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President Trump’s gusher of executive orders that increased the government and focus on vulnerable people spread fear and anxiety. In just the last week, Trump has issued order It would prohibit gender-affirming health care, effectively close the US agency for international development and threaten to close the Federal Ministry of Education, Fire Career Federal Prosecutors, freezes about $ 3 trillion in federal contributions, final litigation, prevent people from seeking asylum, and construct Additional detention centers in Guantanamo Bay for thousands of immigrants to be held.

A heading in today’s New York Times explains, “Trump defy bravely laws in escalating executive approaches.”

Yale -historian Timothy Snyder is more direct: “Of course it’s a coup,” He proclaimed in his foundation.

And this is only the third week in Trump’s presidency.

The resistance has built steadily, especially on the legal front. More than two dozen moods have been submitted by democratic lawyers general, Including Vermont National Attorney Charity ClarkLike American Civil Liberties Union and other groups. A number of the legal challenges have managed to stop Trump’s more bold features. A federal judge blocked the attempt to end Birthright Citizenship and explained that it was “Blatant unconstitutional.”

James Lyall is the CEO of ACLU OF VERMONT (Complete disclosure: I am a board member of ACLU in Vermont). Nationally, ACLU has already been sued by the Trump administration over Fast track deportation and restrictions on Trans Youth Health Care, Birth Law Citizenship and Asylum.

Lyall acknowledged the fear that has a grip on vulnerable communities including immigrants and LGBTQ+ people and that his office has seen a sharp Uptick in conversation. But he thinks there is reason for hope.

“The fact that so many people want to help and reach out to find out how to support their neighbors and their communities when they feel so threatened right now, it’s extremely powerful,” he said.

“As difficult as it is in the moment of uncertainty and fear and even chaos, it is the determination of everyday members to support each other and find a way forward that is just really powerful. That’s what solidarity looks like. “

“Trump can say what he wants. It doesn’t necessarily do that. It is really important to remember that we have strong protection on the books, ”he said. He urges people to Know their rights.

“For all progress we have made in recent years in Vermont, legislators can do more to increase our defense levels,” he advised.

Lyall urged people “not to let ourselves or others just be overwhelmed by the chaos. Because it is a deliberate part of their strategy. “

“Those who would try to share us or so fear – we know how we get through this, and it’s together,” he said. “That’s what Vermont – the state of freedom and unity – that is what we are designed for. I just have a lot of faith in the state and its people to meet to get through difficult times, and this is really one of them. “