Teen Vogue’s Civil Discourse 101 features Amnesty International USA staff members, who answer questions from young activists as part of its #Right2Protest series. To submit your own question that could be featured in an upcoming column, head over to .
said: I’m disabled and have severe claustrophobia. Is there any other way I can help besides showing up to rallies and marches?
First, thank you for your activism and for giving voice to the fact that people with disabilities are too often not included when protests are planned.
Nonviolent direct action, including attending a march or a rally, can be a powerful way to speak out on an issue you care about, but it’s just one of many ways to have an impact. The Women’s March on Washington has been touted as the largest single-day demonstration in recorded U.S. history, and the online Disability March was an important component of it. Social movement strategies that include large public events often employ other tactics as well, such as educational events, fundraisers, artistic components, legislative advocacy, social media engagement and more, and there are roles for everyone to play.
Here are some tips for ways to “show up” when you aren’t able to show up in person, as well as suggestions for all of us for building more inclusive movements for social justice and human rights.
Learn about the issues: If you’re interested in an issue but can’t go to the rally, spend some time learning about the topic and the groups organizing the event. Spend some time on their websites and sign up for email alerts — this way you’ll be in the loop when there’s another opportunity that feels like a good fit for you. Share what you learn, and have conversations with your friends, family and classmates about why you care about the issue. Movement building happens one person at a time, and one-on-one conversations are a great way to support issues you care about.
Volunteer: Each of us have unique skills to offer, and movements need everything. Childcare, web design, phone banking, outreach, legal aid, and letters to the editor are just a few of the hundreds of ways people contribute. Think about what you have to offer, and share that skill with groups and organizations.
Get active on social media: Look for groups and organizations on social media that share your beliefs. You can re-post and promote their work, and engage your own online community around the issues. Share action alerts, news and other updates. Remember to use hashtags when they’re trending in order to join the larger conversation. You can also start your own blog to share news and updates on issues you care about.
Take action: Rallies and marches are effective if they get the attention of someone with the power to make a change – this is sometimes called the “target” of the campaign. Use your voice to contact them directly, either by phone, personal email, mailed letter, or even Twitter. This is often an elected official such as a member of the city council, a Congressperson or even the President of the United States, and you can use resources like Ballotpedia to get the contact information of everyone from your local school board members to White House officials. Look for organizations with clear calls to action – they will tell you who you should contact and what you should say. Ask others to take action with you to amplify your voice.
Donate: If you’re able, make a donation to a cause you care about. Do your homework to make sure the organization is in line with your beliefs, and decide what you can afford to give. You can also hold a fundraiser for the cause — bake sales, online fundraisers and other activities can all raise money for important work.
