I have read several letters from Dennis Stewart published in this paper. I’m so proud of you, Mr. Stewart, and I send you my deepest thanks for writing what has needed to be written. I stand with you.

We are living in very dark times. We may not want to face that fact, but it is the truth. The very darkest of places. Innocent people are now being murdered in the streets by federal agents with no accountability. The government’s next move, in every instance, has been to lie about and disparage the people they murdered. This is malicious gaslighting to the highest degree and no one is safe. We may not want to believe this either. But it is true. If we don’t stand up for each other – in every place and every time any injustice occurs, it is over. Our children are watching. The world is watching. The future lies in our hands. Each and every one of us is responsible, whenever and wherever.

Please. We must remember who we are. We are better than this. We must, no matter our politics, stand together, see and face the truth clearly with our eyes, minds and hearts wide open, and move forward peacefully to save our democracy. Stop the hate on all sides -it’s a death walk. It serves no purpose but to divide and destroy. Search for the truth. Speak up. Say something. Do something. Whatever it takes to begin and continue the conversation to care about and protect one another.

Julie Opfer