Youth Activism

Young America

February 21, 2018 By Randall Amster, Commondreams.org Resist! Activism, History, Mass Shootings, Violence, Youth Activism

Nearly a century ago, Mohandas Gandhi started a new publication to share his vision of nonviolent organizing, filling it with inspiring quotations and political insights. He titled the journal Young India, to indicate that its teachings were intended to help the people plan for eventual independence, fusing the methods of building a movement with those required to begin (re)building a nation. Gandhi saw the means and ends as interconnected, and reflected this in his personal practices and societal aspirations. Of particular interest is the March 23, 1922, issue of the journal, which recounted proceedings from “The Great Trial” in which Gandhi was charged with attempting to promote “disaffection” toward the British colonial government. The exhibits against him were three articles he posted in Young India, including one titled “Tampering with Loyalty.”

This Time Students Are Old Enough To Organize, Mobilize And Speak Out

February 21, 2018 Danielle Vabner, Huffingtonpost.com Resist! Mass Shootings, Student Activism, Youth, Youth Activism

Last week on Valentine’s Day, a 19-year-old gunman entered Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where he had been expelled. He opened fire just outside the school, and soon began shooting students in hallways and classrooms using an AR-15. Minutes later, 17 students and staff were dead, and 15 others were injured. We are just a month and a half into 2018, and already the number of school shootings since Dec. 31 has risen into the teens. Predictably, as with every other time innocent Americans have been gunned down in schools, movie theaters, at concerts, or in places of worship, politicians took to social media to offer up “thoughts and prayers” rather than the legislative action we so desperately need. More than five years ago, my 6-year-old brother Noah was shot and killed in his first-grade classroom in Sandy Hook, Connecticut.

Let’s Follow Lead Of Parkland Youth To Stop Mass Shootings In U.S.

February 20, 2018 John Zangas, Dcmediagroup.us Create! Guns, Mass Shootings, Youth Activism

Many say it’s the guns that are responsible for the mass shootings. Some say that it’s not the guns, it’s the people. For others, it’s not the people, it’s a mental health issue. Others reply it’s not a mental health issue, at the root, it’s toxic masculinity. Then comes, it’s not toxic male masculinity, it’s the NRA lobby. Next, it’s not the NRA lobby, it’s politicians taking campaign contributions from the NRA. It’s not politicians, it’s the 2nd Amendment. And the cycle continues, maintaining the status quo. But none of these factors alone are the root cause of mass shootings, for if any of them were, the problem could easily be solved. All of these factors along with others not being discussed have in some way contributed to a state of violence here. Gun violence is not just playing out in schools, it’s at epidemic levels in cities like Chicago, Baltimore, Los Angeles and Detroit.

At White House Lie-In, Teens Call On Congress To ‘Protect Kids, Not Guns’

February 20, 2018 Jack Johnson, Commondreams.org Resist! Congress, Guns, Protests, White House, Youth Activism

Building on the nationwide mourning and outrage that followed a Florida school shooting last week that left 17 people dead, dozens of teenagers held a "lie-in" at the gates of the White House on Monday to protest years of congressional inaction on gun control and highlight the National Rifle Association's pernicious influence on the political process. The demonstration began with protesters—many of them from the group Teens for Gun Reform (TGR), which organized the event—lying on the ground in front of the White House for several minutes, symbolizing "how quickly someone, such as the Parkland shooter, is able to purchase a gun in America." "We have organized this protest in solidarity with all of those who were affected by the horrific school shooting in Florida," TGR said in a statement.

School Walkouts, Sit-ins Planned After Florida Shooting

February 19, 2018 Staff, Apnews.com Resist! Florida, Protests, Youth, Youth Activism

The mass shooting at a Florida high school that left 17 people dead has sparked calls for walkouts, sit-ins and other actions on school campuses across the United States aimed at pushing lawmakers to pass tougher gun laws. Organizers behind the Women’s March, an anti-Trump and female empowerment protest, called for a 17-minute walkout on March 14 to “protest Congress’ inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods.” The Network for Public Education, an advocacy organization for public schools, meanwhile, announced a “national day of action” on April 20, the anniversary of the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado, in which two students opened fire on their classmates, killing 12 students and one teacher.

