In the 30’s it was feminism. In the 60’s it was the civil rights movement. But what is the social movement of our age? I say it’s gay liberation. Going out to protest against the injustice they live, regarding having the rights any taxpayer has, means that you’re helping to empower them and you’re participating in the social change of our generation.
3,000 people gathered in City Hall Saturday to protest the proposition 8 law that passed in California, which took away the right to marry someone of the same sex. Across the United States, and especially in California, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people protested by holding a minute of silence at 1 p.m. In Austin it was 1:37 when they held a minute of silence, after hearing the leader of Equality Texas and many others explain the injustices of proposition 8.
There are many ways to protest. You can participate in a public demonstration, write a letter and have people sign it in support, you can organize a sit-in or take direct action, hold rallies, make theatrical plays to highlight injustices.
Protesting has come a long way and has been the medium through which people have empowered themselves to create a more just and equal society. This is my cause, but like this one there are many. It’s important to take further action beyond just talking about what’s injustice to you. Go out and protest to make change. You’ll feel good about it.
5 Comments
November 16, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Nice footage! I love to see really young people participating in social movements. And I totally agree with this “thing to do;” even today, social justice, feminism, and racial equality are issues that must be advanced. Also, a huge movement that has possibly lost some steam, but that was really raring just a little while ago, is the environmental movement. This isn’t to say that people aren’t still fighting for the environment, but I definitely feel that our failing economy has put this issue on the back-burner for the general public. Yet, it is an issue that touches all of us, and if we don’t do more to be more eco-friendly, there won’t be a world to have an economy in! (Sorry to sound all doomsday-ish:-P That isn’t my purpose; just to say that people need to remember this issue, despite it not getting as much news coverage anymore!) I really hope that the GLBTQ community will see equal rights in the near future – the passage of Prop 8 broke my heart.
November 16, 2008 at 8:05 pm
You are totally right Caitlin. The environmental movement is happening today, and although a lot is being done there’s always more people can do to save the Earth and protect it for our children. But the question is always, HOW? Even the Environmental Protection Agency is often tainted with negative remarks because their type of protesting is seen as too disorderly. People lose faith in the movement because of this bad rep. But we gotta keep on moving! Thanks for sharing!
November 16, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Very nice, Raquel! Were you at the No to Prop. 8 rally this Saturday in Austin? I was going to go but my alarm didn’t go off… drat!
November 16, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Girl,
I am so glad that you touched on this. This is HUGE when it comes to news and current events. This ruling is insane in my opinion. As MLK said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice anywhere.” It’s sick to me that the African American vote was like 70% for the proposition or something. Also, I wonder if there is anything that the LGBT community here at UT is doing in protest? If anyone finds out any info, let me know!
-Bri
November 17, 2008 at 12:23 am
This is awesome Raquel! I am extremely sad for all of those couples out in California because it’s like they were given false hope. But if we, as a younger generation, speak up, then the chances of being heard are way better! I definitely want to partake in a protest someday.