GUEST OP-ED: ‘Yes, I’m Celebrating’ —Julie DeLaurier of Rise and Resist NYC
“America, this is New York's gift to you—Trump's first criminal convictions. 34 down—54 to go. May we get to the other side of our national nightmare. May we keep our democracy.”—Julie DeLaurier
“For eight years our country has been hijacked by a traitorous criminal demagogue.”—Julie DeLaurier
Here’s my friend Julie DeLaurier in blue on MSNBC:
She is an activist and a patriot, who has been working to expose Fox’s lie factory for years. She works with both Rise and Resist NYC and Truth Tuesdays/Truth Over Fox.
When I saw this image of her, I immediately asked her to write a guest op-ed. I believe it’s important to celebrate democratic wins — exhale — and then get right back to work. Here is Julie, celebrating:
Yes, I’m Celebrating
by Julie DeLaurier
Last night I and my fellow Rise and Resist activists gathered outside the courthouse to celebrate Trump's conviction on all 34 counts brought against him by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. This morning we met again with our "GUILTY" and "LOSER" signs at Trump Tower as the convicted felon gave a rambling, incoherent press conference inside.
On both occasions, I was asked by reporters, was I happy about the outcome — was I celebrating? Their tone was gently scolding. I was being cued to respond that, oh no, this is a somber day for America. A former president has been convicted of crimes! This is a grave occasion — it's unbecoming to celebrate.
I said without apology, yes, I am celebrating.
For eight years our country has been hijacked by a traitorous criminal demagogue. Trump violently disrupted and seriously endangered the peaceful transfer of power. Even out of office he holds a grip on a spineless Republican party and contorts our democratic process. Trump — assisted by Fox News and Putin's troll farms — has poisoned the minds of nearly one-third of Americans, stoking them with blind fear and rage. (I've experienced this unhinged mania first-hand several times over the last eight years — certainly in the last couple of days.) Trump has made his plans to seize and hold onto power abundantly clear. In short, Donald Trump presents a serious threat to our democracy.
So yes, I am celebrating. Trump is finally a convicted criminal, and if that hurts his chances to seize the White House and wreak violent revenge on his political opponents, it's worthy of celebration. If it hurts his chances of enacting a federal abortion ban, let's celebrate. If it puts a crimp in his plans to deport 15-20 million people, I'll pop the champagne.
A jury of Donald Trump's peers found him guilty. This cannot be emphasized enough — a jury of his peers. They were not swayed by Fox's contorted lens of the trial (Fox ignored the actual court proceedings and reported instead on the Trump circus outside the court). They were not fed disinformation by Putin's troll farms. The jury was presented with mountains of hard evidence; heard testimony from former Trump associates. Trump's lawyers presented their best defense in the face of that evidence and testimony. Trump had the opportunity to testify in his own defense. He declined. The evidence, the testimony, the prosecution's case convinced a jury of Donald Trump's peers to find him guilty on all 34 counts.
America, this is New York's gift to you — Trump's first criminal convictions. 34 down. 54 to go.
On to November. May we get to the other side of our national nightmare. May we keep our democracy, live up to America's promise, and celebrate together.—Julie DeLaurier, activist/patriot
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Begin each day with a grateful heart.
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Here is RadPod’s interview with the amazing Julie:
Illustration, courtesy Steve Brodner
