors.
• Tariff Policies Impacting Small Businesses: The imposition of tariffs under the guise of national security has disproportionately affected small businesses, while larger corporations with government ties have navigated these challenges more effectively.10

10. Sexism and Gender Control: Enforcing Traditional Roles

Fascist Pattern: Traditional gender roles are aggressively enforced, with policies that marginalize women and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Proof Points:

• Executive Orders Limiting Gender Recognition: The administration has issued orders defining sex strictly as male or female based on biological characteristics, effectively erasing recognition of transgender and non-binary identities.11
• Restrictions on Gender-Affirming Care: Policies have been enacted to limit or prohibit gender-affirming care, particularly for minors, framing such care as harmful despite medical consensus on its benefits.12

11. Fear as a Tool: Maintaining Control Through Anxiety

Fascist Pattern: A constant state of crisis is maintained to justify authoritarian measures and suppress dissent.

Proof Points:

• Use of Emergency Powers for Trade Policies: The administration has invoked emergency powers to implement trade policies, such as tariffs, under the pretext of national security threats, fostering a climate of fear and uncertainty.13
• Rhetoric Targeting Marginalized Groups: Public statements and policies have often portrayed immigrants and LGBTQ+ individuals as threats to societal values, fueling fear and justifying restrictive measures.14

These examples, which don’t include any presidential actions, illustrate a troubling alignment with the core aspects of fascism.

It’s imperative to remain vigilant and advocate for democratic principles and human rights.

Source: pathfinderchronicles.com

Six days after the death of Hu Yaobang, the deposed reform-minded leader of the Chinese Communist Party, some 100,000 students gather at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square to commemorate Hu and voice their discontent with China’s authoritative communist government. The next day, an official memorial service for Hu Yaobang was held in Tiananmen’s Great Hall of the People, and student representatives carried a petition to the steps of the Great Hall, demanding to meet with Premier Li Peng. The Chinese government refused such a meeting, leading to a general boycott of Chinese universities across the country and widespread calls for democratic reforms.

Ignoring government warnings of violent suppression of any mass demonstration, students from more than 40 universities began a march to Tiananmen on April 27. The students were joined by workers, intellectuals, and civil servants, and by mid-May more than a million people filled the square, the site of communist leader’s Mao Zedong’s proclamation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. On May 20, the government formally declared martial law in Beijing, and troops and tanks were called in to disperse the dissidents. However, large numbers of students and citizens blocked the army’s advance, and by May 23 government forces had pulled back to the outskirts of Beijing.

On June 3, with negotiations to end the protests stalled and calls for democratic reforms escalating, the troops received orders from the Chinese government to reclaim Tiananmen at all costs. By the end of the next day, Chinese troops had forcibly cleared Tiananmen Square and Beijing’s streets, killing hundreds of demonstrators and arresting thousands of protesters and other suspected dissidents. In the weeks after the government crackdown, an unknown number of dissidents were executed, and communist hard-liners took firm control of the country.

The international community was outraged at the incident, and economic sanctions imposed by the United States and other countries sent China’s economy into decline. However, by late 1990, international trade had resumed, thanks in part to China’s release of several hundred imprisoned dissidents.

Citation Information
Article Title
Chinese students begin protests at Tiananmen Square
Author
History.com Editors
Website Name
HISTORY

On June 4, 1989, however, Chinese troops and security police stormed through Tiananmen Square, firing indiscriminately into the crowds of protesters. Turmoil ensued, as tens of thousands of the young students tried to escape the rampaging Chinese forces. Other protesters fought back, stoning the attacking troops and overturning and setting fire to military vehicles. Reporters and Western diplomats on the scene estimated that at least 300, and perhaps thousands, of the protesters had been killed and as many as 10,000 were arrested.

The savagery of the Chinese government’s attack shocked both its allies and Cold War enemies. Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev declared that he was saddened by the events in China. He said he hoped that the government would adopt his own domestic reform program and begin to democratize the Chinese political system.

history.com

Today, some so-call Republicans want to say that the riot was NOT based on or because of their skin

CONTENTS

1. Tulsa’s Black Wall Street
2. What Caused the Tulsa Race Massacre?
3. Greenwood Burns
4. of the Tulsa Race Massacre
5. News Blackout
6. Tulsa Race Riot Commission Established, Renamed
7. Sources

history.com

During the Tulsa Race Massacre, which occurred over 18 hours from May 31 to June 1, 1921, a white mob attacked residents, homes and businesses in the predominantly Black Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The event remains one of the worst incidents of racial violence in U.S. history, and, for a period, remained one of the least-known: News reports were largely squelched, despite the fact that hundreds of people were killed and thousands left homeless.

Why is there more than one version of Sojourner Truth’s famous 1851, “Ain’t I a Woman” speech?

Sojourner’s Speech, Transcribed by Marius Robinson; Anti-slavery bugle. volume (New-Lisbon, Ohio), 21 June 1851. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. Click here to Zoom in >

Most people are familiar with the 1863 popular version of Sojourner Truth’s famous, “Ain’t I a woman” speech but they have no idea that this popular version, while based off of Sojourner’s original 1851 speech, is not Sojourner’s speech and is vastly different from Sojourner’s original 1851 speech. I must acknowledge Nell Irvin Painter, a professor at Princeton University, specializing in American history and notable for her works on southern history of the nineteenth century. Professor Painter was the scholar who first rang the bell on this historical mistake. This site would not be possible with out relying on her brilliant work.

The popular but inaccurate version was written and published in 1863, (12 years after Sojourner gave the “Ain’t I a woman” speech), by a white abolitionist named Frances Dana Barker Gage. Curiously, Gage not only changed all of Sojourner’s words but chose to represent Sojourner speaking in a stereotypical ‘southern black slave accent’, rather than in Sojourner’s distinct upper New York State low-Dutch accent. Frances Gage’s actions were well intended and served the suffrage and women’s rights movement at the time; however, by today’s standards of ethical journalism, her actions were a gross misrepresentation of Sojourner Truth’s words and identity. By changing Truth’s words and her dialect to that of a stereotypical southern slave, Frances Gage effectively erased Sojourner’s Dutch heritage and her authentic voice. As well as unintentionally adding to the oversimplification of the American slave culture and furthering the eradication of our nation’s Northern slave history. Frances Gage admitted that her amended version had “given but a faint sketch” of Sojourner’s original speech, but she felt justified and believed her version was stronger and more palatable to the American public than Sojourner’s original version. 

— You have got to read the complete article!

Source: thesojournertruthproject.com