How to get Involved

What’s hard about Human and Civil rights? It's how to do it that daunts us and stops us in our tracks. We’re afraid of being wrong, afraid of what comes next, and doubt the importance of our individual efforts. When we see a number like 341 million, we tend to think that’s so much and can’t process it beyond the fact it’s a huge number. That is the number of people in the U.S. and, guess what? We, as individuals, make that number significant. Without one we can’t get to 341 million. Remember that where our efforts go, our single vote speaks, and where our one in a million adds up, it increases our chance at being part of an ever-changing world. After all, it only takes 3.5% to make a difference, which is just under 12 million for the U.S.

It's true that age-old issues persist, but so many things are better than they were. That means that life can get better than it is now. There are many things we the people want and NEED. We are tired of watching the rich waste our money, we’re tired of working under these conditions with no end or incentive in sight, and we’re tired of our rights being stripped away from us. We must STAND and SPEAK! We are THE PEOPLE! We’re not here to be used and tossed aside. This is our country and we must show up in NUMBERS! It’s time to use our voice, band together, and be COMMUNITY. We must be what we wish to see in the world. Everything that affects our lives is something we can change. Don’t like the laws? Protest, vote, and volunteer for organizations that support our cause. If no one shows up then it’s as if no one cared. Elie Wiesel, an American author who survived the Holocaust and a political activist said, “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.”

So, how do we show up in numbers for what we believe in? We must communicate. We must gather and be loud! To make a difference, “we must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

• Sign petitions - There are many sites to sign petitions and many you can find in your area. A good place to start is the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

  • Take Action | American Civil Liberties Union 

• Protest - The best way to protest is to find events in your capital and cities county courthouse. Our capital is Salem. 

• Strike - There are many reasons to strike, but have you heard of a general strike? Many Americans are so unhappy with the overall condition and treatment of our country that they are organizing a general strike. More in this link:

  • The General Strike

• Volunteer - There are many events that we will be going to and they don’t happen without people. If you want to participate more in-depth then volunteering with your favorite organization is a great idea.

• Meet Your Politicians - A trip to the capital is a good time to meet your politicians. Our local government is what affects our lives the most so it’s important to learn what your local political climate is like. It gives perspective to what it’s like overall and the differences too. 

• Participate in Sit-In Protests - A nonviolent tactic of civil disobedience where the demonstrators sit in a public place until forcibly removed or until their grievances are answered. 

• Boycott - You can boycott for a time with a mass of people but you can also change your shopping habits to match your values. This does require research but you’ll be happier knowing that your money is going to better people than those who violate human and civil rights.

• Vote - The best place to vote is locally. Keep your community safe by voting on relevant issues. Many things go under our noses because we’re focused on the big picture but the details matter too. The one makes up the whole. We can’t have America without you, me, and the state we live in. Research candidates and TALK with people. We need to stop being afraid to speak to each other. No movement ever happened without community.

• Educate Yourself - What we were taught in school is mostly inaccurate. We must find the seeds of truth and share it with others. Of course, truth is subjective so I truly believe that finding the truth is impossible but finding enough of it to know what I want to support is important. Challenge yourself as well. Learning more is good, and it’s even better to pose questions and put into practice the things we find. I used to think a unanimous vote seemed fair. Imagine if you had a person in a group who always thought they knew better than anyone else and the rest of the group had a great idea for a project they’re all working on. They bring the project idea to a vote and everyone is happy with it except that one person who wants it done their way. The “right” way. Well, all they have to do is vote against it and no one else can move forward with the great idea because one person disagrees with it. Now imagine that cycle repeating itself. The other individuals would be at the whim of the one voting no. You end up with a dictator that has an out since everyone gets a vote. It’s good practice to apply what is learned and to test it in a group of people who support each other and are non-judgmental. That way, when you vote, protest, and speak about what you believe in you have experience and understanding to back it up. We’re not always right, and that’s okay. That’s why we like to learn.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when someone defends the system that’s in place when presented with ideas to change it. When I say I think we should plant fruit trees on the streets for everyone to enjoy, including those struggling with housing, I’m not worried about the cost of maintenance or cleanup. In a world where we planted fruit trees for all, I’d imagine we created the systems to support it too. How awful would it be if we had food anyone could eat on the street and create jobs for those without homes? 

If we argue for our oppressors, then how can we rightfully disagree with them? Understanding what their reasons are is one thing but doing nothing because it would create more things we have to create systems for is shortsighted. If you want an idea to take off then you have to commit fully to its cause. That doesn’t mean you have to think of everything. That’s what a community is for. Often there is already a campaign or organization working on the very thing you’re wishing was different. Which is a great place to start. 

I know how exhausted we all are but we didn’t get this far in human history to stop now. We live in a world full of distractions so it’s easy to forget our suffering and of those we don’t know. I see so many of my friends, family, and others who see the world as hopeless. Isn’t that normal? Isn’t that what being human is all about? Is it not also human to stand up and sing and cry and dance for what we believe in? Can we imagine a more human life? Aren’t we tired of the world our capitalist leaders have pushed on us and who continue to ignore our cries for change?

“Imagine all the people

Living life in peace.

You may say I’m a dreamer

But I'm not the only one.” - John Lennon