The Fight Ahead: Protecting Marginalized People in the Era of Trump’s Return

By Ericka Williams Rodriguez, Serenity Solidarity

As people living in close-knit communities or as those who aspire to create and sustain communal living environments, it is evident (to me, anyway) that the necessity of mutual support/mutual aid is not just a moral imperative but a fundamental aspect of thriving together. The scope of this support cannot, and must not, be confined solely to the people within our immediate circle or community. True communal solidarity requires us to expand our reach, extend a helping hand beyond the boundaries of our familiar networks, and create a broader system of interconnectedness that nurtures and strengthens all individuals. Only through such expansive support can we build resilient, compassionate societies that uplift everyone. Only through this support can we truly call ourselves allies and activists.

Image taken from ‘How to Make a Mutual Aid Map’

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iG7A2UF87-vFOzl0mXEtJt-uf64c8AGvtdezxLfLWDU/edit?usp=drivesdk

As we step into 2025, the struggle for justice and equity for marginalized communities demands our urgent and relentless attention. We are going to have to fight, and fight hard. Marginalized people continue to face systemic barriers that threaten their survival and dignity. The path to a more just world is neither inevitable nor easy. It will require fierce, unwavering advocacy and action to dismantle the inequities that persist and deepen suffering. If we are to honor our shared humanity, we must recognize that this fight is not optional; it is a moral imperative that will define our future. We are going to have to step up in ways that may be hard and uncomfortable. The return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency is not just a political setback; it is an existential threat to the very fabric of our society. For those of us who live on the fringes— undocumented people, Black and Brown people, immigrants, trans people, incarcerated people, poor people —the next four years will demand more than just resistance. They will require a deep commitment to each other, solidarity, creativity, and our collective action.

There’s a reality that cannot be ignored: if we are to win this fight, the people who have long benefitted from systems of privilege—those with wealth, property, and power—must step up in ways they never have before.

Appalachian-based Pansy Collective, a queer mutual aid group that helped with relief efforts after Hurricane Helene.

For too long, people with privilege have distanced themselves from the suffering of marginalized communities. Many claim to be anti-racist, in solidarity with peace and justice movements, or deeply connected to spirituality. Many have quietly watched as policies that harm marginalized people have flourished, whether through the criminalization of undocumented immigrants or the systemic violence that plagues Black and Indigenous people. Sure, many give up a few hours in a day to March for Palestine or for Indigenous rights, and that is important- but would they take an undocumented single mother into their home or give up some of their beloved money, and -gasp- risk possible instability in their own lives, to make sure someone has food to eat or a roof over their head?

With Trump’s return to power, we stand at a crossroads. His administration has made it clear that the lives of undocumented people, trans people, and Black and Brown communities will be under attack. On day one of his presidency. From deportation raids and separating undocumented families, to emboldened racial profiling by police, to attacks on trans people’s lives, and the destruction of key civil rights protections, such as those that safeguard voting rights and fight discrimination in education and housing, will all worsen under Trump.

Jewish Voice for Peace risking their freedom to protest the genocide in Palestine.

Trump is expected to prioritize fossil fuel industry interests over climate action, undoing important environmental regulations and pulling out of international climate agreements. Under Trump, the U.S. will not take action to address the growing climate crisis, which disproportionately affects vulnerable communities, including Indigenous communities and people in low-income areas. I expect climate activists to be even more harshly pursued and prosecuted , and for there to be severe penalties for those trying to stop cop cities and the genocide in Gaza.

This is where we—those of us who are fighting for justice—need those with land, wealth, and privilege to understand that they are not exempt from this fight. Historically, it is the marginalized, the oppressed, who have been called upon to resist. And yet, time and again, our struggles have been disregarded by those in positions of power and privilege. As an Afro-Indigenous activist committed to supporting people who cannot support themselves, and to building and supporting community land projects where BIPOC are centered, I know that land is not just a commodity; it is a life source. It is the space where we grow our food, where we house our families, where we reclaim our histories. This is why the fight for land, and the right to self-determination, is central to everything we do. But it is also why we need others to see how this fight is bigger than any one community—it is a fight for the survival of all.

