Íslensk útgáfa kemur innan tíðar
A decade ago I had a conversation with one of the pioneer leaders in disability activism in the UK. In the midst of our conversation he teared up and told me he was so afraid my generation and future generations would not understand the hard work of disabled people making their way from complete segregation, isolation and institutionalisation and it would affect setbacks. A part of me thought I understood him and a part of me was a little bit annoyed by being lectured as a young woman by an older man.
In the past years minority groups have experienced deep hurtful backlash represented by government actions, increased brutal and explicit hate speech, hate crimes and murder.
The reelection of Donald Trump, president of the United States is a symbolisation of not only a backlash but a harsh pushback against social justice. Not only does he stand for inhumane values but also walks his horrible talk by breaking down policies, laws and practices that dismisses the struggle of marginalised communities back to our ancestors and the equal opportunities and safety net that we have fought for with tooth and nail through history.
Section 54 in the Rehabilitation act from 1973 was a fundamental win for disability rights activists and the disability community in the US. It prohibits all entities that receive federal funding from discriminating against disabled people. Now Trump and his buddies want to get rid of it. To quote Rebekah Taussig, a disability activist, writer and absolute trailblazer from the US; ‘Not only was this law written to make sure that students with disabilities, from cerebral palsy to ADHD to a temporarily broken leg, are provided the reasonable accommodations they need to participate meaningfully in their school community, but it prevents a landlord from turning someone away just because they have low vision, an employer from refusing to hire a qualified applicant solely because that person uses a wheelchair, and hospitals from declining to provide interpreters for deaf patients.’ I know the list continues. This is dangerous, even life threatening.
I am scared. Not just for my bself as disabled and my community. Not just for my partner and son who are black people. Not just for my fellow activists and friends who are trans. Not only for people living in the states. I fear for the future. I fear for children who will be raised in these traumatic circumstances. For families that will be torn apart. For people who thought Trump would safe them. For the affect for us all having one of the most powerful man in the world being a criminal, abuser, bully, ableist, racist, sexist, trans fobe.
When writing this speech I thought about what I wanted to say to our government. And to be honest I am tired of not being heard by them and don’t believe in them much. But we have a new government and I guess I should have hope. What I expect of them is that they stand firm on values of social justice, equity and human rights in all communication with the US government, even though they might not fully grasp these values themselves. I also expect them to use every single tiny and big opportunity to set them straight. Then finally, I expect them to not follow the dangerous footsteps America is taking. I expect a lot more of course but I want to use my last words here to talk about us who have to take the battle where we are standing. Activists and marginalised communities.
These days I think about my conversation with the UK pioneer a lot. I now share both his fears and tears. We are not responsible for this shit show and it’s not our fault. With that said, we have to deal with the consequences. I have the hope that we can find solidarity and work across borders because our liberation is bound with one another. I hope we can create a culture of community care that will sustain us leaving no one behind. We will probably fuck things up and it might get messy but it’s okay because we are human and this unpaid and undervalued labour is stupid hard. We have to stay accountable to ourselves and each other while prioritising gentleness towards each other too.
One of my favourite activists, writer and poet Audre Lorde has taught us so much about activism and revolutions. She said “We can learn to work and speak when we are afraid in the same way we have learned to work and speak when we are tired’ I think of those words often. What she also taught us, and is equally important; ‘Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation and that is an act of political warfare." May we continue together, tired, fearful, hopeful, fighting for a liveable planet, focused and also taking care of ourselves and each other.
Thank you!