“Now Is the Time to Reaffirm Our Belief in Democracy”

Earlier today, Sen. Bernie Sanders shared the following message on various social media platforms.

Yes, this election was Biden vs. Trump. It was an election about health care, the economy, the pandemic, climate change, criminal justice, immigration, and all the other important issues facing our country.

But most importantly, in my view, this unprecedented election was about Donald Trump vs. democracy, and whether we were going to have a president who respected the Constitution, democratic norms, and the rule of law. Fortunately, for the future of our country, it appears that if current trends continue, Joe Biden and democracy will win.

Now is the time to reaffirm our belief in democracy and to give states the time they need to count every ballot so that the will of the American people is heard. That’s what this country is about and must always be about.

– Sen. Bernie Sanders
November 4, 2020

Earlier this evening I participated in a rally that called for two things: that every ballot be counted, and that no matter who is elected the next president, a “People’s Mandate” be enacted to address the “triple epidemic” of COVID-19, the recession, and systemic racism.

Organized by the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar, Black Lives Matter Twin Cities, the St. Paul Federation of Educators, and over 30 other groups, this evening’s rally was held in Mayday Plaza in south Minneapolis and followed by a march.

In publicizing today's rally and march, the organizers stated the following.

On the day after the elections, get ready to fight!

No matter the outcome, we need a People’s Mandate to address the triple pandemic of racism, COVID-19, and recession.

We want Trump out. But even if Biden wins, we cannot stop the fight. Our response on November 4 can set the tone for the struggle for the next four years.

At this time we don’t know the outcome. But we are ready to say any of the following:

• “Don’t let Trump steal the election!”

• “Fight Trump and everything he stands for!”

• “A Biden win will not give the freedom we demand!”

Today's rally and march was part of a U.S.-wide day of protest organized by the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR).

Following is part of this organization's statement about today’s action.

We are calling for mass protests the day after the election to highlight the fact that Trump’s scorched earth policies have left the political landscape almost as barren and bleak as COVID-19 and the police-state style racist repression used against tens of thousands of protesters, leaving thousands injured and jailed and some dead. Trump has openly sided with racist, right-wing, violent elements to attack the movement against police crimes.

Trump losing the elections will create greater organizing space for turning this page of history writ large with sickness, death and mass rebellion, and embarking upon the road to freedom, justice, and equality.

Biden’s victory is important in this moment of history; we do not deny this in the least. Yet we must face the sober reality that his victory will not necessarily provide the path to freedom, justice and equality for the 140 million poor, for the homeless, the sick, the hungry, and the working class.

We are also well aware that Trump has said he will not leave power. His administration has already tried to disrupt the election by undermining the Post Office and by attacking mail-in voting. Trump could try many things during and after the election such as trying to stop the vote count (a tactic that pro-U.S. forces in other countries have done to fix elections) or call out right-wing shock troops.

The fundamental truth at the core of our national call for protests on the day after the November presidential election is that the great historical lesson of the moment we are in is best characterized by the fact that over 22 million rebelled against racist injustice in response to the brutal murder of George Floyd. The social energy of this great rebellion is the same energy propelling us to call this protest. Join us and let us, the people united, open a new era of struggle for our liberation dedicate to never returning our country to like it was. We are fighting for a new day to dance with great jubilee in the sunlight of freedom.

Following the rally portion of this evening’s event, hundreds of those in attendance proceeded to march through the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood before occupying and blocking part of Interstate 94, just blocks from my home (above). Hundreds are currently being arrested. Similar protests are taking place tonight across the country, including in Boston, Portland, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh.


Related Off-site Links:
Trump Falsely Declares Victory Despite No Clear Result While Biden Wins Arizona – Tom McCarthy and Joan E. Greve (The Guardian, November 4, 2020).
Biden Campaign Condemns Trump False Victory Claim as “Naked Effort to Take Away the Democratic Rights of American Citizens” – Jake Johnson (Common Dreams, November 4, 2020).
Biden Projected to Win Wisconsin and Michigan – Stefan Becket (CBS News, November 4, 2020).
Trump Orders Advisers to "Go Down Fighting – Asawin Suebsaeng, Sam Stein and William Bredderman (The Daily Beast, November 4, 2020).
If Trump Tries to Sue His Way to Election Victory, Here’s What Happens – Ian MacDougall (ProPubica News, November 4, 2020).
Deutsche Bank May Seize Trump’s Assets If He Loses and Fails to Repay Debt – Igor Derysh (Salon via TruthOut, November 4, 2020).
This Election Highlights How Divided the Nation Remains – Gerald F. Seib (The Wall Street Journal, November 4, 2020).


UPDATES:

Day 3 of the Perpetual Queasiness That Is the Presidential Election – Stephen A. Crockett Jr. (The Root, November 5, 2020).
Biden Appears to Hold Edge in the Key Votes Left to Be Counted – Nate Cohn (The New York Times, November 5, 2020).
Trump’s Path to Victory Narrows as Biden Nears 270 Electoral College Votes – Democracy Now! (November 5, 2020).
U.S. Media Cuts Away From Trump’s White House Speech, Citing “False Statements” and “Unfounded Conspiracies” – ABC News (November 6, 2020).
Biden Urges Patience As His Lead Widens In Key States – Alana Wise (NPR News, November 6, 2020).
Chilling Scences: Guns Seen Outside Vote-Counting Centers as Trump Supporters March With Weapons – Tim Sullivan and Adam Geller (Associated Press News, November 7, 2020).
Trump’s Effort to Steal Election and Sow National Chaos Is Taking Place in Broad Daylight – Jon Queally (Common Dreams, November 7, 2020).
Joseph R. Biden Jr. Has Won the Presidency – Michael Gold and Kevin Draper (The New York Times, November 7, 2020).

NEXT: Bye Bye

See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• Election Eve Thoughts
• Election Day USA, 2020
• We Cannot Allow a Biden Win to Mean a Return to “Brunch Liberalism”
• Eight Leading Progressive Voices on Why They’re Voting for Biden
• A Means to the End (of the Trump Presidency)
• Chadwick Boseman’s Timeless Message to Young Voters: “You Can Turn Our Nation Around”
• Heather Cox Richardson on the Unravelling of President Trump
• Deep Gratitude
• My Summer of Supporting Progressive Down-Ballot Candidates
• Progressive Perspectives on the Biden-Harris Ticket

Images: Michael J. Bayly.