Your Rights Are Your Fight

 (Hunley, Alexis. Protesters at a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Los Angeles on June 10. 10 June 2020.)

    I will say that I am proud to be in the generation I am in. Yes, we have flaws, but we also have a voice. It seems that nowadays, especially in the year 2020, the bad news continually gets worse as each month passes. Right now, the "Black Lives Matter" movement has made itself a prominent source of protesting and activism. Not only are there protests, but there are many petitions surrounding different aspects of the movement as well, that are going around. Our people are tired, but they are not weak. We must fight for our rights. For instance, our freedom to petition allows our society to speak out against groups including the police force and the government, whom we feel as if are infringing upon our rights. Popular petitions now, are in honor of the victims of injustice: George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake, and sadly many more. It is victims like these that lost their lives, and through their tragic loss have taught the members of society to emphasize the importance of our First Amendment rights.

(Gauthier, Robert. Black Lives Matter Protest. 2 June 2020.)

     Going a step further than signing petitions comes the freedom of assembly. Joining together as a society for one cause forces government leaders to address the issue. Yet, we have to recognize that condoning assembly means condoning peaceful assembly. The First Amendment does not provide protections against laws of general applicability, meaning that the looting and rioting that is taking place during certain protests do not get a “pass” under the freedom of assembly. While researching the topic of “Black Lives Matter,” I came across an article written by John Eligon for the New York Times titled, “Black Lives Matter Grows as Movement While Facing New Challenges,” in which he argues, “Black Lives Matter protests – or even the possibility of them – have changed the way that people in power respond.” This is exactly the change and push our young activists desire! Checks and balances are nothing without the individuals of society. Citizens check who is in power, and whether that said power is positive or corrupt, and then we demand a balance, or in this case justice within the leadership of our country.

            Fighting for our rights is not an easy battle, but the alternative is living in silence and fear. Without the freedom of assembly and freedom to petition, the “Black Lives Matter” movement would not have the platform and support that it does today. Creating a better world includes changing our present world, and we are lucky to have the rights to do so!

Source:

Eligon, John. "Black Lives Matter Grows as Movement While Facing New Challenges." The New York Times, 28 Aug. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/08/28/us/black-lives-matter-protest.html. Accessed 10 Sept. 2020.

Gauthier, Robert. Black Lives Matter Protest. 2 June 2020.

Hunley, Alexis. Protesters at a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Los Angeles on June 10. 10 June 2020.