Speaking in Chicago in 1954 on human rights, German-born Nobel Prize winner and Theoretical Physicist, Albert Einstein raised a critical question the world is confronting once again. “Fear…has led to practices which have become incomprehensible to the rest of civilized mankind and exposed our country to ridicule. How long shall we tolerate that politicians, hungry for power, try to gain political advantages in such a way?” 70 years later, his words echo through the relativity of time and space.

Today, there is a growing movement that seeks to use the legal system and every available government resource to intimidate, silence, imprison, remove, bankrupt, and subvert its residents and citizens. This movement is driven by a quest for power and ideological supremacy where foundational human rights are sacrificed in the interest of “national security” against “foreigners” or “woke ideology.” 

Intimidation and forced silencing of citizens is a real and growing threat. This is not hyperbole. Earlier this week, a graduate student of Columbia University in New York, Mahmoud Khalil, was arrested and swiftly taken out of state away from his wife and rightful legal resources. The government, claiming to be protecting Americans from “terrorist activity” and “anti-semitism,” is sending a warning to young activists—especially those on college campuses—that they too will be targeted. It’s a chilling reality being played out in real-time that is all too reminiscent of authoritarian regimes and dictatorships. Look no further than the imprisonment and wrongful death of dual-nationality, Alexei Navalny in Russia. 

The irony of the current administration’s claim to be protecting American citizens and Jewish people against anti-semitism is contradicted by its relationship and collaboration with Neo-Nazi and alt-right extremist groups. This includes the hiring of Elon Musk who has a demonstrated history of amplifying Nazi sympathizer narratives, white nationalism, and peddle in anti-semitism.[1] This behavior has gone unchecked and largely unaddressed by the administration, signaling apathy (at best) or endorsement (at worst). The blatant disregard for authenticity and consistency is astounding, even among the casual observer.

While not always lawful or constructive, protesting is a necessary and protected right in a healthy democracy. The power of protest awakens the consciousness of society toward a higher moral ground. Einstein’s address in Chicago served as a public warning to Americans in his time on the growing infringement of universal human rights by unchecked reactionary political powers and overreaching governments. 

“In talking about human rights today, we are referring primarily to the following demands: protection of the individual against arbitrary infringement by other individuals or by the government; the right to work and to adequate earnings from work; freedom of discussion and teaching; adequate participation of the individual in the formation of his government. These human rights are nowadays recognized theoretically, although, by abundant use of formalistic, legal maneuvers, they are being violated to a much greater extent than even a generation ago.” History has shown his assessment to be credible.[2]

Attempts at “both sides-ism” are irrelevant when the American people voted in a free election. Like it or not, the majority of our fellow citizens have chosen this path for themselves and their neighbors. Elections have real consequences on life, liberty, and our collective future.

But hope is never lost. Human rights are still universally recognized and protected, but remain “an eternal struggle,” as Einstein postulated. In a world of confusion, lies, and chaos, facts and morality guide people to better conclusions and collective living. The ability to reconcile bias and belief with truth and discernment separates the honest from the dishonest—or, to use a Christian framework, the righteous from the unrighteous. Facts, like evidence, are indisputable; they are either preserved, manipulated, or destroyed. 

The rights of people around the world and within our nation are increasingly under threat. Fought and won by those long before us, the struggle has now been passed to us. This is our time.

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[1] For more on the relationship between Neo-Nazi and Alt-Right extremist groups and the MAGA movement, https://www.perplexity.ai/search/what-is-the-relationship-betwe-Qe4U6D2QQxyBDjX3cIuCqQ 

[2] For more on Albert Einstein’s 1954 speech in Chicago, https://www.perplexity.ai/search/provide-a-summary-of-albert-ei-kjYdX2.GQ0._opxUAUA9mg