1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

As an educator, daughter and granddaughter of veterans, and lover of history, the events of the most recent weeks more than concern me. We are and have been headed down a dark path, and it is NOT okay. Our nation can hardly call itself “The Land of the Free” when it is clearly becoming “The Land of Obey or Die.” We cannot be a nation which pardons and hails as heroes violent protestors mobbing our nation’s capital and then murders a woman for blocking a road and speaking calmly because she was a domestic terrorist impeding law enforcement! The protestors on January 6th were domestic terrorists cloaked in flags. Our nation and the world experienced trauma from Covid 19. So many of those loyal to our current administration refused to wear masks citing their freedoms were in jeopardy, they couldn’t breathe, but now these same people are masked and terrorizing neighborhoods. We have undone so much progress. Were we “there yet” in regards to freedoms? No. Were we making progress? Yes. The direction we are headed is unacceptable. The actions of ICE are unacceptable. The actions of this administration are unacceptable. Now is not the time to be quiet. We need you, our elected leaders, to call out fascism. We need action. The time of polite discourse is over. Polite doesn’t work with this administration. Act on behalf of this nation and the principles for which we hope to stand for years to come. We are a nation built on freedom…freedom of religion, speech, etc. Stop this madness.