“One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” are words with which every American is surely familiar. Yet today, we sadly find the meaning of these words for our shared body politic threatened by an Executive Branch that disrespects and attacks these fundamental truths of our nation which these hallowed words reflect.
Those of us who cherish the American ideals embodied in those words therefore understand that our nation is at a crossroads. We, the American People, can choose to proceed on an authoritarian path begun in these first 100 days of this administration where our nation continues to be profoundly divided by the lawless and powerfully rich who treat our public institutions and other people as mere objects to be exploited simply for the perpetuation of their wealth and power. Or the People can choose to struggle to remain on the road towards the fulfillment of the American dream of a nation, united and indivisible, where each citizen has the opportunity to live meaningful lives pursuing personal happiness in a nation dedicated to imbue all citizens with guaranteed freedoms, liberties and justice.
So on one sunny warm Saturday afternoon I found myself at a crossroads where the local Indivisible organization had summoned the People to express their choice for that more noble yet difficult choice, the struggle to return to traverse the road to ““one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
I had parked my car a few blocks from the advertised gathering and was relieved and excited to see a large crowd of concerned citizens lining the crossroads of the town of Waltham, Massachusetts. Soon I would learn from their signs, their chants and their conversations that they understood the crisis that has enveloped our nation and torn it asunder. As I walked among them and expressed my outrage at what was happening to our beloved country, I encountered so many in passionate agreement with my concerns, fears and despair. Yet instead of growing more despondent, I felt a growing hope and strength from the crowd who all seemed united and indivisible in a similar outrage, yet with a similar commitment to move our country to that better road.
The protesters at the rally understood that the first 100 days of the current president’s rule has been an attack from within on the fundamental ideals of the American experiment. With lies, fear-mongering, and attacks on the free press, the judiciary, universities, law firms, perceived political enemies, and innocent Americans, the man who would be King has undertaken an all out assault on the dream of America that must be stopped soon.
One set of signs reflected the attack on innocent Americans and the rule of law that was occurring every day by the rounding up of people to detention camps and foreign prisons without the due process rights afforded to them by our Constitution:
Support and defend our Constitution.
Due process! Follow our Constitution!
Due process is for everyone.
Prison without due process is a concentration camp.
Hitler detained and deported without due process. Stop Trump.
First they came for the immigrants.
Then they came for me.
Free Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
I thought of Rumeysa Ozturk, kidnapped from nearby Tufts University in March for writing an Op Ed about her views on Gaza and now, in May, she was languishing in a Louisiana detention camp. I thought of innocent Kilmar Garcia shipped by mistake to a horrific prison in El Salvador and this administration refusing to obey the Supreme Court ruling to facilitate his return. Tears came to my eyes as I could no longer be proud of my country that was acting sadistically and unjustly to innocent ordinary people (and moreover with impunity and glee).
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I saw signs that reflected the concern that our Executive Branch was disregarding the Constitution and the careful balance of power of our three branches of government as the Executive Branch sought to become all powerful:
It is our turn to fight tyranny.
Hands off our democracy.
He is crushing us to rule us.
We, the People, reject tyranny.
No Kings, not then, not now.
I saw signs lamenting the internal attack on so much of what we value and what makes America truly great and then demanding that these attacks cease.
Hands off our country.
Hands off our bodies, fair elections, personal data ,public lands ,veteran services, cancer research, NATO, consumer protections, clean air, clean energy, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, our jobs, our wallets, immigrants, courts, our teachers, scientists, judges, healthcare. America!
Hands off Social Security.
Hands off Medicare/Medicaid.
Hands off EPA, FDA, HHS, CDC, CFPB, SEC, etc.
Restore America.
I also saw three elderly women sitting on a park bench with a sign “Hands Off Our Social Security.” I admired their strength and tenacity.
One sign responded to proposals that would force the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to halt all funding for PBS and NPR:
What would Mr. Rogers say? : Kindness, Diversity, Equality, Inclusion!
Save Elmo!
And of course there were signs displaying anger at DOGE and the president:
DOGE: Diabolical Oligarchs Grifting Everyone.
Uncle Scam Muskgo.
Protect working people. Tax billionaires.
Oy vey!
Stop the Trump nightmare.
Impeach, Convict, Remove.
Despite the anger and concern expressed on the signs, there was a mood among the people of optimism and even joy. A group of younger protesters marched among the crowd singing chants such as “This is what democracy looks like!” followed by a tuba player producing musical notes in rhythm. There were signs as well that reflected this optimism:
This is what democracy looks like.
I want you to resist.
Don’t give up.
These fine protesters revealed the depths of the concern all Americans should have. I admired their conviction and dedication to the principles of our democracy.
Many cars passed us and started to honk in approval. Many drivers gave us a thumbs up. There was only one young man in a pickup truck who screamed at us his fascist rant: ”We will deport you next!” How misguided a soul, not understanding that what makes America is the freedom of speech secured to all Americans. Then, many, many cars passed by and showed us their approval of our shared beliefs. We became indivisible with them and our ideals for those brief shining moments.
After speaking to many of the passionate protesters and enjoying their signs, I took my place on this highway of America and displayed my two signs:
Do not deport me for what I say or write. This is not America.
Ice agents saying “I was just following orders” is not an excuse for evil deeds.
I too heard many horns honking in approval and saw many drivers and passengers giving me a thumbs up. I stood near a traffic light so when the red light flashed, the people could read and respond to my signs. Since my signs related to immigrant deportations, I saw that some Hispanic drivers and passengers looked sadly at me, nodded their heads in despair and then slowly gave me a honk or a thumbs up. As they drove away, I lost the joy and camaraderie of the crowd and again tears came into my eyes as I thought how sad it was that our country had descended to such depths.
But then a few minutes later, a car stopped that contained an African-American family. Two beautiful young children sat in the back of the car and smiled at me. They started clapping and thanking me. A happy mother was in the front passenger seat and she also smiled and thanked me. I told her it was sad that I was here doing this when our country had yet again taken a turn down the wrong path. She then looked into my eyes with hope and optimism, laughed, and said there have been tough times for us before, but we have always overcome them. And we shall overcome this too.
I then saw in her twinkling eyes the indomitable spirit of resistance that had lived in her people’s history in this land for over 400 years of trials and tribulation which sadly was still not yet vanquished. Yet her spirit persevered. As her car drove away, she had given me hope with her words, with her smile, and with her optimism that America would once again choose the right road.
Yes, this is what democracy looks like.
Yes, I want you to resist.
Yes, don’t give up on the dream of America.
