By Renato M. Reyes, Jr.
BAYAN President
When the US electoral dust settles, the people of the world will be left with no choice but to struggle on. Our militant solidarity goes out to the working class and progressive movements in the US who will now contend with the return of a fascist Trump regime.
There is no doubt that a Trump presidency will be met with a new wave of protests to end the genocide in Gaza and US wars overseas, to oppose racism and anti-immigrant policies , and to resist fascist measures and neoliberal economic policies. The only way forward for the people of the world greatly affected by US policies is to struggle against imperialism.
A Trump win represents the worsening crisis in the US and the urgent need to change the system. Trump harped on anti-immigrant and racist rhetoric while giving the people populist demagoguery throughout his campaign. Straight out of the fascist playbook, he capitalized on people’s fear in a period of economic crisis and uncertainty.
The Harris campaign meanwhile was likely affected by the backlash of the US-supported genocidal war in Gaza and the failure to address the worsening capitalist crisis in the US.
A Trump win will not mean an end to US wars and conflicts overseas. Filipinos must be wary to the fact that the unequal agreements with the US will likely remain and our country will continue to be used for US hegemonic interests and war provocations.
Oppressed peoples worldwide know that our liberation lies not with traditional politicians in the electoral arena. A deeper kind of change is needed, one that goes beyond the confines of an electoral system that is already skewed in favor of the wealthy and powerful.
In the end, it is important to look beyond the electoral struggle. Build true people’s power and anti-imperialist and anti-fascist solidarity. From Palestine to the Philippines, continue to fight the US war machine, organize and struggle for genuine liberation.###