I don’t often write about politics. But this morning, I awoke to a nightmare. And I cannot be silent.

Today is a day that seems straight out of a fantasy novel or an alternative history novel. The threat of doom that I have felt throughout this entire election cycle, even though I attempted to remain cautiously optimistic, has become the reality.

Does that sound overly dramatic? Maybe. But I say it’s not since the worst has happened—an intelligent, principled qualified candidate, a woman, placed second to a misogynistic, narcissistic criminal and unqualified man.

Yes, once again, we are telling our young women and girls that women will always place second to a man, no matter how unqualified or reprehensible the man is. Sadly, many don’t see it that way otherwise the outcome would have been different.

As my thoughts turn to how much will America erode in the next four years, I have to wonder whether I, a single woman, will continue to have rights.

Again, overly dramatic? Maybe. But given how the elections for Congress have played out, I doubt it. I have no faith that the congressional puppets who didn’t stand up to him last time will this time either. Instead, I fear that they will continue to fawn and bow to his wishes.

[huge sigh] Where are the superheroes when you need them?

So today we will take the day to mourn and weep for the future. For the pain, suffering, and loss to come for women, minorities, and the LGBT+ community. For the eroding of democracy. For the continued rise in misogyny and loss of women human rights. We must take the day to mourn. We need the respite. But tomorrow, tomorrow we must rise again as the work to fight against misogyny and for democracy has just begun.

I am reminded of the poem First They Came by Pastor Martin Niemöller:

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me

We must speak out. We must continue to fight for human rights, for democracy, for women, for minorities, for the LGBT+ community. We must demand human rights and equal rights for all. No one is truly free if even one is repressed.

We cannot allow our voices to be silenced.