Standing on the corner of Sixth and Main on June 14th, sweating buckets in the 95-degree heat, I kept repeating the same five words: “water, does anybody need water?” In the time I spent lugging a messenger bag full of waters, I probably interacted with at least 200, maybe 300 people, who came out on this hot day to say one thing: What’s happening in Trump’s America is wrong, and we won’t stand for it.

But this protest was about more than just Donald Trump — indeed, this protest was the beginning of a much bigger movement, if we choose to take it there. This is about something deeper: the slow, grinding collapse of unjust systems that existed long before he ran for president for the first time in 2016. If we focus only on resisting him, we risk missing the bigger crisis — and the opportunity to build something radically better.

This story begins not on June 14th, or at Trump’s inauguration, or on election day. This story begins in 1776, when the Founding Fathers put forth the Declaration of Independence, declaring the unalienable right to “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” The Founding Fathers were not perfect, but they were, for the time, progressive: they looked to progress forward, not turn back. Today, as we face both the collapse of our democratic system and the ecosystems keeping our planet alive, it is ever-important that we embody that progressive spirit and look toward the future, not the past. A country founded by progressives has no business going backward.

As such, we must not seek to return to a time before Trump, because the time before Trump was not fine, either.

Structural violence, defined in the book “Resisting Structural Evil,” is the “harm that certain groups of people experience as a result of unequal distribution of power and privilege.” Trump is not the root of the structural violence we see today, he is only amplifying it. Our resistance must not end with stopping Trump’s power grabs — we must look to the future and build a world that is more just, loving and sustainable. One where human life is valued on the basis of someone’s humanity, not appearance, ability, or actions. Everyone is provided the resources necessary not only to survive but to thrive. Curiosity and kindness replace aggression and fear. Success is the result of collaboration, not exploitation. Opportunity is distributed equally, and one’s path in their life is dictated by choice and talent rather than birth.

The question asked in response to suffering is not “whose fault is it?” but rather, “how can we help?”

No one wonders when their next meal will be.

Information is accessible and unifying. Education is comprehensive and accommodating, emphasizing learning and growth.

Nature is flourishing and accessible to everyone.

Everyone has the time and space to relax and breathe. Worth is not measured by productivity, and well-being is not defined by output.

This world is possible. I believe in it. This is my lighthouse, my anchor, and my Northern Star. You may not have the same vision as me, but I think we can all agree that the current situation is far from perfect. If we want to make a true, meaningful change, we must learn to love one another, find common ground, and collaborate instead of compete.

I am calling for a revolution — not of the violent kind, but rather a revolution of the heart and mind. Our resistance must stem from love: love of each other, of ourselves, and the planet that nourishes and provides for us. We cannot fix one problem at a time — each issue stems from a system of violence that must be transformed entirely. If you don’t take out the root, the weed will always grow back.

The process of building this world, of moving forward and healing from the damage we’re facing, is more than just protesting — it requires the small, consistent actions of individuals that come together like puzzle pieces to create the image we are capable of living. Follow @the.miniature.revolution on Instagram to see how I’m changing the world one step at a time —and begin your own miniature revolution.

Gabrielle “Elle” Feneide is a 20-year-old Longmont native and Silver Creek High School alum. She is currently pursuing undergraduate degrees in political science, English, and peace and justice studies at Manhattan University. Elle shares her perspective as a student and activist focused on political theory and social justice through her Instagram platform, @the.miniature.revolution.