Hastings, Marwah Call for Change and Social Justice
Hundreds of thousands of protestors fill the streets in downtown. Some protest peacefully, while others clash violently with the police and other protestors. These are the streets of LA, Portland, and countless other cities. On social media, millions of others join along, voicing their opinion.
Over the past few months, shouts for justice and equality have grown louder and louder. Celebrities, sports stars, and ordinary people have stepped up and called for change, demanding justice for those who have been treated unjustly.
During this time, one thing has been incredible to watch: young people are finding their voice. Society is witnessing a shift in which the youth are becoming more educated on the injustices that haunt society and are taking action themselves. Many students from Del Norte are using their voice to advocate for social justice issues in the Black Lives Matter movement, or acting out against anti-semitism. Some have taken to social media to call for justice and educate others on these issues. Others have signed petitions, joined protests, and taken further action.
Fiona Hastings (’22) has been fighting for the Black Lives Matter cause and against anti-semitism for the past few weeks. When asked about her motivation, Hastings explained: “I felt the need to take a stand when I realized how privileged I am to use my voice. Seeing people treated unequally based on factors such as their skin color, religion, etc makes me incredibly disappointed and sad.”
Throughout the summer, Hastings has been heavily involved in several movements. She constantly works to inform others and grow awareness by posting relevant statistics, quotes, and other information on her social media, including Instagram and Snapchat. In addition, she wrote an article about her own experience with privilege and racism, “Young Voices of Unity”, in order to highlight the issue of prejudice and privilege in America. The article has influenced dozens towards unity, compassion, and change.
Hastings urges others to get involved, stressing the importance of self education, perspective, and taking action. She especially emphasizes the importance of understanding the full story: “It is extremely important to know the facts and all sides of the story. Another thing I would advise is to emphasize with others who are feeling suppressed, or those who don’t have the privilege you have. Lastly, use your voice. Your voice matters and it is important to keep advocating for what is right.”
Tanmay Marwah (’22) has been more focused on more underrepresented issues, such as the racism shown towards asians, as well as the lack of opportunities for kids of lower socioeconomic classes. Similar to Hastings, Marwah has also posted on Instagram and other social media platforms to bring awareness to these issues. In addition, he has donated to multiple relevant organizations, and signed petitions to bring about change.
Marwah’s main message for others is simple: in order to create change, people must take real action. He advises against “showing performance advocacy” by only posting movements on social media because it’s “trendy.”
Marwah also emphasizes that people must be receptive to each other’s beliefs; he explains how some people misunderstand what he’s fighting for and unnecessary arguments get started. “The only way to solve problems is to forge solutions,” he says, “not to try and win an argument.”
Brave students are speaking up and leading the way for future change, showing us that everyone can make a difference in the world, whether the issue is racism, discrimination, or other injustices in our society.