What We Must Do Now - Robert Reich Speaks at Berkeley Rally - April 17, 2025 - Robert Reich

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In these dark times, it is necessary to be part of the contagion of courage. I gave this speech on the UC-Berkeley campus in protest of the Trump regime’s attacks on higher education.

My hope is that everyone who puts their reputations and their livelihoods on the line to oppose the Trump regime’s lawlessness and cruelty will summon scores of others to do the same.

Every person who stands up against tyranny invites thousands of others to stand up.
Many of us worry that we could be next on Trump’s enemies list — or an indirect casualty — and then what would we do?

But when we find ourselves surrounded by courageous people and brave institutions, we can more easily find courage inside ourselves.

When we go to a rally or a demonstration and feel the courage of our neighbors and friends, we gain strength.

Tyrants prey on people who feel unsafe and vulnerable. That’s the attraction of Trumpism — offering a false sense of security and inclusion. That’s what Hitler did as well, and Stalin, and all the other “strongmen” in history who ended up murdering millions.

But as we resist Trump’s tyranny, we gain solidarity — and as we feel the solidarity, we fill up with courage.

Every institution, group, firm, or individual that surrenders to Trump’s tyranny invites more of it. - 04/17/2025.