read; and let them see you read

2026 was off to a shitty start. A year into this administration, and the gears of fascism were grinding with no sign of slowing down. We had ICE agents disappearing people, escalating to murdering them in the street in broad daylight—not just with impunity, but full government support. The US military occupied Venezuela. The Orange Man kept talking about invading Greenland and "joking" about canceling the midterm elections.

Fast forward a mere four months. Millions of files related to Epstein's sex trafficking were released to public, and our Cheeto-in-chief is all over them. Our government started a war with Iran, ostensibly as a distraction. This man whom conservatives worship like a bronze idol has been caught red (or, shall we say, orange) handed in an absolute mountain of nefarious, fraudulent, and heinous acts. But it doesn't change the way he's perceived. Support for him and his administration doesn't waver in the slightest.

A secret police that operates without oversight, a government that uses its military against its own citizens, the scapegoating of immigrants and other minority groups such as queer and trans people, ultra-nationalism that leads to military expansionism, the defunding and dismantling of education and democratic institutions, a cult-like megalomaniac at the helm—these are all glaring signs of fascism, and I'm not even listing them all.

If you don't think we're living in a fascist country by now, then your head is in the sand.

But what I really want to talk about is action. What can we do? What can I do? If you're like me, someone who's incredibly introverted and maybe even suffers from some crippling social anxieties, then you might be at a loss as to what to do.

I want to resist. I want to fight back. But I freeze up at the thought of having a social encounter at the grocery store, let alone a direct confrontation with an ICE agent in the street. I get overwhelmed and overstimulated in crowds. I stumble over my words when I get agitated, unable to express myself coherently. I'll start talking too slow or too fast, making disjointed digressions as my thoughts ricochet around like the insides of a pinball machine (there's a reason why I'm a writer, not a public speaker).

To anyone who can relate, this is essay is for you. Because there are things we can do.

Fascism thrives on misinformation and anti-intellectualism. They're the ones who ban books, and then burn them. Every time you support your local library or your local bookstore is a small act of resistance. Fascists hate people who educate themselves and read everything they can get their hands on. And most of all, they hate people who think for themselves.

So, keep reading. Read everything. Read; and let them see you read. Post videos on TikTok and Instagram about the books you read. Even if all you read is science fiction or epic fantasy (I can certainly understand the need for a good dose of escapism every now and then).

But if you really want to level up your literary resistance, read critical theory. Read history. Read about white supremacy, imperialism, colonialism, and patriarchy. Read queer theory. Read about the rise and fall of fascist regimes. Read about socialism, communism, anarchism, and decide for yourself the merits or failings of these ideas. Read about capitalism. Read about economic models besides capitalism (regardless of what conservatives and neo-liberals might say, it is not our best or only option).

Take it a step further: Keep a reading journal, and share your thoughts with your friends or family. Start a book club—even if it only exists on Discord or some other platform. See what events are being held at your local library and your local bookstore, and attend anything that sounds remotely interesting to you. In other words, join one of the many communities build around reading. If nothing sounds interesting, start one of your own.

In short, keep reading, cherish your books, and don't be a bootlicker. Every book you read is a small victory. Every day that you read, you've won.