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Transcript

"I spoke out, and I'm okay"

There's safety and strength in numbers

We’ve all heard about out-of-control school board meetings with shouting parents and Moms for Liberty. Some have even resulted in police action and restraining orders. But what happened in Kristi Hirst’s district was even scarier than most.

When Proud Boys and other extremists showed up with guns and hateful signs, she and her mom friends banded together to protect and support their kids. The school district and local media tried to paint the Proud Boys as “concerned parents” and her mom group as “extremist protestors” (of course the exact opposite was true), but the moms refused to be silent.

The situation at Kristi’s school board feels a lot like what the entire country is experiencing right now. From Trump’s executive orders to literal armed militia men in the streets, it’s dangerous out there — physically, emotionally, and existentially. But her community of moms gave Kristi hope and made her feel safe.

The fear is the point. Extremists want to scare us into staying silent. But as Kristi said, “the more of us speak out, the safer we are.” It is scary. Of course it is! But when we all use our voices, we’re a force to contend with.

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