There’s a Netflix documentary that should be required viewing for every American: “World War II: From the Frontlines.” Consisting largely of “home movies” shot by soldiers in the field — and on every side of the war — the series brings to life the immediacy, horror and sometimes humanity of the worldwide conflict that took 60 million lives between 1939 and 1945.
Woven throughout the film is the role of the Resistance. In virtually every country affected, men and women, and sometimes children fought diligently — and at great personal risk — to undermine the Nazi regime. Most of their work, of course, was done in secret, covertly, and often at night. Notably, Resistance efforts in the United States took the form of an isolationist “America First” movement concerned more with protecting American interests than in stopping the Nazi takeover of other countries.
As our country’s new leaders continue their isolationist bent and move us closer to what Hitler tried to achieve, we need to take heart in today’s Resistance, which is being fought openly, ferociously, and around the world.
As he promised to do, Trump has lifted the top off the Pandora’s Box of illegal, unconstitutional, degrading and inhumane acts, and GOP figureheads are loving it. We in Connecticut should be proud that our all-Democratic Congressional representatives often act with fortitude in standing up to Trump’s takeover of our Democratic institutions. They stand in sharp contrast to state GOP leaders, who, having chaffed under their minority status for so long, are clearly punch drunk on the perception of new power. Sure, they are telling ICE, come and round up our school children. Women’s rights? Not interested. The U.S. Constitution? An irrelevant old piece of paper. Equity and inclusion? Get rid of it. Books that make one think? Ban ‘em. Climate change? Phooey — who needs clean air and water?
If you care about any of these things, now is the time to step up and let your elected officials — in the State Legislature — know how you feel and how you want them to vote. It’s time to resist efforts by State GOP elected officials to “bend the knee” to the self-appointed Fuhrer.
In the meantime, many us could use something positive to dwell on. So let’s focus for a moment on the new Resistance. Here is a quick round-up of a few of the folks fighting back against Trump and his minions, for all our sakes.
Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, the prelate of the Episcopal Church, who handed Trump his ass in the most dignified and God-filled of ways. Watch her here:
Haley Popp, owner of the Hive Bakery in Flower Mound, Texas, who was inspired to begin making cookies with the likeness of Bishop Budde after the prelate’s speech. “We only got threatened with physical violence over the phone 5 times today,” Popp posted on Facebook. “We only got told they hope our bakery goes broke and we end up homeless 3 times today. We only got called fat and ugly 6 times today.” Meantime, the people of Flower Mound are turning out in droves to support the bakery — gobbling up so many of the subversive cookies that, according to the Austin American-Statesman, Hive Bakery is struggling to keep up with the demand. Yes, there are Resisters in Texas.
Anders Vistisen, a Danish member of the European Parliament, who told Trump that Greenland is not for sale and suggested he “f—- off.” Watch him here.
William Tong, Connecticut’s Attorney General, who joined the attorneys general of California, New York, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Vermont in issuing a joint statement asserting that it’s unconstitutional for the federal government to commandeer states to enforce federal laws.
Aodhan O’Riordain, the Irish Labor Party politician, who this week said, “I am done with the so-called ‘strong men’ who, if they had to live for one day in the shoes of an immigrant, a woman, or a trans person, would quiver in fear. I am appalled. So I resist. And Europe must resist because our history demands it.” Watch him here:
Chris Murphy, Connecticut’s senator, who was among the first to comment on Elon Murk’s Nazi salute, and whose questioning of Rep. Elise Stefanik, at a hearing on her nomination to be the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, forced her to try to explain her ludicrous stance that it was just a gesture of exuberance. Murphy read several responses from Alt-Right hate groups who were thrilled with Musk’s action. (By the way, for anyone still under the delusion this was just an “awkward gesture,” the film footage has been banned in Germany, because it is illegal there to give the Nazi salute.) Watch the exchange here:
Doug Ford, the controversial populist Canadian premier from Ontario, who wore a “Canada is Not for Sale” cap during an interview with Fox News’ idiot du jour, Jesse Watters. (Watters actually said every country should feel “privileged” to be taken over by the United States.) Ford has a Trump-like macho appeal for some Canadians, and he’s betting his fashion statement, which has already launched the sales of tens of thousands of the hats, will get under Trump’s thin skin, because some of them are bright red. Oh, Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
Lana Payne, Ford’s fellow Canadian, who serves as president of Unifor, the country’s largest private sector union. She is resisting Trump’s proposed tariffs by sounding the alarm to “Canadian workers, Canadian jobs and the Canadian economy” and urges her country to unite against Trump and say, “Not on our watch…stand fast, and stand strong.” See her here:
Eric Swalwell, the California congressman and former prosecutor, who condemned Trump’s mass pardon of the criminals who broke into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, saying, “Donald Trump just unleashed and released into our communities over a thousand criminals…Donald Trump does not back the blue; he backs the coup.” Watch him here:
And in the spirit of giving credit where it’s due, here are a few Republicans who — in stark contrast to anyone in the Connecticut GOP leadership — have had the guts to speak out. Yes, it took them long enough, but, better late than never, right?
Liz Cheney, the former GOP House member whose party turned on her like jackals when she did her job on the bipartisan committee investigating the events of Jan. 6, 2021.
Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, two Republican senators, who voted against Pete Hegseth, Trump’s grossly unqualified nominee to lead the Defense Department. They were joined by Mitch McConnell, former Senate Republican Leader, who also voted against Hegseth. (Never thought he’d do the right thing, but his was a significant vote.)
In fact, several former Trump officials who, having intimately seen his chicanery and mental instability, have denounced him. They include: former Defense Secretary Mark Jesper, former National Security Advisor John Bolton, former aide Sarah Matthews, and former president Mike Pence, who narrowly escaped being attacked by the Jan. 6 insurrectionists egged on by Trump.
Let’s not forget that as early as 2016, 50 prominent Republican national security and foreign policy experts signed a letter denouncing his presidency. (Incredibly, their warning was unheeded.)
And let’s give a shout-out to the many Connecticut groups (and local chapters of national groups) led by people who are actively resisting authoritarianism: the American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU), The Southern Poverty Law Center, Shoreline Indivisible, Black Lives Matter, Democracy Women in Action, Planned Parenthood, and Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS), to name but a few.
And finally, a word of thanks to the brave journalists who are still doing the tough job of seeking and telling the truth. Too many legacy media outlets are caving to Trump’s threats of retribution for truth-telling and accountability: notably ABC News and The Washington Post, which backed down when Trump threatened them. And CNN, which just a few years ago sued Trump for stripping White House correspondent Jim Acosta of his press pass, this week also caved.
With draconian executive orders and legislative proposals flooding the country, does any of this matter? Yes. It matters because every act of resistance, however small it may seem, encourages another. There exists in all humans the desire to belong. So, when united by a cause, numbers grow exponentially.
It takes guts for one person to resist. But even a few people can capitalize that “r” into Resistance. Remember, always, that action quells fear.
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Christine Palm, the former State Representative for the 36th District, is founding director of The Active Voice, LLC.