ANTI-RACISM DAILY

May 31, 2024

Study Hall: Can I celebrate Trump's conviction? And change my mind on the conflict in Gaza?

I’m so relieved to see that Trump is now a convicted felon. After all the pain he’s caused everyone it feels like a small step of accountability. But I don’t believe in our current justice system and I know it causes harm. Is it wrong for me to celebrate the system holding Trump accountable, even if I’d like to see the system overhauled?

Thank you for asking this question! I understand this tension and that tension isn’t unique to Trump’s case; we see similar questions related to perpetrators of domestic violence, murderers, and other actors of violence and terror.

I believe we can both find relief in seeing someone held accountable for their actions and criticize the system that does a poor job of exercising that accountability. Abolition isn’t about erasing consequences or accountability but rebuilding the practices we use to get there. A functioning society requires it, but it doesn’t have to be executed in a way that disproportionately harms the most vulnerable communities it should rally to protect.

You can honor this tension by normalizing it in conversations around Trump’s trial. Trump is now a convicted felon because of his actions. And, roughly 98% of federal felony convictions in the U.S. are decided by plea bargains, a practice that’s rife with racial bias. Trump’s experience as a felon will be drastically different than the average American due to his former presidency.

Also, I think this conviction reflects how unjust our system truly is. Yes, Trump was found guilty. But these charges didn’t come out of nowhere. Trump has been both protected and empowered by the same system to cause the harm you mentioned. The same system will allow him to run for president this year with a felony conviction, too. Is this conviction and its consequences commensurate to the harm? Does it provide a space for true accountability, reflection, and growth? Will a conviction or any (unlikely) prison time rehabilitate Trump to be a more positive member of society?

It’s taken me a while to fully understand the wide power imbalance between Palestinians and the state of Israel. I was too shocked by the actions of Hamas to see what was at stake. I’m afraid my support of Israel over the past few months has helped contribute to all the suffering. I don’t know what to do. I’m afraid to start speaking up now and look foolish. But I can’t support what I thought I knew. Is it too late to change my tone?

It’s never too late to join a movement, especially since solidarity with Palestine is more urgent now than ever. Acknowledging what you've learned and how your position has changed is the best way to be accountable to both this work and yourself.

The grassroots movement to center the dignity, safety and liberation of Palestinians during this round of the conflict was designed to shift perspectives. It seems it has helped shift yours. Honor it by joining in. Share how you arrived at a new perspective. Invite your community to join you. Highlight the resources that you used to get there. You are uniquely positioned to make some comprehensive change.

This conflict is so much bigger than our individual feelings. No one’s dignity should be held at the expense of our discomfort. Sitting with the emotions of “looking foolish” is a small price to pay if it can save millions of lives and rally more people to support efforts for a permanent ceasefire. The people sharing the resources that helped you shift your perspective have probably experienced intimidation, discrimination, and attacks (I know I have).

There’s no easy way to do the work. But the work must be done.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

Lastly, this isn’t a question, but a good callout from a reader. My newsletter on the Indian Removal Act earlier this week provided examples of different tribal nations who were impacted by the legislation. The article centers largely on removal of Indigenous Nations from southeast portions of Turtle Island (USA).

However, tribal nations across the country were impacted. A reader shared the story of the Potawatomi Nation, who was forcibly removed from their land in what we know as Indiana and forced to march to Kansas. 838 began the March. Over 60 died along the way, mostly children. This became known as the Trail of Death (Potawatomi). I encourage you to learn more about how the tribal nations closest to you have been impacted by legislation that’s dispossessed them of their lands.