Many of us are navigating a daunting landscape. Since Jan. 20, barraged by a deluge of disastrous news that threatens to undo us, some have devised their own exit strategy, leaving for other countries, in search of a new home. Others try to adjust by turning the unthinkable into a new normal. Some, however, remain undaunted, refusing to be ruled by fear or to give in to cynicism. Their numbers are growing. I am, of course, referring to the ever-growing lines of protesters winding their way past Tesla dealerships, showing up at town squares, parks, and city halls. Their voices demand, “Hands off” of a laundry list of everything that matters. They make their way to bridges over highways, unfurling upside down American flags to signal distress. An enormous quilt of humanity spreads itself across the country, reaching out to others who join them along the way. This intrepid band of nonviolent protesters knows that giving up is not an option.

I am both heartened and astounded every Monday, when I tune in to watch Rachel Maddow fill my television screen with snippets of demonstrators marching through cities and towns in every corner of this country. They echo their demands in fervent chants of, “This is What Democracy Looks Like!,” “No Justice No Peace!” “No Kings!” Hundreds of thousands of indomitable spirits, demonstrating that democracy is not a spectator sport, refuse to let fascists torch the Constitution. More than once, people have asked me, “What’s the point of protesting?” “He doesn’t care about us.” “Nothing will change, so why bother?” The frustration and helplessness when experiencing our rights torn to shreds on a daily basis can understandably leave many feeling defeated. Joining a protest provides a venue for individuals to collectively demand change. One person with a sign is barely noticed, but when that person is joined by others taking to the streets, cars honk their approval, people stop to thank them, newspapers and social media carry the story, and the protest becomes a force multiplier. The goal is to grow a movement to end tyranny.

A few weeks ago, on a Saturday morning, I joined a protest taking place on Main Street in Northampton. Alongside those gathered, I was no longer a solitary echo chamber, at home, venting my frustration. The enthusiasm filling both sides of the street was infectious. I felt powerful, as so many signs and voices amplified my thoughts. Ordinary people speaking truth to power over and over again has, on more than one occasion, toppled dictators.

On April 5, I boarded a bus leaving from Northampton’s Sheldon Field, headed for the Hands Off rally in Boston to join a multitude of demonstrators. A baby in a stroller, with a sign that read, “Hands Off My Future,” was followed by an elderly woman with a walker, all part of a sea of resistance. Some people criticize these protests for not being focused enough. How can we be focused, when we are being assaulted with a daily blizzard of injustices? As one sign reflected, “The list is too long for one sign.” There were many grievances, but one unifying message: We are here to stop Donald Trump’s hostile takeover of the United States.

The protest movement against encroaching fascism is growing, but so are the demonic actions of the Trump regime. Western Massachusetts communities have been hit hard by the barbaric inhumanity exemplified by ICE agents targeting our most vulnerable neighbors for deportation, denying them their right to due process. So often I feel like a helpless bystander to so much injustice. At night, I close my eyes and wake up to what sometimes feels like a perpetually dark world.

There’s a time to grieve what has been lost, to recharge our hearts with joy, to take a hiatus from the daily drumbeat of disturbing and debilitating news. I’m calling on all of us to pack up our tears and fears and get out of ourselves and into the streets as warriors for democracy. Whether it’s nonviolent protesting, legislative advocacy, joining a rapid response network, there are a multitude of opportunities to join the movement to take back our country. But beware, this invitation comes with a warning: Achieving success is not a sprint. It will be a marathon. And there’s no guarantee of success. What is guaranteed, is that without joining together to advocate for a government that prioritizes the legally guaranteed rights of everyone in the U.S., the fascists will win and none of us will be safe. Every action, no matter how small, is meaningful. I don’t know who said it, but I live by the mantra that a single snowflake quickly disappears into oblivion, while millions of tiny snowflakes together create a blizzard that can stop a moving train in its tracks.

Not sure where to start? Join the NO KINGS DAY OF DEFIANCE on June 14, Flag Day. It’s also Donald Trump’s birthday, which he’ll be celebrating with a military parade, paid for with your tax dollars. Across the country, we will march, rally, and demonstrate to reject corrupt, authoritarian politics in the United States. Go to Indivisible.org for locations.

Sara Weinberger lives in Easthampton.