To everyone who thinks we are “overreacting” due to the sadness we display at our country’s (America) end result for the election - please just listen. Listen to the fear and the hopelessness of the people who have fought so hard and for so long to be treated with respect, and as a fellow human. Listen to the families who have to hide themselves (whether it be their religion, their sexuality, or even their heritage) when going to their local store in some areas, because it will soon be legal to discriminate and refuse services to people you do not like or disagree with. Listen to the women who are fearing for their safety and their lives, as a man with sexual accusations in the double digits, and who has degraded and bashed women countless times, is now our leader. Listen to the people who, because of their skin color, will be denied certain rights and who will be so much more susceptible to crimes of hate because white supremacist and hate groups will believe now more than ever that it will be okay to act on their hate due to the things their new leader has said and believes in. Listen to the people who are afraid for their children’s futures as they will grow for the next four years hearing the things their president says about women, Muslims, African Americans, latinxs, the disabled, etc. and will be taught that people can get to positions of power through bullying others. Listen to the fact the leader of the free world does not believe in climate change and is planning on repealing steps taken forward to try to slow the planet’s destruction.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my country and I will fight until the day I die for it and it’s citizens, and especially our right to vote. I will accept you no matter your political view or who you voted for. I understand that the people of America are upset with how things have been and wanted to find some way to rebel against the system. But was electing this man the best way to do so? Whether you agree or not however, please be civil with those who have opposing views to your own, as just because they are upset does not mean they are “overreacting”. Do not breed ignorance and hate. Listen to the pleas of the American people. Listen to the reasons to why so many lives are going to be drastically altered in the coming months. Listen and please try to understand why this may have been the biggest mistake we may ever see in our lifetimes for so many groups of people.

I do not want you to regret your vote as there is nothing that can be done now, but I just want you to understand:

We are not overreacting.

We are afraid.