Florida High School Students Stage Walkout To Protest Gun Violence

February 17, 2018 Ryan Grenoble and Sebastian Murdock, Huffingtonpost.com Resist! Florida, Guns, Protests, Violence, Youth Activism

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. ― They’re furious about political stonewalling, and most of them aren’t yet old enough to vote. Two days after a gunman used an assault-style rifle to kill 17 people at a nearby school, the students of South Broward High School protested in solidarity. Just a couple of dozen miles down the road in Parkland, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was still sealed off as investigators pored over the horrors inside. About 50 teenagers gathered on the street Friday, rallying around the common causes of gun control and school safety ― two issues politicians continue to ignore even though polls show most Americans support them.

Texas High Schoolers Walk Out To Protest ICE Detaining Of Student

February 16, 2018 By Daniel Hampton, Patch.com Resist! Deportations, ICE, Protests, Youth Activism

HOUSTON, TX — Dozens of high schoolers in Houston walked out of class on Wednesday in support of a classmate who was living in the United States illegally and was detained by federal immigration authorities following a fight at school. Dennis Rivera-Sarmiento, a 19-year-old student at Stephen F. Austin Senior High School in the Greater Eastwood neighborhood, was arrested on Jan. 30 on a charge he assaulted a student. Court documents allege Rivera-Sarmiento struck a female in the head with his fist, KTRK-TV reported. But the immigrant advocacy organization United We Dream says Rivera-Sarmiento was defending himself against bullies who were making fun of him over his immigration status. The group says the bullies even threw bottles at him.

Youth Activists And Catholic Lay Leaders Organize For DRC Without Kabila

February 14, 2018 Phil Wilmot, Wagingnonviolence.org Resist! Class Struggle, DRC, Protests, Youth Activism

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to 80 million people. Its land is so vast that a peat bog the size of England was discovered just four years ago. Yet, despite geographic distance, road inaccessibility, language diversity and internet blackouts, Congolese activists across the country — with the help of Catholic lay leaders — have coordinated dispersed marches and prayers against dictator Joseph Kabila, who continues to lead the country despite his last term having expired in December 2016. Since the final days of 2017, Kabila’s security personnel have been filling churches with tear gas and administering bloody crackdowns, resulting in hundreds of cases of politically motivated arrests, torture and assassinations. Following a Mass last Saturday, Rev. Sebastian Yebo was beaten and kidnapped by police.

Incredible Quinceañera Protest At Texas Capitol Against Vile Anti-Immigrant Law

July 21, 2017 Rafi Schwartz, www.fusion.kinja.com Resist! Immigration, Law, Legislation, Protests, Texas, Youth, Youth Activism

By Rafi Schwartz for Fusion - On Wednesday, a group of 15 teenage girls, dressed in brightly colored gowns, stood in front of the Texas State Capitol to participate in one of Latin American culture’s most cherished traditions: the quinceañera. But this quinceañera was more than simply a coming-of-age celebration. Instead, it was a public protest against one of the most viciously anti-immigrant pieces of legislation in Texas’ recent history: SB4, the so-called “sanctuary cities bill.” SB4—which essentially forces Texas cities to comply with federal immigration law enforcement actions—has been one of the state’s most hotly contested pieces of legislation all year, drawing comparisons to Arizona’s infamous “papers please” law, and prompting massive protests. Dubbed “Quinceañera at the Capitol,” the protest was organized by Latino advocacy group Jolt, which describes itself on Facebook as a “Texas-based multi-issue organization that builds the political power and influence of Latinos in our democracy.”

Military Recruiting And How To Confront It

June 29, 2017 Pat Elder, www.PopularResistance.org Resist! Military Recruitment, Wars and Militarism, Youth Activism

By Pat Elder for Popular Resistance. The Pentagon is attempting to recruit somewhere around 227,000 troops this year, and they’re having one hell of a time finding them, even while they enjoy unprecedented physical access to kids in our high schools and equally unprecedented exposure to their minds through popular culture. In 2010 there were 30.7 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 24. 227,000 works out to .73% of prime recruiting age. The revolution we engender must course through the schools. We can no longer afford to cede our neighborhood schools to the corporatists and the militarists. Wars start in our high schools, and this is where we can help to put an end to them. Wars start in our high schools, and this is where we can help to put an end to them.

