As a law and business student and former full-time aide to a U.S. senator from the Midwest, I too recognize the importance of effectively using our First Amendment rights.
As a young black man born and raised in Flint and the church, I have seen firsthand how traumatic it can be for marginalized people to have no voice in the face of adversity. The rise of the Black Lives Matter movement and the deadly actions taken by law enforcement inspired me to work harder than ever before. Now, looking at the war in Gaza and the reaction of my colleagues, I am drawn further into this realm of advocacy.
Since the mid-1900s, young people (college students) have been at the forefront of large-scale demonstrations. Additionally, the unity generated by the Black Lives Matter movement, especially after the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, and the representation of young voters in the 2022 presidential midterm elections is a sign of how closely young people are connected to our politics. This is a remarkable example of how you are paying attention. I would like to be directly involved in the political arena.
At the end of the day, the challenges to elected and institutional leadership remain. How can we create a culture of civility in which all voters affected by extraordinary and traumatic challenges can experience a sense of belonging and recognition in the face of war, state surveillance, and concerns about social justice? Will it be maintained? What are the viable solutions?
Our elected officials and key institutions must help people assert their First Amendment rights. De facto freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. Establishing a safe space for community members to gather and discuss opposing views, and giving average citizens an opportunity to propose and work on solutions together, is not an easy task, but it is extremely important. and requires strong proactive efforts.
For example, leaders should take a proactive approach by inviting protesters at Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Chicago to sit down, voice their concerns, and work with school boards to develop a plan. Imagine if. It consists of directors, presidents, state governors, and local government officials. Will they be able to find common ground? Will the reaction of the protesters be very different from the anger and violence we witnessed at UCLA and Columbia University? I believe it will be. People respond better when they feel heard and heard.
Millennials and Gen Z are the future leaders and architects of our democracy. We are a collection of different cultures, races, religions, genders, and sexual identities, but with similar values ​​and political views. We are a solid voting bloc. We believe in strong government and should always be involved. Opening committed lines of communication to young people is essential to the county's upward trajectory.
Let's encourage our elected officials and key institutions to create an environment of inclusive participation, embrace civil dialogue, and give young people space to voice and make decisions. Efforts like this can give average citizens a voice, become part of the dialogue for change, and prevent mass university demonstrations from becoming uncivilized or even violent. It will be.
Officials must stay engaged with communities and offer real solutions that recognize the anger and social justice concerns of the young people they lead.
The challenges of providing meaningful solutions to difficult political issues are real, but we must ensure that First Amendment rights are respected and respectful communication is established between protesting youth and the American system. Good results can only be achieved if
