Dally Dixon
Asst. News Editor
Young people are the biggest movers and shakers of defining the times, being at the forefront of cultural change in an ever changing world. Because of this, young people have a responsibility to push for change where change is necessary. In many cases, they do and a long tradition of fighting for change has been created. This tradition is as old as humanity itself with each generation trying to leave the world better than they found it, it takes many forms. In the modern day it manifests very directly in protest and activism, but also in things like countercultures consisting of music or style, in literature, film and other forms of media.
An easily recognizable example would be the Vietnam War and Civil Rights era from the 50s to the mid 70s, resulting in thousands upon thousands of protests; Among them the infamous 1970 Kent State shooting that led to the deaths of four unarmed students and nine more wounded at the hands of the Ohio National Guard. This event led to a major shift in what was very divided public opinion supporting the war and was one of many factors that led to the United States finally pulling out of a country they never belonged in. This era also saw the formation of highly influential student activist groups like the left wing organization Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) that primarily dealt with the aforementioned issues of racial injustice and the Vietnam War as one of the heavy hitters of the New Left, which was the broader political movement born out of 60s and 70s counterculture.
Contemporary issues youth fight for include the Black Lives Matter movement, the very broad banner of environmentalism (particularly climate activism), queer and trans rights, feminism, school shootings, Free Palestine, Free Sudan and Free Congo. Many youth utilize the hyperconnectivity of the web to raise awareness, push GoFundMe fundraisers and other methods of fundraising and mutual aid for causes and/or people they wish to support, organize and mobilize, among much more. Important as large organizations are, it's also important to engage with your local community organizers at a grassroots level. For those of us at Rhode Island College, that’s groups like DARE (Direct Action for Rights and Equality) that has been active in Providence since the 1980s; RI Transit Riders, Providence Street Coalition, who are both involved in the Save RIPTA campaign as many college students are dependent on RIPTA and should consider getting involved; ReclaimRI and POWR who are both tenant rights and rent control oriented, and many more wonderful organizations. There are so many issues and just as many methods of engaging with them.