Fighting Climate Change Can Be A Lonely In Oil Country, Especially For A Kid

June 14, 2017 Neela Banerjee and Zahra Hirji, www.insideclimatenews.org Resist! Children, Climate Change, Lawsuit, Louisiana, Youth, Youth Activism

By Neela Banerjee and Zahra Hirji for Inside Climate News - RAYNE, Louisiana—As far back as Jayden Foytlin can remember, her cousin Madison came over to celebrate her birthday. The girls had been best friends since they were toddlers and spent nearly every weekend together, playing video games and basketball in their driveways. This year, things were different. In the weeks before Jayden's 14th birthday, Madison's mother stopped arranging get-togethers. She didn't answer texts inviting Madison to Jayden's birthday party. "We thought that maybe she was out of town with her family," Jayden said. "Or I thought that maybe Madison had a sleepover the same day as my birthday." The text that cleared matters up came on the afternoon of Jayden's birthday, as she and her family piled into their hybrid SUV to go roller skating. Madison's mother wrote that her daughter wasn't allowed to see Jayden anymore. She was keeping Madison away because Jayden is one of 21 young plaintiffs suing the federal government over its alleged failure to curtail fossil fuel development and address climate change.

Indigenous Youth Took Center Stage At People’s Climate March

May 5, 2017 Cherri Foytlin, www.alternet.org Resist! Climate Change, Indigenous Peoples, March, Youth, Youth Activism

By Cherri Foytlin for AlterNet - The ceremony, which welcomed the spirits from the four directions, officially opened the People’s Climate March, a massive show of resistance on a day that also marked Trump’s 100th day in office. Within a few hours, the youth would be braving record heat, to take the lead of the 1.5 mile march, which covered eight city blocks and ended near the Washington monument. As participants made their way along the route, gigantic banners, puppets and signs could be seen above the crowd. “Water is Life,” “Native Nations Rise,” “Defend the Sacred,” and “Respect the Rights of Mother Earth,” were some of the messages. As the convoy reached the White House, the crowd sang and native drum lines took to the front. Merlejohn Lone Eagle, from Bridger, South Dakota, was among them. Although he is only 13, Merlejohn is already an experienced pipeline fighter. He said he worked with youth in his community to send videos to President Obama showing their opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline. He was overjoyed in the fall of 2015 when Obama rejected the pipeline.

The Vision And Legacy Of Berta Cáceres

March 2, 2017 Beverly Bell, www.popularresistance.org Strategize! Assassination, Democracy, Environmental Justice, Indigenous Resistance, Military, Youth Activism

By Beverly Bell for Other Worlds. One year ago today, Berta Cáceres was murdered by the national and local Honduran government and a multinational dam company, with at least the tacit support of the US. Last September, all the evidence Cáceres' family had collected over many months was stolen, almost certainly by the government. The government has also refused to share information with the family and to allow independent parties like the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to help with the process. Please contact your US congressperson to urge him or her to endorse the Berta Cáceres Human Rights Act, which is being re-introduced today, March 2, 2017. It compels the US government to cut military aid to Honduras until it improves its human rights record.

Tom Hayden’s Prescient & Still Relevant Port Huron Statement

October 31, 2016 G. Pascal Zachary, www.alternet.org Create! 1960s, Port Huron Statement, Student Activism, Students for a Democratic Society, Tom Hayden, Youth Activism

By G. Pascal Zachary for Alternet. The Port Huron statement, named after the city in Michigan where SDS leaders met in June 1962, presented a sharp break with political dissent in America. For the entire 20th century, leading up to the 1960s, radical politics in America was chiefly derived from European formulations. Left-wing Americans were deeply shaped by European socialism and Soviet (i.e., Russian) communism. As in 1962, our moment doesn’t seem auspicious. Again, the words from Port Huron ring true today: humanity “desperately needs revolutionary leadership,” and “America rests in national stalemate, its goals ambiguous and tradition-bound instead of informed and clear, its democratic system apathetic and manipulated….”

«1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 »

Daily movement news and resources