Stop using your “library voice”
Nearly 100 million Americans did not cast a vote in the 2016 presidential election, representing 43% of the eligible voting-age population, according to a Knight Foundation study.
During times like these where news headlines shout fear and uncertainty, individual voices and active participation in exercising our rights are powerful forces to influence change. However, when people are afraid of using their voice or are indoctrinated to believe that is not their place to get involved in government and politics, that is where the problem begins.
In February 2024, I decided to protest at the Georgia State Capitol against HB 1105, without having any prior experience attending protests. HB 1105 is a current law that aims to identify and detain criminal non-citizens in Georgia and would require them to report certain information regarding their immigration status.
During the protest, lawmakers nodded their heads as a sign of support to us, some passed without acknowledging us and others looked at us as if it was a joke, making me feel like what we were doing didn’t matter at all, which is false.
Youth involvement is crucial to society. 15% of Gen-Z adults in the United States said that they have attended a rally or demonstration compared to 8% of Millennials and Gen-Xers. In addition, 30% of Gen-Z adults were also the most likely group to volunteer for a group or a cause, according to a survey conducted in 2023.
Students protested locally against President Donald Trump’s administration and immigration policies on Feb. 6. Middle school teens to university students turned into protesters that evening and screamed endlessly for the changes they wanted to see. The power of our voices is limited when people, including myself, write to their government officials or protest and walk away from the situation feeling unheard and unvalued.
How can students protest so passionately yet action from lawmakers cannot be found? There are strategies to make lawmakers at least listen to our concerns.
I have used my social media platforms to educate and raise awareness among my peers, and I attend informative events that deepen my understanding of issues that need reform in my community. However, awareness alone is not enough. I urge you to get involved within your community.
You can organize campaigns including workshops, host forums, build coalitions, develop proposals and engage with local representatives to show lawmakers that people are serious about change and become more effective in protests.
34% of social media users had taken part in a group that shared an interest in an issue or a cause in the past year. One-quarter of respondents stated they had encouraged others to take action on issues important to them, and just over one in ten had used hashtags related to a political or social issue on social media in the past year, according to an online survey conducted in the United States in May 2023.
I had previously been taught that it is not my place to attend protests or forums. The risk I run as a young girl of brown skin upsets my parents and provokes fear. Unfortunately, millions of people are afraid and feel similarly to my parents.
Instead of just protesting or actively going somewhere to share my concerns during the 2024 presidential election, I contacted my congressmen and voters from the state of Georgia through my fellowship with Georgia Justice Youth Coalition, a non-profit organization that advocates for many things such as advocating for a fully funded education, affordable higher education, and protection for LGBTQ+ youth.
Although I can’t vote in elections yet, my involvement in contacting, canvassing and sharing my own personal experiences related to a cause can help others get involved and motivate others to take action.
During my participation as a Get Out The Vote Fellow with the Georgia Youth Justice Coalition, I called more than 100 undecided voters around the state of Georgia, tried my best to understand their political stands and provided crucial facts and information about former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Some individuals were afraid of what the future holds and others just doubted that their vote would make a difference. I used to believe that one single vote didn’t matter, as news outlets just highlighted the large number of votes cast. I’ve come to realize that this is a common misconception. Every vote matters.
After the election, I signed up for another fellowship with GYJC during the spring semester. I signed up for Weekend of Action: Knock Doors for Change, a day where GYJC knocks on doors to connect with the Atlanta community and make sure people are aware of this year’s elections such as the public service commission election and the Atlanta mayoral election.
While knocking on doors, I connected with a few individuals. A woman who lives on the west side of Atlanta stressed the importance of overall safety and said that she would 100% vote for all upcoming elections locally and statewide. However, she also brought up current issues where people don’t speak up or express their concerns to better the community.
She told me about a local park near her home that the county had cleaned up. While she appreciated the change, she said there was still more to change, such as improving safety, and if individuals in the community continue not speaking up, nothing will change.
As another addition to my fellowship, I tabled with a GYJC team member at UGA. We tabled by the Arch on a busy evening. In total, we spent 90 minutes tabling and only interacted with two UGA students. One person, most likely a UGA student, told me “Nah, I’m good” when I asked him if he wanted to vote
If you think this story ends here, it doesn’t. There are countless stories that remain untold of issues and systems that are in need of reform. However, there are endless opportunities for individuals to take action and be a part of the transformation of change. For me, giving up and becoming silent will never be an option. My question is will you stand with me and many others or will you try to silence those, like myself, who want to use their voices to better society?