There are many intentional communities, churches, and regular people who have lots and lots of land, extra space in their houses and buildings, and money saved for a ‘rainy day’. Well while they are trying not to get wet, we are drowning. They may not think of it as extra, but it is more than they need. For too long as a society we have acquired more than we need at the terrible expense and suffering of others. We consume resources far beyond what is necessary for our own well-being, frequently at the expense of poorer nations and communities. We acquire huge pieces of land just so that we have private woods to walk in. From excessive energy usage, which contributes to climate change, to the insatiable demand for cheap goods that exploit workers in developing countries. We rely on global supply chains that extract resources—whether raw materials, labor, or land—at unsustainable rates, leaving local populations in poverty while enriching multinational corporations. This imbalance is fueled by policies and systems that Trump and his cabinet will uphold and expand. Systems that prioritize profit over people, leading to environmental degradation, economic inequality, and the displacement of vulnerable people. The resulting exploitation perpetuates cycles of poverty and limits access to resources for those who need them most, while those with privilege continue to live in comfort. You have heard this all before. I’m not telling you anything that you don’t already know. What is worse? To go without, or to cause others to suffer because you won’t give up your comforts.

Immigrant Community Defense: https://www.immigrantdefenseproject.org/what-we-do/advocacy/community-defense/

For people of wealth, property, and privilege, the protection of marginalized communities is not just an act of charity or solidarity; it is a matter of survival for the soul of this nation. If they AGAIN fail to protect the rights of undocumented people, Indigenous people, and Black and Brown people, they will lose more than the trust and friendship of BIPOC allies; they will lose their humanity. This is not a distant issue or an abstract cause. The policies that will be enacted under Trump’s administration—whether through harsher immigration laws, new barriers to voting, or police state expansions—will target those who already face the harshest realities. But the ripple effects will be felt by everyone, including those who benefit from the current system.

We cannot afford to wait for others to step up. Marginalized people have always had to build from the ground up, carving out spaces of resistance and resilience in a world that seeks to erase our presence. Yet, while we continue to fight and build, we need those who control vast resources to recognize the urgency of this moment.

In a world where compassion and humanity should know no borders, opening our homes or sharing part of our land with marginalized people is a powerful act of solidarity. These individuals are simply striving for a better life—just as we would if we were in their shoes. By offering them shelter or land, we not only provide a safe space but also affirm their dignity and humanity. Remember that our wealth is not measured solely by possessions but by the kindness and generosity we extend to those in need. We can create a world where no one is left behind, where every person can feel valued and supported and have their needs met, regardless of their immigration status, gender, or color.

People with privilege also need to use their economic power to support grassroots initiatives and community land projects that serve to protect and uplift undocumented communities, Black and Brown people, and Indigenous nations. Money is a tool that can either be used to reinforce systems of oppression, or dismantle them. By investing in land reparations, supporting sanctuary cities, and funding legal services for those under threat of deportation or incarceration, they can directly contribute to collective liberation.

It is time for those with influence to stand alongside us in protest, in policy change, in direct action, and in advocacy. You must use your platforms to speak truth to power, to challenge the white supremacy that fuels Trump’s policies, and to demand accountability from all levels of government.

We must understand that this fight is not only about protecting the most vulnerable. It is about a collective vision for a better and more equitable future. When Trump comes into office once again, his agenda will continue to benefit the wealthy and oppress the poor. But wealth does not guarantee safety. Look at the United Healthcare executive. True safety and security can only come when we build a world where justice is not a privilege but a right for all.

In this fight, there will be no neutral ground. We either stand up for the lives of the most marginalized or we allow the systems of hate, fear, and division to deepen. We need solidarity, not pity. We need action, not book clubs and discussion groups. We need to come together to protect the most vulnerable, to fight for land, for safety, and for dignity for all people. This is the work ahead. And if those with wealth and privilege don’t step up, we will remember who stayed silent and who chose to fight. We will hold the line, but we need you to at least stand beside us, if not in front of us.

This is a call to action, a call to remember our shared humanity, and a call to make sure that when history looks back at 2025, it remembers that we did not give up. We did not give in. We fought for the people who needed us most—and we won.

If you would like to be paired with a marginalized person, family, or group that you can support directly, please reach out to Serenity Solidarity at Serenitycmty@gmail.com or please find your own people to support. They are everywhere.