NORTH WILDWOOD – The election of President Donald Trump has set off a wave of resistance by progressives across the country. Ironically the structure for that resistance is in part coming from the past success of the right-wing Tea Party coalition.
On Feb. 4, almost 4,000 separate local progressive groups joined under the banner “indivisibles.” They formed a joint movement to oppose the Trump Administration policies.
What the indivisible movement has taken from the tea party is a focus on local politics as a way of influencing national efforts by the Trump Administration.
In South Jersey this means that groups like the South Jersey Committee to Action, based in Ocean City, the Women’s March Action Committee of South Jersey, based in Linwood, the Down Jersey Coalition in Greenwich, the Monmouth County Progressive Coalition and dozens of similar groups are listed on the website of the “Indivisible Team.”
On Feb. 24, the Community Center in North Wildwood hosted the inaugural meeting of the Cape May County Indivisible.
About 40 individuals from around the county gathered in a conference room to pledge their cooperation with the opposition movement. They came from Upper Township and Cape May Point and ranged in age from 13 to 85.
The participants pledged cooperation, monthly meetings, and efforts to grow their numbers. Participants were encouraged to join a next day protest at U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo’s (R-2nd) office in Mays Landing over the dismantling of the Affordable Care Act.
A limit of 12 from the group was able to sign-up for a later scheduled meeting with LoBiondo’s staff to discuss issues.
Participants spoke in turn about the myriad issues that concern them, issues as varied as the rejection of global warming, threats to Lesbian, Bisexual Gay and Transgender rights, economic inequality, threats to a free press, and many others.
Yet this was not just a losing side voicing opposition to a long-standing Republican agenda. What participants said united this group was opposition to Trump’s brand of America First populism.
In the Trump victory, these progressives see overt acceptance of hatred and prejudice, as well as a turning away from American values of inclusiveness and fairness.
Much as the Tea Party emerged in passionate opposition to expanded government at the start of President Barack Obama’s administration, this new coalition has taken shape in an attempt to thwart Trump’s agenda.
Many of the older participants had memories of progressive wars in the past.
They had lived through and protested against the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal. They had taken to the streets to support the civil rights movement, environmental causes, women’s rights, and LBGT rights.
One issue that energized discussion was the Trump Administration positions of immigration.
True to the goal of keeping their eye on the local, many expressed concern about the fact that Cape May County has signed a 287(g) agreement with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Under a 287(g) agreement, local Sherriff’s Department officers would be deputized to perform immigration law enforcement activities.
Many of those at this meeting saw numerous negatives attached to having local officers engaged in this manner. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement website lists only three other county corrections and law enforcement agencies in New Jersey as participating in this program.
Here again was a local focus for the opposition to Trump Administration policies. Some participants pledged to take their opposition to the freeholders.
One woman noted that she looks at her country now and “I no longer recognize where I am.”
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.
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