In light of this predictable and shameful Senate acquittal of our current dictator in chief Trump, and knowing that this complete denial of facts, truth and the law will come back to bite all of us, here is just a snippet into what I think, using facts, history and the truth.

The President of the United States takes an oath to protect our Constitution and the freedoms of its people. The President is supposed to obey the laws dictated as such, and should he/she not, then Congress has the responsibility to “check” them. However, in this “upside down world” we live in, we have a President who has said and done the following (not enough paper or time to write down the myriad of misdeeds and vulgarity):

“I have a great relationship with the blacks.”

"I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the pu**y. You can do anything.”

“You know, it really doesn't matter what the media write, as long as you've got a young and beautiful piece of ass."

“Why are we having all these people from s**thole countries coming here.”

Question- “Do you believe in punishment for abortion – yes or no – as a principle?”

His answer “The answer is there has to be some form of punishment.”

Questions - “For the woman?”

His answer “Yeah, there has to be some form.”

"They're (Mexico) sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."

"The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive."

"[John McCain is]... not a war hero. He's a war hero - he's a war hero 'cause he was captured. I like people that weren't captured, OK, I hate to tell you."

"She does have a very nice figure... If [Ivanka] weren't my daughter, perhaps I'd be dating her."

"I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters."

And yet people still support him and dismiss whatever he says or does. In addition to his words, he has given us (the United States) the:

1.Biggest deficits ever

2. Biggest national debt ever

3. Biggest & most bloated pork barreled budget ever

4. Biggest entitlement spending programs ever

5. Biggest Pentagon budget ever

6. Biggest domestic spending ever

7. Most reckless fiscal policy ever.

And yet he is still supported and those facts are ignored. And then there is the fact that since he took office, he has a higher turnover rate than any other President in history, but he only “hires the best people”. And within and outside of the staff, the Trump administration has so far, had 215 criminal indictments, more than three times that of Nixon.

And to top it all off, his minions in the Senate have admitted that he did something wrong, but they aren't going to remove him. And why does this matter? Because he and anyone who becomes President after him, will now have the freedom to do whatever they want, whenever they want and nothing can be done about it. In others countries that is called a dictatorship.

So where am I going with this? THIS is why I protest; this is why I write letters to the editor; this is why I speak out and have discussions about what is happening because it is completely wrong, and as a citizen, I am going to use my voice and speak as loud as I can.

I have children who need to hear that this isn't normal; that this country is better than that, and all of us need to be treated with respect, equality and kindness.

What has this current administration taught us? To loathe anyone who isn't white, male or rich; that mocking others is perfectly acceptable; that the rule of law only applies to certain people and that money and bribes and threats can get you anything you want.

This country was founded on political protests, fueled by the desire for religious freedom. Without such protests, the Boston Tea Party would not have happened; women would not have the right to vote; the Civil Rights Movement would not have happened; Roe V Wade would not exist; Marriage Equality would not exist. The First Amendment encompasses such endeavors, protecting “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

And the US constitution in Article 2 makes it very clear that “the President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors”.

And the House proved it's case. So it went to the Senate and yet NEVER in the history of our country has there been an impeachment trial without witnesses or evidence. A trial, almost by definition, demands a critical evaluation of disputed facts or legal issues. But no. Not this time. Because what used to be the Republican party is now the party of Trump. And regardless of what he says, or does, no one is brave enough to take a stand, and do their job, which is to represent those who voted them into office and take a blind allegiance to Trump.

And if people don't have it in them to protest, or voice their opinion, that is perfectly fine. Just don't try and take it away from the rest of us who choose to use their voice and have something to say. Our children and grandchildren are watching and while we aren't even close to being a “perfect union”, we have to keep fighting to make that happen for every single one of us. Otherwise, democracy is dead.

Susan Chadwick lives in Camden