Look at what you see in California. What is unmistakable is the aura of chaos, and I speak, not here, about the demonstrators. They are, in large part, reacting to government intrusion into their lives; the kidnappings of children, of old ladies, of gardeners, of really poor, working people trying to build a life in the richest country in the world. So, where does that chaos come from?
It comes from some of the richest people in the world. It comes from billionaires. It comes from Donald J. Trump. And you think only Elon Musk wants to rule the world? No. It is characteristic of billionaires to want to control everything around them because, essentially, they’re insecure about losing that which gives them, and their lives, distinction. And that’s money. That’s property. That’s wealth.
And this is wealth at war with the poor and some of the poorest people, not just in California, but in the United States entire. And these are people who just want to find a way to feed their families, their children, and build a life in the richest empire in the world. And it’s also about divide and conquer, because that, at its best, is the essence of politics. Not addition – division, destruction, divide, fear. Those are the notes and registers of this moment. And only protest, cohesion, unity, care, and love can defeat this chaos. May it be so. With love, not fear, this is Mumia Abu-Jamal.
