When President Trump tried to use auto workers as props for his propaganda campaign, he got more than he bargained for.
In case you missed it, while Trump was touring a Ford auto plant in Dearborn, Michigan, auto worker TJ Sabula exercised his First Amendment right to express his feelings about Trump’s involvement in the Epstein coverup, shouting “Pedophile protector!” at the president.
Donald Trump mouthed expletives and gave TJ the finger―and Ford sided with Trump, suspending TJ Sabula while Trump faces zero consequences.
Sabula is not sad at all about exercising his right to free speech. “I don’t feel as though fate looks upon you often, and when it does, you better be ready to seize the opportunity,” he told the press. “And today I think I did that.”
Sabula’s union is standing up for him, too. UAW Local 600 said “The labor movement was not built by staying quiet. It was built by workers who spoke up. We stand in solidarity with our member, and we will fight for his rights.” Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of dollars have poured into a GoFundMe for Sabula.
But instead of standing by someone who literally builds the cars the corporation builds its fortune on, Ford suspended Sabula simply for uttering two utterly truthful words and speaking out against injustice. Especially at a time when our democracy is under attack, someone like TJ should be applauded for speaking up, not suspended. Like TJ, may we all have the guts to seize the opportunity to speak up when it presents itself.
In solidarity,
The Labor Force