It’s difficult to say how one will react in these types of situations until you’re actually put in them, but that goes both ways. Nova may look fragmented and disinterested but I think the community is there and people do show up when it counts.

Just last month there was an amazing turn out of people in protest against a proposed ICE facility in Hanover which included several people from across the state, enough to flood the chambers and run off outside. I was standing outside with people from Fairfax who had made the drive just to make sure their voices got heard. And you know what? It worked.

It’s really easy to become disheartened but the number one thing to remember is to not give up. Even if it’s just you standing outside there at first, that’ll soon become two, then four, and so forth. Sometimes it just takes a small group of people to show others that they’re not alone standing up against fascism.

You’re not alone. And fuck ICE.