As a civil rights lawyer and a Black man, I watched election night with a lot of worry. I knew that Donald Trump might become president again, which could lead to challenges for civil rights in the U. S. People from Black and LGBTQIA+ communities are feeling scared, and it's strong. Some have already received hateful racist texts. These messages remind us of a dangerous past, and it's like the start of a new wave of racialized violence. This is a big warning sign.

Past problems with civil rights under Trump's administration should make us all concerned. The Department of Justice didn't do a good job protecting these rights. They repealed important agreements that kept police accountable. After George Floyd's death, they also didn't investigate deeply enough. During this time, hate crimes increased, but the government didn't respond properly. It's scary to think what could happen to our rights if Trump returns.

People like Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery might not have gotten justice if protests hadn't happened. Their stories could have been ignored. If Trump comes back, there's a plan to use the military against protesters. This could mean we won't learn about or protect other victims of racialized violence. Our civil rights are important for our democracy. They need to be protected. Trump wasn't good at this before, and it might be even worse this time.

We can't let this happen. We need to talk about the dangers to our civil rights. We should support groups like the Legal Defense Fund and the ACLU. They can help protect our rights when the government might not. If we don't act, it could change our democracy for the worse.

A Lawyer's Fear: Trump's Return Could Harm Civil Rights

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