Since 2016, the far right has been laying the groundwork for a full-scale authoritarian takeover of the United States. They began by normalizing hate speech, discrediting the media, and openly attacking democracy itself. When the 2020 election results didn’t go their way, they incited a violent coup attempt on January 6th, 2021—a premeditated attack on our government, as confirmed by the bipartisan House Select Committee (House Select Committee on the January 6th Attack, 2022) [1].

Fast forward to 2024. The election was once again clouded with the influence of billionaires, voter suppression, and mass disinformation. But now, anyone questioning the results is called “crazy,” and the Democratic Party is too afraid to fight back. The reality? The ultra-rich control every aspect of our political system. Billionaires and corporate donors spent billions shaping this election, as documented by OpenSecrets.org [2]. Democracy isn’t being stolen—it’s being sold to the highest bidder.

And now, the new administration is wasting no time dismantling our rights.

This country has never been perfect. Slavery, Jim Crow, systemic racism, the war on women, mass incarceration—America’s history is built on oppression. But for a while, we were moving forward. Now, those in power are doing everything they can to drag us backward.

Nazism is no longer lurking in the shadows—it’s standing center stage at rallies, in Congress, and at the presidential inauguration itself. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported a 96% increase in white supremacist propaganda just last year, with hate groups openly aligning themselves with right-wing leaders [3]. Proponents of the Republican Party have been caught on camera throwing Nazi salutes at political events, as reported by Reuters[4]. If you think that’s an exaggeration, look around you. We are watching history repeat itself in real time.

Black Americans make up 13% of the U.S. population but a staggering 37% of the prison population (U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2023) [5]. Let’s break that down:

• In 2019, Black individuals made up 26.6% of all arrests—yet somehow, they make up over a third of all prisoners (FBI: Crime in the U.S., 2019) [6].
• Meanwhile, white Americans, who make up the majority of the population, are underrepresented in prison statistics.

This isn’t about “crime rates.” This is about systemic racism in sentencing, policing, and incarceration. And the new administration? They’re only making it worse. They’ve vowed to expand police power, increase mandatory sentencing, and roll back reforms that could reduce wrongful imprisonment. If you are a person of color in America, you are statistically more likely to end up in prison than to receive justice.

Stay aware. Stay careful. Protect yourself.

To my trans and non-binary friends: This administration is trying to erase you from existence.

One of their first executive orders? Redefining gender under federal law, making it impossible for trans individuals to legally exist in many areas of public life (AP News, 2024) [7]. New restrictions on passports and federal IDs mean that non-cis people are now trapped without the ability to legally identify as who they are.

This is state-sponsored dehumanization. It is an intentional attempt to strip away your rights, your safety, and your place in society. And they are just getting started.

You already know what’s happening. They started with overturning Roe v. Wade. Now, abortion is banned or severely restricted in 21 states (Guttmacher Institute, 2024) [8]. But they’re not stopping at abortion. They’re coming after contraception, IVF, and even your right to travel across state lines for healthcare.

This isn’t just about controlling reproductive rights. It’s about controlling YOU.

When women lose control over their bodies, they lose economic power, personal safety, and autonomy. The wage gap will widen, domestic abuse will rise, and millions will be left trapped in financial and personal hell (National Women’s Law Center, 2023) [9].

For many of you, resistance is dangerous. Some of you live with partners who would turn violent if they knew you were reading this. Some of you live in communities where speaking out could put a target on your back. If that’s you, I say this: start small.

Find allies. Hide cash. Get educated. Do what you can to take back control—one step at a time.

We at Stick It to the Fascists refuse to stand by while this country is torn apart. We are launching a newsletter to keep you informed on the latest political attacks, how they impact each community, and most importantly—how you can fight back.

We won’t be silenced. Neither should you.

Stay vigilant. Stay angry. Resist.

Sources:

1. House Select Committee on the January 6th Attack. (2022). Final Report of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.
2. OpenSecrets.org. (2024). Billionaire Contributions in U.S. Elections.
3. Anti-Defamation League. (2024). Hate and Extremism Report: Rising White Supremacy in America.
4. Reuters. (2024).  France's Bardella cancels CPAC speech over Bannon 'Nazi' Salute
5. U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2023). Prisoners in the United States, Demographic Data.
6. FBI. (2019). Crime in the United States: Arrest Data by Race.
7. AP News. (2024). New Gender Identification Restrictions in Federal Documentation.
8. Guttmacher Institute. (2024). State Abortion Policies and Their Impact.
9. National Women’s Law Center. (2023). Economic Impacts of Abortion Bans on Women and Families.