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From 91 felony charges against a former U.S. president to the sudden and dramatic escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, 2023 has been a year filled with surprises. Amidst the chaos, it can be difficult to keep track of all the changes that unfold in just one year.
Straight Arrow News contributor Adrienne Lawrence reflects on 2023 and highlights the top five things that stand out to her as the most uniquely important. She includes the good, the bad, and the ugly, from the advancement of labor rights in America to the horrific suffering of civilians trapped in wars around the globe.
In just a matter of days, we’ll be welcoming in 2024. And as far as I’m concerned, if this new year is any guarantee of newness, it could not come faster. I am done with 2023. But before we bid it adieu, let’s reflect on five of the most memorable moments from 2023 — at least, memorable for me.
So, in no particular order of importance, number one: Donald Trump facing consequences. This time last year, I did not think it was going to happen, but boy was I wrong, and wrong to the tune of 91 felony counts. That is definitely a record. From the 44 federal charges to the 47 at the state level, Donald Trump is a trailblazer. The man’s “criming” has created a body of case law that was scarce or non-existent before he took office. And I’m not sure what 2024 holds for the former president, but I am praying it involves a cellblock.
Number two: The labor union activity. 2023 was the year of the strike for so many industries, from Hollywood writers and actors to national railroad operators. Folks are uniting to fight. Cornell’s ILR School Labor Action Tracker said, as of October 31, that there has been 354 strikes in 2023, nearly half a million workers. That’s nearly eight times the number of workers that had striked in the same period in 2021, and four times as many as in 2022. And the winds that these unified workers have had, they have been favorable. And I hope that this is just the beginning.
