The battle against fascism in Florida

[Nevilledog]

https://www.salon.com/2023/05/14/the-battle-against-fascism-in-florida-lessons-on-how-to-beat-back-authoritarianism-from-abroad/

Florida has become the epicenter of a struggle between authoritarianism and those committed to freedom and justice for all. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 election, actively campaigned for election deniers, embraced divide-and-rule politics, and enacted extreme policies that gut fundamental freedoms enshrined in Florida's and the US Constitution. These policies, grounded in racial resentment, misogyny, homophobia, and the punishment of opponents using state power, come straight from the global authoritarian playbook and are already spreading from Florida to other state legislatures across the country. Attacks on fundamental rights and freedoms are only likely to accelerate should DeSantis' clear 2024 presidential ambitions be realized.

But Floridians are not sitting idly by.

Daily walkouts, sit-ins, marches and teach-ins led by students, teachers, parents, and other civic groups are happening across the state. People are sounding the alarm about the existential threat to US democracy DeSantis represents, while mobilizing around an alternative vision of a Florida for all. Stopping DeSantis' march to the White House will take a united democratic front of movements, labor organizers, business and faith leaders, veterans' groups, and exile communities both inside Florida and across state borders. Beyond that, addressing the deeper roots of authoritarianism in America will require an even bigger and bolder movement that makes the triumph of a pluralistic, multi-racial democracy a generational achievement.

Part I: The Authoritarian Playbook

Twenty-first-century authoritarian leaders follow a similar playbook: build power by demonizing the "other," then use that power to punish any opposition and cut off any ways of threatening their power, typically by undermining elections, capturing democratic institutions, and neutralizing dissent.

Demonizing and dehumanizing the other is the first step. Would-be autocrats tap into people's fears related to safety, status, and well-being, and create scapegoats among marginalized communities. They establish these "others" as irredeemable enemies and argue that state power is necessary to suppress their threat. This strategy both mobilizes autocrats' supporters and suppresses their potential opponents.

*snip*

[FM123]

1. Yes. We are not sitting idly by.

We are bloodied and bruised and some days the battle fatigue feels overwhelming, but we will not just lay down and die.

[Nevilledog]

2. ...

[Cha]

3. Good on you all , FM!

Best of Luck!

I have to go to St Pete the end of September for my Nephew's wedding Oct 1..

I'm not letting deMussolini wannabe keep me away from that!

[FM123]

4. Have a wonderful time in St. Pete!

Thanks for the words of support, we will persist.

[Cha]

10. YVW!

[Johnny2X2X]

5. Florida is not lost

Last edited Mon May 15, 2023, 12:10 PM - Edit history (1)

It's still close to a 50-50 state and DeSantis is hurting the GOP cause there IMO.

We need to keep fighting for states like Florida, Ohio, and Texas, all 3 can be blue again.

[FM123]

8. Yes. We need to keep fighting.

[Kid Berwyn]

6. Good on ya, Florida!

We the People aren’t scared of bullies, NAZIs and the billionaires who pull their strings.

[mountain grammy]

7. I have family in Florida

they hate DeSantis. They are NOT sitting idly by.

[Cha]

11. Same here.. in Gainesville &

St Pete.. all Dems who abhor what he's doing to Florida.

[Tommy Carcetti]

9. Funny given that even on this website you have people claiming we're "beyond redemption."

Message to non-Floridians on this website:

We're very aware of the problem, and we're working our hardest to fix it.

Now, put down the Bugs Bunny gifs and "FloriDUH" references for now, m'kay?

[In It to Win It]

12. There is room for growth. Half the state doesn't bother to show up to vote. We have to engage

Florida is only red state for the foreseeable future if we don't fight for it. In certain states, the math is impossible for Democrats (and vice-versa for Republicans in other states). I don't think that's true for Florida.

14 million registered voters and only about 7.7 million of them voted in the last election. Lots of room there.