Who will you be if the knock comes to your door?

Despite the fact that the vast majority of protesters have been peaceful, yesterday DC imposed a 7 pm curfew on its residents. Not one to waste a tragedy for his own purposes, Trump directed federal law enforcement to teargas peaceful protesters without warning so that he, Bible in hand, could go to St. John’s Church for a photo op. Shocked protesters immediately retreated from the teargas and a garrison of federal law enforcement on horseback coming toward them. Trump got his picture.

Dismayed, Bishop Mariann Budde, the head of the Archdiocese of Washington, decried Trump’s use of the church as a prop and lifted up the message of the protest saying, “He did not pray… he did not mention the agony of the people who have been subjected to…racism and white supremacy.” Meanwhile, a group of anti-racism protesters fled north, away from the White House, to get out of the fray. A group of 100 protesters soon found themselves boxed by the police unable to continue their retreat. After about 30 minutes, it became clear to the protesters that the police officers would arrest their peaceful group. Fearful of further violence, protesters began knocking on doors asking for help. Some people chose to keep the doors shut. A few opened them.

One of those who chose to help was Rahul Dubey, an Indian American small business owner, who allowed over 60 protesters to take refuge in his home. Despite the fact that the protesters were safely off the street, law enforcement did not desist. Instead, the decision was made to shoot mace and pepper spray canisters into Mr. Dubey’s private home. I know firsthand from the protests in Ferguson that tear gas and pepper spray canisters linger in the air in an interior space. I can only imagine how badly their eyes must have been burning from the effects of this assault. Still, Mr. Dubey did not acquiesce.

Protesters reported that police demanded and cajoled Mr. Dubey to let them in, but he refused. Instead, he gave protesters food, water, and medical support. I imagine as a person of color himself and clearly a man of conscience, he knew that he was all that stood between those protesters and further abuse.

Mr. Dubey allowed the protestors to stay in his home until morning. As the weary protesters began to leave, he didn’t admonish them or look for gratitude from them. Rather, like a true leader, he exhorted them, “Get somewhere safe, get some rest make sure you talk to each other, take care of your mental health and get out there and continue to rise peacefully, with intelligence and make solid arguments…love you guys.” Later he stated he hopes his son “grows up to be just as amazing as [the protesters]” and asked that “they not blink because our country needs them.”

Yes, our country needs protesters willing to stand up to the vile scourge of white supremacy and police violence. Our country needs more Mr. Dubeys, those who are willing to provide refuge and assistance when our government refuses.

With all the beautiful stories about clean-up of broken glass and graffiti, let’s not sweep away the hard truth that standing up for our communities must also include thwarting the efforts of those who want to divide us.

When they say “don’t trust each other,” we must deeply believe each other. When they say don’t get involved, that is exactly the moment when we must take action. When they say lock the doors and stay inside, even as our fellow citizens beg us for help, that is the moment we must open them. And when they say let us in, that is exactly the moment when we must keep the hatred, bigotry, and ignorance out. Our ability to stand up for each other, by each other, and with each other, maybe the only thing that will separate us from the fate of history’s worst regimes.

By now we have all heard the famous Mr. Rogers quote, “Look for the helpers.” But now, more than ever, “help” might look different than we thought would ever need to in this country. We no longer have the luxury to “help” passively, through likes and shares. We must remember that love is a verb. Help is a verb. Coming together is not a thought, it is an action.

If we are going to survive this with any semblance of democracy, all of us are going to have to be willing to risk something of ourselves to care for others, as Mr. Dubey did. His is just the kind of help we must look to. He is the kind of helper we must choose to be when the knock comes to our door.

Nicole Lee, a D.C. resident, is a human rights lawyer, founder of Inclusive Life™, and co-founder of the Black Movement Law Project (BMLP).