According to Piaget’s model of cognitive development, a child as young as 11 years old can understand abstract ideas. While it is true that nobody is a fully mature adult at 11, the intelligence of the youth should never be neglected.
As every teenager knows, social media helps spread news like a wildfire. As we burn through posts, fueled by endless scrolling, we often become numb to what we see. ICE raids, mass shootings, war, all become available to us with the click of a button. We see what’s happening in Minnesota. We watched what happened in Venezuela. We see everything. And what we become is quite dangerous: desensitized, but also fearful.
I have heard the phrase “But what can we do?” and “I’m scared to tell people my real opinions” much too commonly around my peers. Unfortunately, we are faced with a deafening reality, and it shocks me how apathetic we have become. The force that is actively censoring free speech is not invisible. It is right in front of our faces, underneath our fingertips. It is the judgement of the screen.
While I completely understand these sentiments, apathy is a powerful weapon, and we have to be careful. Even if we can’t vote, our voices must not remain silent. In this case, history supports us. Youth leaders during the Vietnam War protests, teenage organizers during the Civil Rights movement, and countless others have paved an example of what we can do if we stand together.
Being apolitical in this day and age is inherently political. This administration has made unacceptable decisions that pose a threat to our communities. Just in our area, Syracuse.com has reported multiple ICE arrests and detentions affecting local groups. This includes a same-sex couple working at SUNY Upstate Hospital seeking asylum from Cuba, who now have a deportation order to Ecuador. They were reported to be in the process of obtaining legal citizenship. More recently, an active member of the All Saints Roman Catholic Church, who was also a father of two, was separated from his family to be held in a detention center. On a national spectrum, the shootings of Alex Peretti, Renee Good, and Keith Porter are calling people to action all over the country.
The end of January’s movement of anti-ICE school walkouts reminded me that we too have a humongous influence on what our future should be. Thousands of teenagers across the country have led a widespread campaign against violence our communities have been facing. Activism is looking towards the future using what we have in the present, which is why I decided to join Indivisible Onondaga in their immigration advocacy protests the last weekend in January. Below is an account of my experience, and why I encourage other teens to join in.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29TH
Group events like these can be found with a simple search based on the topic you are interested in. Through Google, I registered for the event via Facebook and the website Mobilize. This helps the organizers get an attendance estimate. This particular protest was referred to as a “pop-up protest” and reoccurs weekly on Saturdays from 11AM-12PM.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 31ST
At around 11:30AM, I arrived at the intersection between Erie Boulevard and Bridge Street, the location where the organizers tend to host similar protests. This was also the site of the last No Kings protest in October. I carried out a sign I prepared before the event, keeping in mind the themes provided by the organizers. Although fairly nervous, I quickly found a place to stand amongst a group near a crosswalk, and even chatted with fellow protestors. It was encouraging to see all the like-minded people filling the streets, and the drivers honking in support as they passed by. We did have a couple drivers shout opposing ideas and quite a few middle finger incidents, but people were generally respectful. I left around the scheduled end time of 12PM, but a large handful of protestors remained in action.
If you are reading this and shocked by the simplicity of it all, this is really the true cost of speaking out. It doesn’t take much time, effort, or money to join a crowd of people for half an hour to stand up for what you believe. While you might face a negative reaction here or there, it is important to know that the rest of the people are here to support you. All you have to do is show up.
To the immigrants of Syracuse, I hope you know that I see you, and I will fight for you. Nobody should have to live in a place where fear haunts their communities.
To the youth out there, I implore you to exercise your rights. While it may feel hopeless seeing all the negativity on social media, that is exactly what they want you to see. It keeps us from demanding the change we want, and it keeps you isolated. Call your representatives, write some blog posts, and don’t forget to spam those hashtags. I promise you, for every setback, there are more and more of us out there willing to stand up. Together, we can make a difference before the effects are irreversible.
