By Mimi Breed
Building Effective Resistance, held at First Parish, drew 57 attendees. Neighbors came not only to listen, but to consider a shared question: What can a town like Wayland do at a moment like this?
Speakers Toby Sackton, founder and president of Lexington Alarm — a group of concerned citizens from Lexington and surrounding towns who support the US Constitution, the rule of law, and the ideals of the American revolution — and Acton resident Stephen Lewin-Berlin argued that the answer begins locally. National events may dominate headlines, they said, but the power to respond, and to shape what comes next, starts in communities where people know one another, trust one another, and are willing to act.
Sackton described the moment as a test of the nation’s core principles. Invoking Thomas Paine’s assertion that “the law is king” and echoing Abraham Lincoln’s warning that a nation must continually prove it can endure, he urged residents not to see themselves as bystanders.
“We find our courage in each other,” Sackton said, calling on attendees to build the connections in Wayland that can sustain meaningful civic action.
Lewin-Berlin reinforced that message, citing research from Harvard political scientist Erica Chenoweth showing that sustained, nonviolent participation by even a small percentage of the population can drive significant change. In a town the size of Wayland, he said, that translates into a manageable number of committed residents whose collective action can have real impact.
Throughout the evening, speakers emphasized that engagement does not require grand gestures. It can begin with simple, visible acts: reaching out to neighbors, attending local meetings, contacting elected officials, and participating in peaceful demonstrations. Residents were encouraged to support those who may feel vulnerable, stay informed, and contribute whatever time or skills they can.
The discussion also highlighted how local efforts can ripple outward. A conversation between neighbors can spark wider awareness; a small gathering can grow into a network; a visible show of support can encourage others to step forward. In this way, speakers argued, the actions of a single town can contribute to a much larger movement.
Lewin-Berlin shared a personal account of witnessing an ICE detention in nearby Acton, underscoring that national issues are not confined to distant places. Such events, he said, remind residents that local awareness and engagement matter—and that communities can respond with compassion, vigilance, and solidarity.
Speakers also pointed to earlier moments in American history when organized, nonviolent civic action led to meaningful change, from civil rights legislation to environmental protections and marriage equality. Those successes, they noted, were achieved not only by national leaders but by ordinary people who chose to participate, often beginning in their own communities.
For Wayland residents, the takeaway was clear: what happens here matters. The strength of democracy is determined not only in Washington, but also in towns like Wayland, through the choices residents make, the connections they build, and their willingness to show up for one another.
“Fear is the weapon of authoritarianism,” Sackton said. “Trust in each other is the weapon of the people.”
For those who attended, the evening was not just a discussion but an invitation to engage, connect, and recognize that even in a small town, collective action can begin with a single step.
