I’ve never been to a protest before. As an introvert and a working mom, the idea of marching in the streets felt overwhelming and scary. Where would I park? How many hand warmers would I need? What would my sign say? But on Feb. 17, I showed up. Because I realized something: No one is coming to save us. Watching the news these past few weeks pushed me over the edge. The government’s sweeping overreach and attacks on democracy are alarming. So, I pulled out my craft supplies and made a sign out of corrugated cardboard. I didn’t want it to be about party lines, but I wanted to call out the dangerous rhetoric justifying unchecked power. Inspired by President Trump’s Feb. 15 post, “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law,” I wrote: “Nothing is legal just because Trump says so.” I dug my car out of 18 inches of snow and drove to the state capitol to stand up for fundamental freedoms. I found people from different backgrounds who love this country enough to defend it. It felt right to be there. If I can do it, so can you. This isn’t about left or right. It’s about standing up when democracy is at risk. The checks and balances our nation was founded on are in danger, and silence is compliance. Things change if we show up together. Not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans.

Lucy Wolski

Northfield