(Letter to the Editor - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

As we sang “This Land is your land … for you and me.” I felt very proud of my country and was surrounded by many from Ohio and West Virginia as we assembled in Marietta, Ohio, on Oct. 18.

We carried signs that expressed our thoughts and concerns about the authoritarian government in Washington, D.C. Then on Monday I observed damage caused to the East Wing of the White House by a wrecking ball ordered by the president himself.

Over 7 million people marched, assembled in all 50 states to proclaim that we became a country because we did not want to be ruled by a king in 1776. Why would we want one in 2025?

There were protests in other countries for the same reason. The other countries are being hurt by the changes in D.C. that allowed food to rot rather than feed the hungry, imposing tariffs, which will most likely cause soybeans to rot because the U.S. farmers have no market for them.

Maybe I have friends and family who have not been affected by this authoritarian regime. I have friends who have lost jobs, union rights, and soon will observe relatives lose childcare for their grandchildren with special needs.

When will our elected officials stand up and stop this outlandish takeover of our land? It is so sad that in West Virginia we have a governor and elected officials who are using the same playbook.

I am just as concerned with the mayor of Parkersburg and the five council people who say yes to all his requests.

Margaret Meeker

Williamstown