What a shame.

A supporter reacts after hearing that Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton wouldn’t be coming to the Jacob Javits Center in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016 as votes were still being counted. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

What a shame we have missed the opportunity to have a brilliant, indefatigable leader for our country.

What a shame millions have chosen to dismiss and demean the rights of their fellow citizens.

What a shame people of color, women, members of the LGBT community, Muslims, and Jews will now live in a constant state of fear over: deportation, decreased criminal justice reform, increased implicit bias, losing health care and the right to control their own bodies, rape culture and sexism being even more prevalent, marriage equality being overturned, a religious ban, and a now-normalized sentiment of anti-Semitism.

What a shame we likely will not live in a country where our elected officials combat climate change, address gun violence, tackle student debt, combat systemic racism, or overturn Citizens United.

What a shame our years of progress now hang by a thread and may only exist a few months more.

What a shame Obama’s legacy will be dismantled.

What a shame he will pass the baton to the racist birther-in-chief who discredited his presidency for eight years and hurt millions in the process.

What a shame a great chunk of Americans decided their “economic anxiety” outweighs the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for their counterparts who don’t look like them.

What a shame a man who sexually assaulted women; built a ‘charitable’ foundation and used donations for personal use; created a scam university, did not pay taxes; refused to pay his contractors; bankrupted businesses; funneled campaign donations to his own businesses; outsourced work for his businesses; threatened the First Amendment right to freedom of the press; threatened to jail his political opponent; violated the U.S. embargo against Cuba; said more countries should have nuclear weapons; acted as Putin’s puppet; declared climate change is a hoax invented by the Chinese; was sued for racial discrimination; was endorsed by the KKK; claimed a judge’s Mexican heritage made him unable to be partial in a case; called Mexicans rapists; stereotyped African American communities; mocked a disabled reporter; insulted 282 people, places, and things on Twitter; attacked a gold star family; attacked prisoners of war; attacked a former miss universe; attacked all women; and overall undermined our democracy; was elected over an imperfect woman who has dedicated her life to public service and holds a sincere vision of hope for all Americans.

What a shame.

What a shameful day for our country.

I did not know this America existed and that makes me sadder than I thought possible.

For those of us who believed and still want to believe that love trumps hate, we are now overwhelmingly underrepresented in our government. We must take matters into our own hands and not relinquish the fight for equality in this country that can one day exist.

Mourning this loss will be beyond difficult. Healing ourselves to trust in our fellow citizens and our country will be challenging. But our faith and perseverance are unquestionably necessary. We will move forward together. We will not give up.

As Secretary Hillary Clinton reminded us, let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season, we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.

Love will trump hate.