I often wonder why it is that I feel the need to fight fascism. As of now, I have been totally able to maintain my privilege. I am white, I am a man, I am young, I am able-bodied, I am by most metrics in the privileged class. So why would I fight when I can sit back and enjoy my privilege?

Why do I fight? Because I could not live with myself knowing I did nothing as people are shot to death in city streets by our own government.

Why do I fight? Because I know enough about history to know that history repeats itself, and we’ve seen this before in the US, and Nazi Germany which learned how to be effectively racist from us. I will do everything I can to break that cycle.

Why do I fight? Because I have eyes and ears and there is no escape to the cruelty of our world but preventing it.

Why do I fight? Because I have a conscience. Because I have empathy. Because I am a human being.

Why do I fight? Because these traits that don’t apply to fascists. We must recognize that because of their blatant disregard for human life they have reduced themselves to nothing more than a threat to people. They are not safe to have in our society, much less the highest levels of our government.

So what is the solution? First and foremost, we maintain our conscience, our empathy, and our humanity. We can not forget these things, or history will repeat itself. Second, we must remove these fascists by voting for humans instead, and hold them accountable for every choice they make that affects us. Third, we have to do what Germany did after the death of Adolf Hitler, and hunt the fascists down when this is done, to the fullest extent of the law, for decades if we have to.

Why do I fight? Because I believe America can be so much better than what we have now. Because I believe in a free America.