What a difference it made in my life to be at U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern’s town hall on March 18! I was feeling helpless about what I see as the fascist takeover of our country. We, the people, are losing more rights and freedoms every single day. The Department of Education is being shut down; innocent people are being deported; thousands of jobs have been gutted; Social Security, Veterans Affairs, Medicaid, even the Postal Service are being cut.

All kinds of people are in danger just because they are who they are or believe what they believe. What difference would my small voice make? Being among 750 people at the Greenfield Middle School (and many more outside) all looking to do “something” and hearing our representative tell us that each of our voices mattered, seeing that he was just one ordinary man who was brave enough to stand up for what he believed in — all of that helped rouse me from my helpless, hopeless state.

What will I do? Today I joined postal workers in Springfield at their rally to save their jobs. I’ll go to the Boston rally on April 5, part of a nationwide demonstration day. I’ll join the network of people that are helping those in danger. I’ll start making phone calls to various people in government that I either want to praise or shame.

Yes, shame! How these congresspeople who according to McGovern are saying out of one side of their mouths that President Donald Trump is crazy, but then vote with him, I find hard to understand. How can they sleep at night? Perhaps their jobs and even lives are being threatened. Indeed judges are receiving death threats when they stand up for justice. Still, our senators and representatives have a choice, and we all need to let them know we are aware of the choices they are making.

I was grateful to hear the young high school boy who gently thanked the congressman and then said that he wanted to work with him to resist the takeover. McGovern jumped at the chance. It was clear that this room full of mostly gray-headed folks (myself included) need the strength and enthusiasm of younger people. We cannot do this alone! The more diverse we are as a resistance, the more strength we will have.

There were only three Black people in the auditorium. One woman said that she could not believe that people of color are again being erased and persecuted. I’m thinking about how my husband, who is an African American man, and I, can join with other BIPOC folks to resist the increased racism that is being sanctioned by Trump and Elon Musk.

The destruction of the Palestinian people and their land also weighs heavy on my heart, as does Trump’s abandonment of the Ukrainian people. How is it possible that the American president is now aligned with Russia’s despicable dictator?

As a woman, I am well aware of the violence being promoted against women, LGBTQIA and trans people. As a Jewish person I see echoes of the way in which Hitler destroyed my people and so many others, as he took over the world. Trump is following swiftly in his footsteps.

Jim McGovern not only exhorted us to raise our voices, but also to continue to do the things that make life worth living, contributing in positive ways to the life of our community. We need to hold onto the love, care and creativity that bring us joy. We cannot let this madness destroy us!

I’m exhausted today from lack of sleep and the anxiety produced by the situation we’re in, but at least I haven’t yet experienced what many are experiencing — losing their jobs, losing their rights, losing funding, losing their family members to deportation. I’m in a place of privilege right now, and so while I am able, let me take to the streets!

It is frightening to watch our country being dismantled and it can be frightening to speak out, but if we remain silent we have lost our power to create change, when change is so clearly needed. We must resist!

Morning Star Chenven lives in Erving.