To the editor:

The sticker reads, “If you’ve ever wondered what you’d do during slavery, the Holocaust, or the Civil Rights movement, you’re doing it right now.”

My stomach dropped. I had ordered the sticker as part of the few things I’m doing, here and there, to fight our current fascist and murderous regime, but I hadn’t realized how hard it would hit me. I can see and feel that I need to be doing more.

Many years ago, I walked up the hill to the Holocaust memorial in Israel, Yad VaShem, past tree after tree, each with a plaque commemorating the non-Jews who had helped their Jewish neighbors. I was bawling before I had gone more than a few yards. These people had risked, and many had lost, their lives to save MY people. Now I get to find out if I will risk mine, or at least spend some of my time and money, to help others.

We deplore the deaths from the government crackdown in Iran, the destruction of women’s lives in Afghanistan, and the unbridled Russian aggression in Ukraine. But our government is, at this very moment, doing all the same things!

Peacefully protesting U.S. citizens are being gunned down by masked ICE agents at point-blank range, and Army battalions are being readied to bring their guns to the fight. When did we become Iran?

“Women” is one of the more than 400 words prohibited from being used in U.S. government documents and grant applications. When did we become Afghanistan?

And of course, we attacked Venezuela and may yet invade Greenland (actually part of Denmark, a long-standing ally). When did we become Russia?

This is fascism as an autoimmune disease, where our body gradually destroys itself while also infecting those around us. I know I can’t just sit and watch the necrosis anymore. I am calling Assemblyman Michael Cashman and my Senator, Dan Stec, to urge them to support the NY for All Act, which will prevent local law enforcement agencies throughout the state from cooperating with ICE. I am calling Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to urge them to stand strong against increased ICE funding. I am donating to the ACLU and the National Immigrant Justice Center. I am boycotting businesses that support this regime, like Amazon, Home Depot, Target, and Hilton Hotels. And I’m going to be outside Hannaford on Fridays with the dedicated folks who have been out there every Friday for the last year to show their support for our Constitution, which is being used as toilet paper by this administration.

So many people in our community have been fighting hard all year. It’s sad that it took a bumper sticker to move me to greater action. I may not be going to Minnesota to protest (yet), but I don’t want to be telling my grandchildren that when our Nazis came and people called for help, I looked the other way and did nothing.

Shir Filler

Bloomingdale