In a Guardian op-ed, David C. Turne rand Eric Morrison-Smith argue that internal division is one of the greatest threats to contemporary resistance movements. They contend that ego, ideological rigidity, and mistrust weaken coalitions at a time they describe as rising authoritarianism in the United States.
Turner, assistant professor of Black life and racial justice at UCLA, calls for movements to prioritize relationship-building, accountability, and transformative justice practices that repair harm without reproducing punitive systems. He highlights findings from years of organizing and surveying more than 35,000 Los Angeles residents, noting a consistent message since the 2020 uprisings: “divest from punishment and invest in people,” which he describes as reflecting broad moral clarity across communities.
