Last week I watched the historical series The Last Czars and the movie Gandhi. They reminded me of the two videos I had seen earlier in the week: one of George Floyd being suffocated to death by a policeman, the other of President Trump parading to a church across from the White House for a photo-op after police had cleared the area of protestors using chemical grenades and helicopters. Both the series and the film illustrated how citizens who unite around a common cause can overwhelm what appear to be invincible power structures. Both videos highlighted the dire need for change in this country and the importance of citizens coming together to demand it.

When Russian soldiers realized that Nicholas II was not concerned about their plight, they deserted in droves, leaving the Czar defenseless against mob rule. He abdicated, ending 300 years of Romanov rule.

Gandhi convinced the 350 million Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh  British colonial subjects that if they spoke with one voice and took collective action, such as conducting general strikes and confronting the British with non-violence, they would win independence. They did, ending 200 years of British colonial rule.

Most police killings or presidential failures of judgment hit the headlines and then move out of sight and our consciousness with seemingly little impact. But they don’t disappear. They linger in the air until yet another event may finally galvanize us to demand change. That moment has finally arrived.

 Before these two recent events, the criminalization of black men[1], income inequality, climate change, and Trump’s domestic and international politics of tribalism, were all bubbling to the surface but had not reached a boil. George Floyd’s murder recharged the Black Lives Matter movement, and protests against racial discrimination spread around the world in less than a week.  President Trump’s use of the U.S. military against civilians and his use of a church as political prop finally caused many silent dissenters to speak out forcefully 

Dangerous as it is to make a prediction in such chaotic times, I believe that we will look back ten years from now and see these weeks as a watershed moment in the United States experiment. And I hope all those who read this blog and agree with me will help make that happen. If you sit this one out on the sidelines, I believe you will look back ten years from now and conclude that you did not do your part when you had a unique opportunity to do so.

Trump has alienated a majority of those with whom he will need to work if he wishes to make progress on domestic and international issues or win a second term in November.

These recent events in America and the ensuing U.S. and global backlash, suggest that pushback against President Trump has now taken hold and that the momentum has shifted.

And, those pushing back are not only ordinary American citizens but many in the establishment, both currently in power and retired. For example, the U.S. military is now deeply disturbed by Trump’s politicizing their profession, including General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who apologized on June 10th for participating in the photo op alongside President Trump.

Highly respected former U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis said it very clearly last week :

Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people -- does not even pretend to try. Instead, he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership. We can unite without him, drawing on the strengths inherent in our civil society.

Conservative columnist George Will was even more prescriptive when he wrote last week:

Trump must be removed, and so must his congressional enablers.

Several leading Republicans, including former President George W. Bush, Colin Powell, Senator Romney, and Senator Murkowski, have indicated that they will not vote for Trump.

And, a group of prominent Republicans and Democrats who fear that political tribalism is taking the country down a path to disaster have formed the organization www.InThisTogetherAmerica.org to work across the political divide towards a shared, positive vision for the United States. They aim to solve problems rather than polarize:

We are “Solution Citizens” – resisting ideological litmus tests and interest group manipulation as we work together for pragmatic, real-world solutions for climate change, democracy, education, justice, and the health of ourselves, family, community, country, and planet. 

All these leaders have provided cover for other members of the military, Republican members of congress, and wealthy conservatives to speak out.

When people ask me: “But, what can I do?” My answer is:

Become an activist and support groups like The Sunrise Movement and other youth-led non-violent groups working to address global warming, inequality, and racism, while creating millions of jobs by transitioning to a green economy.

And, do your civic duty and vote to remove President Trump and his enablers in the U.S. Senate from office so our great nation can get on with the enormous challenges we face.

[1] I encourage you to see The 13th on Netflix