Two years ago, millions of people all around the world marched for human rights. This year at 10 a.m. Saturday, there will be another march. The local gathering place is the Gazebo at Barker Common in Fredonia. We will march around the commons and then to the Fredonia Grange Hall, at 58 W. Main St. At the Grange there will be speakers and discussion.

Sponsors of this event include the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Women’s Action Group (CCWAG), the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Northern Chautauqua and the Fredonia Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) “We cherish the belief that there is that of God in each person, leading us to respect the worth, dignity, and equality of all.” The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee states. “Advancing human rights is the result of many hands joining.”

This march is for freedom, dignity and justice. Human Rights are for everyone: white, black, brown, Christian, Jew, and Muslim. Human rights are the things that people need to survive and thrive: clean water, clean air, good food, medical care, respect, and freedom from all forms of physical violence.

We do not live in a world where this is true for everyone. Nevertheless that is the world we seek to create. Why should we care that our government is using teargas on people across the border? Why should we care that a 7-year-old girl died because we did not give her a drink of water? Jesus made it pretty clear his opinion on it. Mathew 19:14. .. “Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. … For to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

We should care because anything you allow a government to do to one group it will eventually do to you.

I am seeing uncomfortable parallels between our own times and the rise of the Nazis in Germany. When Trump calls the desperate people at our border animals, when he says they are bringing crime, disease and pests. He is echoing the German film “The Eternal Jew” (der ewige juda). Watch it and you will see the same language used on those human beings that Trump is using now to justify the way he is treating people at the border.

Another way this administration is mirroring the Third Reich is the way it is trying to get rid of information that they don’t like. The Nazis burned books. This administration has altered government data by defunding its collection and limiting our access to it. Some web sites have simply been removed. Removing a website is the same as burning a book. It’s just less messy and more up to date.

President Donald Trump is saying that he can declare a state of emergency to get what he wants. That is the act of a despot and we must all wake up to that fact.

At 10 a.m. Saturday, you have a chance to meet with people who are also concerned. We will begin at the Gazebo in Barker Common. The march will be very short, just to the Grange Hall. At the Grange there will be speakers, presentations and opportunities to network. If you are concerned about what is going on in our country or you just want to learn more, come to the Grange. Meet with us. Learn how important this is.

Marie Tomlinson is a Fredonia resident.