The following post, written by The Rev. Robert A. Franek, is a part of Politicus Policy Discussion, in which writers draw connections between real lives and public policy.
After months of feeling nearly defeated following a presidential election that betrayed the heart of our democracy from the striping of voting rights to foreign meddling and catastrophic media failure throughout the campaigns, America got what it needed most in the Women’s Marches across the country and around the world: a step towards healing the fight for the human rights of all people and the deepest moral values of our country.
The energy and enthusiasm around Donald Trump’s campaign and his inauguration were never reflective of the majority of the people in this country, though some tried to make it seem that way. The majority of the people of this great land know better than to normalize hate and bigotry. The proof is in the numbers. But far more it is in the collective sharing of our deepest moral values that lift up the inherent dignity of all people regardless of sexual orientation, gender, ethnic, racial or religious identity.
The marches across the country manifested the grassroots energy to continue bending the moral arc of the universe towards justice for all people.
This collective energy proved to be uplifting and empowering for many. This renewed vigor is not only restorative for the present feelings of anguish amid the incoming administration’s plans and policies, it is a deep well of communal support for the struggle that is come in resisting the Republican’s plans to deny equal rights, take healthcare away from tens of millions, and only serve the interests of the wealthy and big corporations.
These marches are only the beginning of people all across America claiming their voice and becoming involved in the democratic process to protect human rights and the deepest moral values of our country embedded in the constitution and its amendments.
We are going to need each other standing together in solidarity fighting for equality and justice for all people in the coming weeks and months. These Women’s Marches proved the power of coming together and showing the nation and world that human rights, civil rights, voting rights, women’s rights and more are not radical ideas but the will and desire of the majority of people in this country, who are supported by even more from all over the world.
This unprecedented massive sign of solidarity marching in protest against the Trump administration’s agenda is evidence that there is no compromise coming. This is as it needs to be for one dare not compromise and collaborate with a fear-mongering, hate-filled, and incompetent regime that seeks to take the country back to the Dark Ages.
In his speech at the Women’s March in Washington D.C. Van Jones boldly stated that we do not need to take America back but to look to all the women in pink hats who are going to take America forward!
Van Jones delivers a speech at the #WomensMarch: “When it gets harder to love, let’s love harder.” cnn.it/2jZW1T8
Posted by CNN Politics on Saturday, January 21, 2017
Forward. This is the direction we need to go building on the progress of the past and moving towards greater justice and equality for all people. It will be the millions of people from across this country rallying and working together that will continue the momentum of this moment as marches become phone calls and letters and campaigns across the country to ensure that the deepest moral values of our democracy are not lost and that the human rights of all people are respected.
Rise up and continue the march towards healing. On the way, you may even experience some healing yourself.