Posts Categorized: Civic Engagement
Go Vote
It’s time to face the truth: our government isn’t going to care about us until we force them to. And by us, I mean every person residing in this country who isn’t a cishet white man. This should come to no surprise to most — take a look at the people residing in our very Congress, and it almost makes too much sense. Take a look at our president who just mocked Dr. Christine Blasey Ford for…? I don’t know what to say anymore, and I can’t bring myself to think about what that excuse for a human being says anymore. When Dr. Christine Blasey Ford spoke up against the frat boy currently trying to serve on the highest court of the land, I thought it might make a difference… Read more »
#BlackGirlMagic at the In Our Own Voice Conference
Hey fam!! My name is Monica and I’m the new If/When/How Policy Fellow here at URGE! On September 24, 2018, I attended In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda’s summit here in DC. Every second, every minute, every hour was amazing. Coming from a strong, Black, Southern, and, frankly, woman-empowering family, I definitely experienced feeling as if my voice was important, which in some families can be rare. Despite coming from that family and being a part of social justice organizations both in college and law school, there was still times where I felt my specific voice as a Black woman and my experiences were not centered. Often times Black women, and other women of color, join movements and organizations, however, those organizations don’t always recognize the… Read more »
Supreme Court Nomination – What’s Going On and What You Can Do!
Who is Brett Kavanaugh? He’s Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS). Currently, he’s a judge on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. He’s a cis white Catholic man who went to Yale and is a member of the Federalist Society (a conservative group for lawyers). And, ideologically, he is more conservative than all members of the current Court, except Justice Clarence Thomas. Remember Jane Doe, the unaccompanied immigrant minor in government custody who sought abortion care? The Trump Administration tried to stop her from having an abortion and, after hearing the case, Judge Kavanaugh sided with Trump. Judge Kavanaugh also believes that the religious or moral beliefs of your employer or university should get to dictate whether or not you can access birth control. His… Read more »
We are the Great American Virtue
In a piece for The Federalist, David Harsanyi argued that “chanting crowds of emotionally charged protesters aren’t exhibiting any great American virtue.” To Harsanyi, protests serve no purpose as they rarely lead to concrete policy change. He argues that March For Our Lives, specifically, “undermines” the purpose of our government by challenging an unalienable right. I do not agree. Youth activism and protest is a great American virtue. The March for Our Lives was organized by teenagers, with the DC March alone supporting over 800,000 attendants. The young people who were part of this march are an incredible example of civic responsibility. March for Our Lives was built on a basic premise, demanding that the government listen to their needs. The same goes for Black Lives Matter and the Women’s… Read more »
Black in Blue: Why the Austin Bombings Mean More Than What Meets the Eye
I tell people I am from Texas and they joke about cowboys; I tell people I am from Austin and everybody wants to hear about how great the scene is. Being from Austin is, obviously, a mixed bag. Sometimes, it feels easy: home is beautiful and warm, but it also is problematic and hard to love when it stands so far away from my morals and politics. Recently, I have felt very far away from my home. While I watch the city come together over a particularly personal bout of violence, I have been thinking about what it means to be a person of color, to be a woman, to be queer in a city that holds itself up as a shining beacon of liberalism. Maybe it’s partially because Austin… Read more »
Pro-Choice: A Mindset Beyond Reproductive Rights
As I have progressed through my life so far, I have learned that my mindset heavily influences how I perceive other people and the world around me. This is not so much in a good mood/bad mood sense, but how I measure other people’s actions in relation to the law and morality. As a pro-choice woman, I have learned how I distance myself from reproductive issues and decisions by not asking, “What would I do in this situation? What would I choose?” Adopting a pro-choice mindset when it comes to abortion and reproductive rights gives me a greater perspective, realizing that every person makes different decisions regarding their reproductive health for their own unique reasons. Unless I am asked for guidance, the only decisions I should measure and take part… Read more »
YOUTH AT THE FRONTLINES: JUSTICE FOR JANE AND #NEVERAGAIN
As a society, we have always underestimated young people. Young people are not seen as capable, credible, or serious enough to be leaders on the issues that affect them. We have seen politicians respond to youth activism by casting it aside as frivolous, but we know that our voices are powerful enough to scare them. This week, we saw how the young activists at the front of #NeverAgain took over the country by organizing school walkouts, getting companies to stop giving NRA members benefits, and demanding politicians finally enact change through gun control. Emma Gonzalez, one of the teenagers leading the movement after the Parkland shooting in South Florida, said “We are children who are being expected to act like adults while the adults are proving themselves to behave like… Read more »
Atlanta’s Human Trafficking Problem Is Getting Worse
The other day I passed a field of pinwheels twirling silently in the Georgia wind, representing solidarity for human trafficking. Atlanta has one of the highest national rates of human trafficking in the country. The thriving, infamous city is also home to one of the busiest airports in the entire world, which is one reason why it is such an easy target for human trafficking. Being in Atlanta for college has really made me realize the impending nature of this social justice and human rights issue. There are so many organizations and on-campus clubs dedicated to anti-sex trafficking as well as many events focusing on it. Human-trafficking campaigns are unique in that, so much of the time you cannot see what is happening—this is to say that sex trafficking usually… Read more »
Beyond the Rally Cry
Last week, the entire nation was swept by hundreds of rallies, marches, and protests. The Women’s March commemorated the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and continued protest over the one-year mark of the Trump Administration. I was able to witness the power of these marches through three separate efforts that took place in my home. The Still We Rise Women’s March, Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge March, and the Roe v. Wade anniversary rally all took place within the same week. Over 500 people showed up to these events, all standing in solidarity and in power. It is inspiring to see so many people in my community showing up to these events. For many, rallies are an entry point into political and community engagement. However, moving past the rally can be… Read more »
Congress is Giving Rich People More Money instead of Funding Healthcare for Kids
CHIP, or the Children’s Healthcare Insurance Program, is a bipartisan program that covers nearly 9 million low-income kids and 370,000 pregnant mothers. Congress let funding for CHIP expire in September, and continue to neglect the sustainability of the program today. States are preparing for the worst, and are quickly running out of resources to keep the program alive. States like Texas are estimating that funding will run out by February. The Abbott administration has made a last-minute plea to the federal government for $90 million in stop-gap funding. The success of the plea is uncertain. Letters notifying families of the cancellation of CHIP have already begun in other states. It is important to remember that it is children and young mothers that are going to be affected by Congress’ neglect…. Read more »
