Barbara Rose Johns (1935-1991): At just 16 years old, Barbara led a student strike for equal education in Virginia, which became part of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, indirectly supporting voting rights by fighting for African American rights.
Malala Yousafzai (1997-present): A Pakistani advocate for girls' education and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate, Malala's activism highlights the importance of education for empowering young people and indirectly supports their future right to vote.
Joan Trumpauer Mulholland (1941-present): As a teenager, Joan became an active participant in the Civil Rights Movement, joining the Freedom Rides and sit-ins to protest against racial segregation, contributing to the movement that secured voting rights for African Americans.
Sybil Ludington (1761-1839): At 16, Sybil rode twice the distance of Paul Revere to alert American forces of a British attack, showing the impact young people can have on their nations' futures, including the democratic right to vote.
Hector P. Garcia (1914-1996): Founding the American GI Forum to address the concerns of Mexican-American veterans, Garcia fought for Hispanic rights, including voting rights, from a young age.
Emma González (1999-present): A survivor of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, Emma co-founded the gun control advocacy group Never Again MSD, pushing for legislative change and encouraging young people to vote.
John Lewis (1940-2020): A key figure in the Civil Rights Movement, Lewis was a young activist who led the Selma to Montgomery marches which were crucial in the passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Suffragettes of the early 20th century: Many young women, including teenagers, were part of the suffragette movement fighting for women's right to vote, showing the power of youth activism.
Autumn Peltier (2004-present): An Indigenous Canadian clean water advocate, Autumn uses her voice to speak at the United Nations and other platforms about Indigenous issues, demonstrating the broader fight for rights, including voting.
Greta Thunberg (2003-present): Starting her climate change activism at 15, Greta's work emphasizes the importance of political action and the power of the youth vote to influence policy.
Mary Beth Tinker (1952-present): As a 13-year-old, Mary Beth wore a black armband to school to protest the Vietnam War, leading to a Supreme Court case that protected students' free speech rights, a cornerstone of democratic engagement including voting.
Severn Cullis-Suzuki (1979-present): At age 12, Severn delivered a powerful speech at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, advocating for environmental responsibility and sustainable living, encouraging future generations to vote for the planet.
Yolanda Renee King (2008-present): The granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr., Yolanda speaks publicly about continuing her grandfather's legacy, including the fight for equal voting rights.
Jazz Jennings (2000-present): An LGBTQ+ rights activist from a young age, Jazz uses her platform to advocate for equality, including the right for all people to have their voices heard through voting.
Little Miss Flint (Mari Copeny) (2007-present): Became an advocate for clean water in Flint, Michigan, and a youth ambassador for social justice, showing even young children can impact political discussions and highlight the importance of responsible leadership.
Here are 10 additional young individuals who have significantly contributed to fighting for diverse rights, impacting democracy and the broader spectrum of social justice, including but not limited to voting rights:
Xiuhtezcatl Martinez (2000-present): An environmental activist and youth director of Earth Guardians, Martinez has been advocating for environmental protection and climate change action since he was six years old, addressing the United Nations and suing the U.S. government for failing to protect the environment for future generations.
Amika George (1999-present): Founded the #FreePeriods campaign at 17, fighting against period poverty in the UK. Her activism has led to government action to provide free menstrual products in schools, emphasizing the importance of gender equality and education access.
Kekashan Basu (2000-present): Founded the Green Hope Foundation at the age of 12, focusing on environmental conservation, climate justice, and advocating for the sustainable development goals. Her work emphasizes the role of youth in shaping policy and promoting democratic values through environmental activism.
Malati and Isabel Wijsen (2000s-present): These Indonesian sisters founded "Bye Bye Plastic Bags" in Bali at ages 10 and 12, respectively. Their successful campaign led to Bali banning single-use plastic bags, straws, and Styrofoam, highlighting how youth activism can lead to legislative change.
Jack Andraka (1997-present): An inventor, scientist, and cancer researcher who, at the age of 15, developed a groundbreaking method to detect early stages of pancreatic cancer. Andraka's work underscores the importance of youth innovation in science and technology, contributing to societal well-being and policy.
Nadia Murad (1993-present): A Yazidi human rights activist who, after surviving genocide and sexual slavery by ISIS, advocates for the rights of her community and survivors of human trafficking. Her efforts, starting in her early 20s, have brought international attention to issues of genocide and sexual violence.
Zuriel Oduwole (2002-present): A filmmaker and education advocate who has interviewed numerous world leaders and spoken before the UN to advocate for girls' education worldwide. Her work from a young age emphasizes the critical role of education in empowering youth and shaping democratic societies.
Jamie Margolin (2001-present): Co-founder of This Is Zero Hour, a youth-led climate action organization. Starting her activism at 16, Margolin has been vocal about the urgency of climate change and the need for comprehensive policies to address it, emphasizing the intersectionality of environmental justice and democracy.
Ahed Tamimi (2001-present): A Palestinian activist who became internationally recognized after a video of her confronting Israeli soldiers went viral. From a young age, she has been involved in protests and activism against the occupation, symbolizing the fight for national and democratic rights under oppressive conditions.
Marley Dias (2005-present): Launched #1000BlackGirlBooks at age 10, aiming to collect and donate children's books that feature Black girls as the main characters. Her campaign addresses the lack of racial diversity in literature and promotes inclusivity and representation, foundational elements of democratic societies.
These individuals exemplify how young people globally are fighting for diverse rights, including but not limited to voting rights, and are actively shaping democratic principles through their advocacy and actions.
Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906): A leader in the women's suffrage movement, Anthony was arrested for voting in 1872, illustrating her dedication to securing women's right to vote.
