#title Two Short Speeches on SCOTUS Tyranny #author Eric Fleischmann #LISTtitle Two Short Speeches on SCOTUS Tyranny #SORTauthors Eric Fleischmann #SORTtopics democracy, abortion, legal system, Occupy Wall Street, Thomas Jefferson #date July 22nd, 2022 #source Retrieved 7/22/22 from https://c4ss.org/content/55687. #lang en #pubdate 2022-07-22T23:58:27 *** From a 2020 protest against the Trump SCOTUS appointment: Even assuming the legitimacy of the state to begin with, the Supreme Court is not as it should be! Thomas Jefferson was correct when he wrote the following: “For intending to establish three departments, coordinate and independent, that they might check and balance one another, it has given, according to this opinion, to one of them alone the right to prescribe rules for the government of the others, and to that one, too, which is unelected by and independent of the nation.” The powers of the Court have worked in the interest of the people at times—in the expansion of civil rights, reproductive rights, financial rights. I, as a queer [individual], am grateful that my right to someday marry whoever I want to was—and I want to be clear—not given to me but returned to me. However, it must not be forgotten that these expansions of liberty were instigated by the people through the application of pressure by the people. The Supreme Court carries with it an immense danger in its concentration of undemocratic power. This is the only so-called ‘democracy’ in the world that has lifelong tenure for the appointments in the highest court of its entire institution! This is the only so-called ‘democracy’ where the passing of one individual can put in imminent danger the reproductive, civil, financial, and basic human rights of generations to come! It is therefore of the utmost importance that we exert our will; that we force democracy into those places of power that the ruling elite do not want it to be! We cannot allow this administration—in defiance of the Republicans’ own precedent—to appoint a Supreme Court Justice! [Certain politicians have] said [they] will vote against the appointment, but [they have] given [themselves] enough wiggle room, [they have] gone back on her word enough times that we cannot sit idly by. We cannot be content! We cannot trust [them]! We must apply pressure! We must demonstrate democracy; like those at Occupy Wall Street who set up encampments, created assemblies, publicly demonstrated their outrage and their discontent at this system as well as their hope and optimism for a people’s future! Noam Chomsky writes: “Democracy is always harmful to elite interests. Almost by definition.” Therefore, I say this: all power to all the people! [Politicians], you are not what democracy looks like! This is what democracy looks like! We are what democracy looks like! All power to all the people! *** From a 2022 protest in response to the leaked Roe v. Wade SCOTUS decision: I’m only going to take a moment to speak as this is not about me. But I was asked to talk here to cis men, non-binary amab folks like myself, and those without uteruses and with privilege. So I say to those folks, we need to act! We are living in a time where it is in some places illegal to help people with uteruses get the reproductive care they need. This will only become more common if Roe v. Wade is overturned. And because of this we should not be allies, we should be accomplices! We need to help people get the care they need regardless of what the state says. Legality is not morality! Send money to Planned Parenthood [and local abortion funds]! Send money to bail funds for both protestors and those penalized for seeking out healthcare! Spread information about abortion pill access! Become trustworthy confidants for those put in jeopardy right now so they can go to you for covert help! Shit, you can even help pay for your friend’s abortion. This may not be about us, but we still need to get involved!