Shoppers and tourists watch as crowds of people form together on a bright Sunday afternoon in downtown Santa Barbara. Amongst them, hundreds of teen faces are spotted from schools all around the county. Every individual is there for the same reason, to show their support towards the Black Lives Matter Movement by peacefully protesting against discrimination, racism, and police brutality.
The protest was put on by Shakir Ahmad and Talia Hamilton who both attend San Marcos High School. As a student at San Marcos myself and as an activist, I was downtown to experience the protest firsthand. Bringing family and friends with me, we all marched up State Street stopping at the administrators office and ending at the police station. Even though the protest remained peaceful I couldn’t help but feel unnerved and anxious. We were all there for the right reasons but after seeing news stories and articles from other protests, anxieties drove in.
It got me thinking about how the upcoming generation is a quite strong one. We are all kids who were raised with politics, discrimination, misogyny, racism, and more being part of our everyday lives. From school dress codes to racial slurs being thrown around as “comedy” we have been exposed early on. However, growing up in this generation has taught me a lot. We can handle any curve ball society throws our way. Students all around the country have experienced the fears of school shootings or worrying about certain rights being taken away from them by the time they are released out into the world and must make a life for themselves. Yet through all of this there has been one thing that stays constant, the use of our voices.
At an age where we can’t yet vote, the best thing we can do is speak up and use our talents and platforms for good and for awareness. Through the past few months I’ve seen hundreds of students and adults of all ages posting on their social media platforms and going out to protests and overall using their beautiful voices for what is right. In order to keep history from repeating itself, it is our choice to either help the cause or to remain silent. The world today needs the youth’s help and input. Surprisingly, adults don’t know everything, nobody can be perfect after all. So as the kids we must pave a way for a brighter and more promising future.
Shakir Ahmad and Talia Hamilton started the wave of protests in Santa Barbara and it’s exciting to see it grow bigger and to see more awareness and justice being brought everyday. Help to keep the ball rolling by donating, signing petitions, and using your voice. Don’t forget, Silence = Violence.