Frederick Douglass (1818-1895): An escaped slave who became a leading voice in the abolitionist movement, Douglass tirelessly advocated for the rights of African Americans, including the right to vote.
Sojourner Truth (1797-1883): A former slave, Truth became a prominent abolitionist and women's rights activist, famously advocating for both racial and gender equality.
Cesar Chavez (1927-1993): A Mexican-American labor leader and civil rights activist, Chavez worked to improve working conditions for farm workers and fought for Hispanic voting rights.
Fannie Lou Hamer (1917-1977): A civil rights activist who faced violence and intimidation while fighting for African American voting rights in the South, famously saying, "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired."
Wilma Mankiller (1945-2010): The first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Mankiller's leadership focused on health and education reforms and revitalizing the Cherokee Nation, advocating for Native American rights, including voting.
Harvey Milk (1930-1978): The first openly gay elected official in California, Milk's advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights included encouraging LGBTQ+ people to be open about their identity and to vote.
Lucretia Mott (1793-1880): An early suffragist and abolitionist, Mott was a central figure in the women's rights movement, emphasizing the importance of voting rights for all.
Yuri Kochiyama (1921-2014): A Japanese-American civil rights activist who advocated for various causes, including reparations for Japanese-American internment and African American civil rights.
Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005): The first African American woman elected to the U.S. Congress, Chisholm ran for the Democratic nomination for President in 1972, breaking gender and racial barriers.
Bhagat Singh (1907-1931): An Indian socialist revolutionary who fought against British rule, advocating for Indian independence and the right for Indians to govern themselves.
Rosa Parks (1913-2005): Her refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus became a pivotal event in the Civil Rights Movement, leading to the Montgomery Bus Boycott and subsequent actions that advanced voting rights.
Zitkala-Sa (Gertrude Simmons Bonnin) (1876-1938): A Sioux writer, editor, musician, and political activist who fought for Native American rights, including citizenship and the right to vote.
Alice Paul (1885-1977): A leading strategist in the women's suffrage movement, Paul's campaign led to the passage of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote.
Dalip Singh Saund (1899-1973): The first Asian American, Indian, and Sikh elected to the United States Congress, Saund's election represented a significant milestone for diverse representation and voting rights in America.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902): An early leader of the women's rights movement, Stanton was instrumental in organizing the first women's rights and suffrage movements in the United States.
Nelson Mandela (1918-2013): South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader, and philanthropist who became South Africa's first black president, advocating for equality and democracy.
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948): Leader of the Indian independence movement against British rule, employing nonviolent civil disobedience to lead India to independence and inspire movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.
Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962): As a political figure, diplomat, and activist, she was instrumental in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, advocating for expanded roles for women in the workplace, civil rights of African Americans and Asian Americans, and the rights of World War II refugees.
Aung San Suu Kyi (1945-present): Burmese politician, diplomat, author, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who has spent much of her career under house arrest for her efforts to bring democracy to Myanmar.
Benazir Bhutto (1953-2007): The first woman to head a democratic government in a Muslim majority nation. As Prime Minister of Pakistan, she sought to implement social reforms and advocate for women's rights.
Corazon Aquino (1933-2009): The first female president in the Philippines and in Asia, Aquino was known for restoring democratic institutions after the long dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos.
Václav Havel (1936-2011): Czech statesman, writer, and former dissident, who served as the last President of Czechoslovakia and the first President of the Czech Republic, instrumental in the Velvet Revolution that ended Communist rule.
Lech Wałęsa (1943-present): Polish statesman, dissident, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who co-founded and headed Solidarity, the Soviet bloc's first independent trade union, played a major role in the fall of communism in Poland.
Desmond Tutu (1931-2021): South African Anglican bishop and social rights activist who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid.
Simone Veil (1927-2017): A French lawyer and politician who served as Minister of Health under Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, President of the European Parliament, and member of the Constitutional Council of France. A Holocaust survivor, she was a leading figure in the fight for women's rights and European integration.
Jeanette Rankin (1880-1973): The first woman to hold federal office in the United States. As a congresswoman, she was an advocate for women's suffrage and a staunch pacifist.
Anna Arnold Hedgeman (1899-1990): An American civil rights leader, politician, educator, and writer. She played a key role in organizing the 1963 March on Washington, working tirelessly for civil rights, education, and government accountability.
Wangari Maathai (1940-2011): Kenyan environmental political activist and Nobel laureate. She founded the Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organization focused on the planting of trees, environmental conservation, and women's rights.
Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968): American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the Civil Rights Movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968.
Emmeline Pankhurst (1858-1928): A British political activist and organizer of the British suffragette movement who helped women win the right to vote.
Oscar Romero (1917-1980): Salvadoran Roman Catholic priest and bishop who became the fourth Archbishop of San Salvador, speaking out against poverty, social injustice, assassinations, and torture amid a growing war between left-wing and right-wing forces.
Malcolm X (1925-1965): African American Muslim minister and human rights activist who was a prominent figure during the Civil Rights Movement. He advocated for the rights of blacks and the promotion of Islam within the black community.
Jane Addams (1860-1935): An American settlement activist, reformer, social worker, sociologist, public administrator, and author. She was a notable figure in the history of social work and women's suffrage in the United States and an advocate for world peace.
Rigoberta Menchú (1959-present): A K'iche' Maya woman from Guatemala, Menchú has dedicated her life to publicizing the rights of Guatemala's indigenous feminists during and after the Guatemalan Civil War (1960-1996), and to promoting indigenous rights internationally, becoming a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.