Express one's opinion bravely as townspeople shaken abruptly to their core (5,2)

I believe the answer is:

speak up

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'express' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for speak up that I've seen before include "Raise your voice - can't hear you" , "Talk louder, can't hear you" , "Raise one's voice" , "Say things more loudly" , "Make oneself heard" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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