Regardless of where you stand politically, it is hard to deny that what Cory Booker did on March 31 was amazing.

For a total of 25 hours, the senator from New Jersey stood on the Senate floor and spoke to the fears of many Americans at the current state of our nation — all without eating or going to the bathroom once. In so doing, Booker broke a Senate record previously set by Strom Thurmond, who stood in opposition to the Civil Rights Act in 1957.

While a display of endurance and commitment of this level would be impressive under any circumstances, it was especially moving given the fact that it came at a time when Democrats had been frustratingly silent.

Since the time leading up to the 2024 election, many Democrats have been afraid to speak up for what they believe in, instead often finding it easier to toe the line and remain silent on important issues.

Arguably, this is how we got to where we are now. For a while after Trump took office, it was hard to tell if Democrats were even trying to mount a resistance to Trump’s heedless unraveling of American institutions. There was a time when it wasn’t immediately clear that Democrats in office actually cared very much about the destruction they claimed to decry.

Yet Booker’s speech seems to be a turning point for Democrats. His record-breaking address is the epitome of something Democrats have for too long been afraid to do — standing up. In his speech, Booker stood up. both morally and physically, to condemn what he considers to be major threats to the American people. And after watching some of his speech, I’m convinced that this wasn’t just a political act; every ounce of Booker’s demonstrated passion came from a place of authenticity.

One thing that struck me about Booker’s address is that its message was not an explicitly partisan one, and he tried to establish from the outset that the issues we are facing right now transcend party differences.

“I rise tonight because I believe, sincerely, that our country is in crisis,” Booker remarked at the start of his speech. “And I believe that not in a partisan sense, because so many of the people that have been reaching out to my office — in pain, in fear, having their lives upended — so many of them identify themselves as Republicans.”

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As a country, we desperately need to be reminded that we are at a moment when political labels and affiliations do not hold the same value they once did; of course, there are major differences dividing parties and this will always be the case. However, there will be times that call on us to temporarily set those labels aside in order to recognize the seriousness of the moment. And this is one of those times.

A number of prominent Republicans are beginning to break from Trump because they recognize the seriousness of this moment, and they understand that the threats that Trump’s policies pose are too intense for them to continue to do what is politically convenient.

Some of these Republicans include Senator Rand Paul, once a staunch advocate of the president, who recently said that Trump’s tariffs will “punish American families.” Another is billionaire Trump donor Ken Langone assailed Trump’s economic policy. 

Many of those who voted for Trump likely feel the need to continue to show their allegiance to a person they have supported for a while. However, it is not too late to say that Trump’s actions are destructive when some of them clearly are. It is easy to blame all Trump voters for our current situation, but as Booker reminded us, that is not the kind of sentiment that is needed right now. Rather, we should be working to unite to prevent actions that we can agree are misguided.

Fundamentally, we have a duty as Americans to serve one another, because that is what makes us a nation. Without cooperation, we are just a group of people that happens to share land.

Near the end of his speech, somewhere near the 23-hour mark, Booker offered another moving reminder of the gravity of this time: “It’s not right or left. It’s right or wrong,” he said. “It’s not a partisan moment. It’s an American moment. It’s a moral moment.”

So, the question is, what will we do at this American moment — this moral moment? Will we stand up? The choice is ours.

Olin Rose-Bardawil of Florence is a student at the Williston Northampton School and the editor in chief of the school’s newspaper, The Willistonian.