Thursday night at Sen. Ed Markey’s town hall, we were one vibrant creature that demanded change. This is my favorite thing about rallies; feeling ourselves as “we the people”: a vast, intelligent organism that is fighting for its life.
Nerissa Nields sang the traditional songs with heart, changing a few lyrics (referring to God as “she” instead of “he”). Tears rolled down my face throughout the event, as love, concern and hope welled up in my heart. She proclaimed, “I am part of the resistance.” The howl from the crowd showed that many agree.
Constituents spoke passionately from their experience as refugees, people with disabilities, etc. They impacted the senator with their humanness. A sense of pride in our people swelled in my heart.
While listening to the national anthem, sung earnestly by Kimaya Diggs, I understood what it feels like to desperately want our country to remain our country.
Sen. Markey pledged his hard work for environmental protection, net neutrality, health care, immigrant and LGBT rights. Each of his progressive statements was met with cheers.
The constituents pressed him to vote on specific bills, asked him pointed questions. He deflected most of these in a politicianesque way, and the audience responded with murmuring, groaning and shouting. The citizen groups spoke with authority, and they were backed by cheers every time.
There is energy and momentum in the masses, we know what we want, and we will not accept anything less. No politician can stand against the will of the people, when we truly come together.
Something has woken up in us, and it is not going to be placated by empty promises, or controlled with fear-mongering. It is spreading, and it is alive.
Keep demanding action from the people who represent us. That’s what they are there for.
Jen Eckard
Northampton