A Bastion of Democracy
One of the most beautiful and most terrifying things about a nation defined by ideals is that we must choose over and over again—in every generation, in every household, in every heart—whether or not to uphold our shared identity. We are not a nation defined by ethnicity. We are not a nation defined by religion. We are—thankfully—not a nation defined by a king. We are a nation forged through debate and defined by documents.
Our Constitution is, fundamentally, words on a page. It has no power on its own. It is as powerful as the people who decide to empower it, and the execution of that power is only as faithful to its principles as the efforts of those who support it. Since this presidential administration started, we have seen attack after attack against the values expressed in the Constitution as well as those who have dedicated their careers to defending it. As our values and our institutions begin to buckle under the blows, the burden to support and defend our Constitution becomes one that more and more Americans must take up in order to ensure its survival.
The administration can prosecute those who express opposition to their agenda. They cannot remove the ideal of freedom of speech from the heart of every American. They can flood the zone with horror and brutality as a tool to prevent Americans from focusing too long on any one of their failures, but they cannot make the American people forget that we were raised pledging allegiance to the flag—not a person, not a king, not a tyrant—but to our Republic. They can try to use hate and fear to divide us, but they cannot remove the unifying fire in our hearts when we call out as one for due process for all. The American people are a bastion of democracy, and we are not a bastion that is easily overtaken.
In Massachusetts, the Burlington ICE facility has become a symbol of attacks on American ideals. Residents of our state have been taken up without due process and, despite the building not being zoned to house people overnight, reports continue to come out of people being housed there for days at a time under deplorable conditions. In America, no person shall be deprived of due process of law. That right is not reserved just for US citizens, for people with a certain color of skin, or for people with a certain native language.
On October 11th, Americans from all walks of life will come together in Burlington to stand in joy, resolution, and solidarity outside the Burlington ICE facility. We will start gathering at 5 am, and we will remain until 7 pm; some courageous attendees will be there the whole time, and many more will come and go as they are able. Each attendee will have the option to recite the civil servant oath of office as a form of dedication to their personal role in this standout. Come with your songs, your spirit, and your unbending will to speak out on behalf of our constitution. Together, we will be an unshakeable voice saying in unison that we will not abandon our shared ideals. Together, we will be a bastion of democracy.
