BRATTLEBORO-Under a slate gray sky with a cold wind sweeping across the Town Common, approximately 200 people gathered on Jan. 18 for a peaceful rally that, in the words of organizers, united people "in solidarity as humans, as immigrants, as LGBTQIA+ individuals, as BIPOC communities, as allies."
They marched on the downtown sidewalks from Flat Street to the Common with a variety of signs, plenty of Palestinian Authority flags, and a desire to prevent the next four years of the Trump administration from being a total disaster for civil rights, economic justice, and protection of the vulnerable.
The People's March was one of more than 350 similar marches that took place in every state on Jan. 18 in advance of the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump, and focused on issues such as abortion rights, immigration rights, and the Israel-Hamas war.
State Rep. Mollie Burke, D-Brattleboro, the keynote speaker, recalled the Women's March on Washington in January 2017, the day after the inauguration of Trump. She said she was one of the hundreds of thousands of people who gathered in "a magnificent outpouring of rage, creativity, and optimism."
Burke said the issues that drove that march - "human rights, women's rights, health care, racial equality, LGBTQ rights" are "still with us, with a more threatening one added on."
"Eight years ago, we were not particularly concerned about freedom of the press in the United States, not particularly concerned that the United States could become a dictatorship, an oligarchy," she continued. "We believed our institutions, Congress, the courts, and human decency would prevail over attempts to unravel the fabric of our Constitution."
Unfortunately, Burke said, those fears have become real, along with "the added existential crisis of our climate which has been making itself more and more apparent."
Burke said she realizes that many "are depressed, disillusioned, retreating to the comforts of home and friends, less willing to enter the political arena, or concerned about speaking out too strongly in advance fear of future punishment or retribution."
At the same time, she reminded everyone that "half of the people of this country voted for a very different outcome, and for a woman. This is a moment to step up, step out, and engage, all the while celebrating life, creating a different narrative, and believing in the possibility of change."
In short, Burke told the gathering that "we must cultivate the values we want to see reflected in our politics - things like compassion, honesty, forgiveness, the power to confront injustice, and love."
This will not be easy, she said, "but each one of us has to find a way so as to not become infected with the cynicism of those in power."
Local activist Isaac Evans-Frantz, a candidate for the Brattleboro Selectboard, reinforced Burke's theme of not giving in to "fear and division," starting at the local level.
"We already see that divisiveness showing up in our community," he said. "People are scared. And we have some candidates for elective office who, instead of focusing on the billionaires who are ruining our country, or solving the homelessness crisis or the opioid crisis or the housing shortage, are turning against our fellow victims of economic exploitation who have less."
Evans-Frantz said that, "in the days ahead, we're going to need to stand up for one another" and say "'No están solos! You are not alone!'"
"When we remind each other that we are here for one another, it is also a reminder that we are ourselves not alone," he added.
A variety of people stepped up to the microphone after Burke's and Evan-Franz's remarks to advocate for causes ranging from support for the Palestinians, to protecting reproductive freedom, to standing for the LGBTQIA+ community, to reminding people that Black lives still matter.
MD Baker, one of the organizers of the march, said she was pleased that so many turned out on such a raw and cold morning to voice their concerns and reaffirm their commitment to peace, justice, and compassion for others.
This News item by Randolph T. Holhut was written for The Commons.