It’s a complicated world. Some days feel like we’re only pelted with bad news (from any side of the political spectrum), and that makes life really difficult to navigate. I don’t want to wax poetic about the intricacies of that; instead, I’m going to say I don’t think it can be overstated how important it is to stand up for what’s right and advocate for justice, equality, and freedom for all. The looming celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence seems like a good time to dive into how and why you should take a stand on the things you believe in. After all, ignoring injustice isn’t neutral, no matter which way you slice it.
Why You Should Take a Stand
There are lots of reasons why you might feel like it’s safer not to speak up, especially on political and social issues. Consider this section thought-provoking, rather than me telling you to pick a side and stand by it.
Many of the advances we enjoy today came from a small group guiding a movement. In the next section, I’ll outline some of the grassroots movements we view as successful, because even if there wasn’t measurable change, societal views changed, which in turn leads to more sweeping changes, such as laws. When we fight for what we believe in, it leads to self-respect and a sense of accomplishment. We show our community, friends, and family they're not alone, which strengthens those bonds.
It’s also good to remember that sometimes speaking out is as simple as having a conversation with a friend, or even just quietly boycotting a company or product. It doesn’t always have to be grand gestures. Each step leads us to a better world, no matter how small.
Evidence of Grassroots Change
It’s entirely valid to feel a bit defeated with some of the recent news cycles, but I think it behooves us to remember that change does happen, even when it’s slow. Here are some examples to fuel your aspirations, along with reasons why you should consider being an advocate.
United Farm Workers Movement
The conditions for farm workers in the early 20th century were miserable, characterized by low wages, poor living conditions, and even being charged for water in some places. Starting in 1965, farmworkers began going on strike to demand better treatment. By 1970, a significant shift began to occur, with unions forming and conditions improving. While progress has been made over the years, enforcement of hard-won gains in working conditions and minimum wages can be spotty. The movement, now in its seventh decade, continues.
#MeToo Movement
This viral campaign started in 2017 by Tarana Burke, designed to help women of color share their stories of suffering sexual misconduct and find healing. What ended up happening was global conversations about inequality and misogyny, which brought societal change in conversations about power dynamics and sexual assault. The movement also inspired the creation of the TimesUp Legal Defense Fund, which aims to help shift power back to those who cannot afford to challenge sexual discrimination or harassment.
Tea Party Movement
The Tea Party is a movement within the Republican party that started in 2007. It was more conservative response to President Obama’s policies than the more mainstream beliefs of the Republican party at the time. It became more widespread in 2009 after a CNBC host referenced it on his show. Soon there were protests and those calling themselves a part of the Tea Party and they flipped dozens of seats in the 2010 midterms. Arguably, it was not truly grassroots because it was funded, in large part, by billionaire David Koch, but I think it still works as example of a big movement that created lasting change, especially with regard to our elections.
The March for Life
This is an annual march in Washington D.C. that is anti-abortion. It is always held on or around the anniversary of the passing of Roe v. Wade, the law making abortion legal in all 50 states. I mention it here because Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, so their mission can easily be defined as successful.
How to Know What’s in a Bill
First and foremost, you should probably know what’s being turned into law, because no matter your feelings or where you fall in the political sphere, you should still know what it is that is being proposed/passed. Finding that information in a way that is easy to understand can sometimes be tricky, because the bills being passed are often huge and have a lot packed into them.
There is, of course, Congress.gov. It is the official website for the U.S. Congress and has lots of dense information, but it comes straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. There are also live feeds, so you can watch the different committees as they debate. The search function allows you to search past Congresses, too.
Goverment Track is a website that is not run by the US government but does track everything Congress is up to, including which bills will be voted on in the coming weeks and a brief paragraph about what those bills are and who is sponsoring them.
How to Find Information to Contact Representatives
A somewhat daunting task might be trying to figure out which congress member you should contact and about what, but we’ve got you covered. This website's Elections and Government page features an Elected Officials section with links to information about elected officials in Texas, as well as links to details about ballot items and opposing viewpoints on issues.
How to Find Protests
Social media is a great resource for finding information about various protests. Organizations that spearhead protests will post on social media, as well as the nature of the community with like-minded individuals sharing protest information.
Find a Protest is a website that tries to map all different types of protests. When you click on a protest, it will tell you who the organizer is, which is a good launching pad to finding organizations working towards the same goals you are.
Other good resources include Mobilize and Indivisible. I think it’s worth noting that though you might click these links and think they’re leaning one way politically, protests are often against the party in power. Therefore, since at the time of writing this blog there is a Republican in the White House and the Republicans hold a majority in both houses of Congress, you might find that there are more protests against the current administration’s policies. That’s normal. If and when Democrats or another party takes control, you will start to see protests against that party’s policies as well.
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