The first chapter in historian Timothy Snyder’s 2017 book, “On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century,” is “Do Not Obey in Advance.”
Corporate America, especially its leaders from the billionaire class, apparently didn’t find time to read Snyder’s slim volume, because even before Election Day, they began to obey in advance. Major newspaper owners killed planned endorsements of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, for example. And after the election, news and social media business owners started showering Donald Trump’s inauguration fund with money.
The news since the inauguration regularly includes reports of companies killing off diversity, equity and inclusion programs as the Trump administration engages in a blitzkrieg attack on DEI in government agencies and programs.
Among the targets of the crackdown have been undocumented immigrants and members of the LGBTQIA community, especially trans people. The Chicago Tribune reported this morning (Feb. 6) that the effect apparently has already reached into the state. A woman reports her son was denied chest surgery by University of Illinois Health in response to Trump’s executive order banning gender affirming surgery for anyone under the age of 19.
The administration is so thorough in its assault on DEI that the United States Military Academy at West Point even closed down social clubs for nonwhite students.
“Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power what it can do,” Snyder says in the epigraph to the first chapter.
I don’t know if Cook County government officials read Snyder’s book, but during a news conference Thursday, Feb. 6, they showed they understand the concept, and they emphatically declared they aren’t going to give ground without a fight.
County Board President Toni Preckwinkle started the news conference by noting that the Trump administration is “undermining the programs and policies that protect working families, immigrants, and the most vulnerable among us. Let me be equally clear. Cook County will stand firm in its commitment to justice and equity.
“Now is the time to protect all the people that we serve. Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen a wave of executive orders and directives from the Trump administration designed to disrupt the safety net that millions of our residents rely on in their attempts to freeze federal assistance. Their intentions made clear housing assistance, food programs and access to healthcare are all at risk. These aren’t just budget lines, they’re literal lifelines for families, seniors and children in Cook County,” Preckwinkle said.
Dr. Erik Mikatis, CEO of Cook County Health, spoke about how system staff are prepared to ensure everyone who needs care gets care in spite of the fear generated by new federal initiatives, specially those targeting immigrants.
“We’re hearing that people are too afraid to leave home even to get medical care and they aren’t just missing regular checkups, but crucial appointments like for chemotherapy. To help address this, we’re promoting telehealth and virtual care options,” he said. “For nearly 200 years, we’ve weathered policy changes, funding disruptions and more. We remain steadfast and resilient in carrying out our historic mission.”
Sharone Mitchell, representing the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, pledged to continue legal services in spite of any challenges presented by federal policy changes.
Commissioners representing Homewood and Flossmoor, Donna Miller and Kisha McCaskill, were among the 11 commissioners who stood with Preckwinkle behind the podium.
Miller, who represents the 6th District, including Homewood, noted that references to maternal health programs were being scrubbed from federal government websites.
“We’re not gonna erase it because we’re still gonna work towards maternal health. We’re not gonna erase reproductive freedom for women because we’re still gonna work towards reproductive freedom. We’re not gonna erase LGBTQIA rights because we’re going to still work towards that,” she said.
McCaskill, recently appointed 5th District Commissioner, expressed solidarity with her colleagues. She represents Flossmoor.
“As our federal government seeks to remove the threads that keep the quilt of America together, I stand firmly with our board President Toni Preckwinkle and my colleagues in the efforts to protect those who have come to this country to seek refuge,” she said.
“No one understands the power of oppression more than Black people. We empathize with those who come seeking asylum. But as we do, let us not forget to take care of home. Let us not forget that there are Black people in these communities who seek refuge every day, and they too need services and resources. So we stand on the promise of our Pledge of Allegiance … to ensure justice for all.”
The county’s resolve is being tested immediately. The U.S. Department of Justice filed suit Thursday morning challenging the sanctuary policies of the state, the county and the City of Chicago.
Preckwinkle was asked by a reporter about the lawsuit. She said she was not aware of it.
“We’re going to fight back,” she said. “We will pursue every legal opportunity to defend the programs that we believe in and defend our values.”
At the media availability following the county board meeting Thursday, Preckwinkle noted that Chicago’s sanctuary city efforts began during the Harold Washington administration in the 1980s. The county adopted sanctuary status in 2008.
