Following Donald Trump’s 2024 election night victory, many individuals experienced a profound sense of dread and despair. For some, it was devastating to see Vice President Kamala Harris lose to a man who had shown disdain for democracy and the rule of law, been found liable for sexual abuse, and convicted of 34 felonies. While some pundits and commentators attempted to soothe public anxiety by reminding us that the country survived Trump’s first term, their reassurances overlook a painful truth: not everyone survived Trump’s first term.
By the time Trump left office in 2021, hundreds of thousands of Americans had lost their lives due to his administration’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. My Uncle Anthony was one of them. The initial efforts to contain the virus were half-hearted at best. The Trump administration had been warned about COVID-19 as early as December 2019. But instead of taking decisive action to prepare the country, the Trump Administration allowed the virus to spread unchecked. When it became evident that COVID-19 disproportionately affected Black, Brown, and elderly populations, the administration prioritized reopening the economy over public health. For those on the margins of society, like my Uncle Anthony, there was no choice but to keep working, even at the risk of their lives.
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The early days of Trump’s second term have already signaled a continuation of the lawlessness, retribution, racism, and xenophobia that defined his first term. Among his initial actions, Trump has dismantled Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs, which had provided professional opportunities for minorities, fostered diverse workplaces, and barred discriminatory hiring practices. He has reinstated a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military and initiated mass deportation operations that threaten to tear apart families and communities.
Trump has also moved to eliminate birthright citizenship, escalate trade wars with allies, and withhold federal funding from critical programs such as SNAP, Head Start, Title I, school lunch initiatives, and Medicaid. Amid rising national Bird Flu cases, he has withdrawn the United States from the World Health Organization, further endangering public health. This term forebodes even greater loss and hardship for Americans whose lives, livelihoods, and very existence are under threat.
As stewards of justice, we must commit ourselves to fighting for immigrants, members of the LGBTQ+ community, Black and Brown people, and all who are vulnerable to the policies and rhetoric of this administration. Endurance is not enough—we must actively resist. Let us honor the memory of those who suffered during Trump’s first term by standing firm in our pursuit of justice, equity, and human dignity throughout this second term.
By the time Trump left office in 2021, hundreds of thousands of Americans had lost their lives due to his administration’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. My Uncle Anthony was one of them. The initial efforts to contain the virus were half-hearted at best. The Trump administration had been warned about COVID-19 as early as December 2019. But instead of taking decisive action to prepare the country, the Trump Administration allowed the virus to spread unchecked. When it became evident that COVID-19 disproportionately affected Black, Brown, and elderly populations, the administration prioritized reopening the economy over public health. For those on the margins of society, like my Uncle Anthony, there was no choice but to keep working, even at the risk of their lives.
_____
The early days of Trump’s second term have already signaled a continuation of the lawlessness, retribution, racism, and xenophobia that defined his first term. Among his initial actions, Trump has dismantled Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs, which had provided professional opportunities for minorities, fostered diverse workplaces, and barred discriminatory hiring practices. He has reinstated a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military and initiated mass deportation operations that threaten to tear apart families and communities.
Trump has also moved to eliminate birthright citizenship, escalate trade wars with allies, and withhold federal funding from critical programs such as SNAP, Head Start, Title I, school lunch initiatives, and Medicaid. Amid rising national Bird Flu cases, he has withdrawn the United States from the World Health Organization, further endangering public health. This term forebodes even greater loss and hardship for Americans whose lives, livelihoods, and very existence are under threat.
As stewards of justice, we must commit ourselves to fighting for immigrants, members of the LGBTQ+ community, Black and Brown people, and all who are vulnerable to the policies and rhetoric of this administration. Endurance is not enough—we must actively resist. Let us honor the memory of those who suffered during Trump’s first term by standing firm in our pursuit of justice, equity, and human dignity throughout this second term.
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