Note: The following came in from a Wyoming Democrat. While we attempt to share work that reflects the WDP platform, you may come across some words that are not exactly what WDP would have written. Perhaps you will agree with and value what you read below, perhaps not. Your mileage may vary.

Found in The Sheridan Press.

At the recent town hall at Dayton Community Center, I expected a space for dialogue and civic engagement. Instead, I found a show of force — police dogs, deputies in assault gear, and an environment that felt more intimidating than welcoming.

When asked about January 6th, Representative Hageman said, “It’s over.” The crowd cheered. I observed two deputies visibly react and step outside. It wasn’t laughter — it was something more complicated, a moment that felt heavy and unresolved. Still, the overall mood in the room was one of dismissal.

This struck me deeply.

The officers who defended the Capitol on January 6th — who fought, bled, and died to protect our democracy — deserve solemn remembrance and respect. Brushing it aside, with cheers and bravado, dishonors their sacrifice.

Later, when asked about the danger of Trump seeking a third term, Hageman mocked the concern: “Boy, you don’t know when you’re being trolled.”

The laughter that followed revealed just how far we have drifted from taking the Constitution seriously.

Citizens deserve real answers, not contempt. Democracy demands respect, not intimidation.

I will not be silenced.

I will not forget.

And I will continue to stand for what’s right — because that’s what patriotism truly looks like.

-Sydnee Alyster, Sheridan County