During my long labor career, mainly in Detroit and New York City, I have been a member of four unions –– UAW, Teamsters, SEIU, and the American Association of University Professors. Two of them –– the UAW and the AAUP –– have been in the spotlight for their stance against Trump’s brutal policies. While the UAW has been somewhat equivocal on Trump’s tariffs, presenting mixed reviews, the AAUP has been more defiant, particularly at Harvard University where it has filed a lawsuit challenging the cuts.
In the lawsuit, the union and other plaintiffs argue that the Trump administration has “failed to follow steps required under Title VI before it starts cutting funds, including giving notice of the cuts to both the university and Congress.”
Their action at Harvard is consistent with earlier lawsuits to block what they deemed as Trump’s unlawful and unconstitutional DEI orders. “In the United States, there is no king,” the lawsuit states. “The President can exercise only those powers the Constitution grants to the executive, and only in ways that do not violate the rights the Constitution grants to the American people. In his crusade to erase diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility from our country, President Trump cannot usurp Congress’s exclusive power of the purse, nor can he silence those who disagree with him by threatening them with loss of federal funds and other enforcement actions.”
Harvard, like many of the 130 colleges and universities with endowments over $1 billion are potentially endangered by Trump’s assault on DEI, which I believe is the main target he aims to eliminate and thereby do away with every vestige of affirmative action so critical to Black studies, Latino studies, Asian and Native American studies.
“The elimination of DEI programs and initiatives at public academic institutions are a threat to the democratic purpose of higher education as a public good,” said AAUP President Todd Wilson. “The AAUP is proud to stand up and defend our campuses and communities from the vague and destructive executive order.”
Although I am no longer an active member of the unions mentioned above, I am proud to know that they are generally poised to fight against the erasures proposed by the Trump administration. I am hoping that the resolution taken by the AAUP at Harvard gathers the notice from the media that was given to Columbia University’s capitulation, and that other institutions follow Harvard’s lead. “Harvard stood up today for the integrity, values, and freedoms that serve as the foundation of higher education,” said Anurima Bhargava, one of the alumni behind the letter. “Harvard reminded the world that learning, innovation and transformative growth will not yield to bullying and authoritarian whims.”
I have no idea what it will take to turn back Trump’s tsunami of decimation but part of the resistance must come from the leadership on the nation’s campuses and Harvard has put forth its challenge, despite the possible loss of considerable funds. No doubt it will take a sustained critical mass of protest to arouse and change the outlook of Trump’s base, and if he continues with his undemocratic actions it’s hard to imagine it will not eventually touch all Americans, including the 77 million who gave him this power of total devastation and suppression of our civil and human rights.
Yes, “Hands Off!” our treasured organizations, institutions, and progressive students and “Hands On!” the AAUP.