Dear social justice learners, leaders, changemakers, advocates, and warriors: 

It is emotionally overwhelming to live in a world where civil rights and human dignity are under constant threat. However, our hope is that you realize you are not alone in this fight for social justice.  

Our Planet is On Fire: Last August, one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S history struck the island of Maui, Hawai’i. Over a hundred people are confirmed dead and many others are still missing. Among those displaced by the fire are some of the most vulnerable in the community, including immigrants. Immigrants have experienced difficulty qualifying for aid, and because they fear prosecution by immigration authorities and police, it makes it more difficult for them to receive aid. Hawai’i is widely known for its enormous tourism industry, and many who profit off that industry are pushing for things to go “back to normal.” However, many of the workers who were struggling before the wildfire have faced worsening conditions in its aftermath. The Maui wildfire, while devastating, created space for people to call for an end to generations of exploitation and colonization exasperated by this disaster.  

Our Struggle to Exist: The criminalization of homelessness remains a pressing issue in our society despite receiving inadequate media attention. Some states ticket people for sleeping in parks, streets, or under bridges, and in some instances, forcibly remove them. These kinds of laws are spreading. For example, an estimated 100,000 people are living in homeless shelters in New York City. Yet, the city created an ordinance that bans camping even when there are no beds available in homeless shelters. The Supreme Court just issued an opinion on a case about these types of bans, and the ruling will likely negatively impact hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people.   

This is also a struggle that is global.  A day of tragedy occurred when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7; over 1,200 people were killed, and hundreds were taken as hostages. Many people around the world agreed that this attack was morally reprehensible and were quick to condemn Hamas in the aftermath of the tragedy. However, in the succeeding months, Israel has laid siege to Gaza, and over 30,000 Palestinians have died. Many people across the world have responded by carrying out protests and demonstrations in the streets and on college campuses. The Palestinian story and struggle have captured the hearts and minds of many Americans. Despite numerous protests in the United States, our government continues to provide military funding to Israel even though Israel uses those resources to carry out mass atrocities on Palestinian civilians, including targeting refugee camps. As activist and feminist writer June Jordan once said, “Palestine is the moral litmus test of our time.” Our commitment to Palestine is inseparable from our fight for LGBTQ+ people, women’s rights, and Black liberation; we must stand in solidarity with oppressed people and against oppressive systems everywhere.  

Our Struggle for Equality:  Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is being pushed across the country by mostly Republican legislatures. In Ohio, Bill 68 bans gender-affirming care for ​transgender youth, preventing healthcare providers from helping patients receive gender affirming care in Ohio and even in other states. The Ohio House Public Health Policy Committee amended this bill to include the provisions in House Bill 6, which bans transgender women and girls from competing in school sports in Ohio. Earlier this year, Nex Benedict, a non-binary teen from Oklahoma, was found dead after reportedly being bullied and harassed by other kids at school due to their gender identity. In the weeks following Benedict’s death, many of their classmates led a walkout at school to protest what they described as an unsafe environment for LGBTQ+ students. Over 50 bills targeting members of the LGBTQ+ community were filed during the 2024 legislative session in Oklahoma. From bans on gender-affirming health care to penalizing public school employees for asking a student for their pronouns. Benedict’s death reflects the hostile and discriminatory environment fostered by the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation that we are seeing in Oklahoma, Ohio, and many other states across the country. 

Several states have also passed bills eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at public universities. Supporters of these bans claim that DEI programs push a “woke ideology.” But those in favor of DEI programs say that they have helped foster a sense of belonging in spaces where historically marginalized communities, such as students with disabilities, students of color, and new Americans who may need extra help due to language or cultural barriers, were once systematically denied access. The message is clear to LGBTQ+ folks and those from historically marginalized communities: you do not belong here. The struggle of marginalized communities continues and is intensifying.  We must do better: we must use our voices in active allyship and civic involvement to ensure that decision makers, legislators, and adjudicators reflect the values of equality and inclusivity. 

Activism and Engagement Offer a Path Forward: In an uplifting display of citizens leveraging their power,  Ohioians recently voted to pass an amendment that will enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. A significant victory for everyone who believes in reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy. It is particularly noteworthy considering that Ohio is known for being a conservative state. This victory is large but one of many that we’ll need to start down the path of change and social justice.  

The path of social justice continues and this November we will elect a president, but we’ll also be deciding on democracy, on our justice system, and on our values as a country. A lot of people are feeling anxious, defeated, and possibly even apathetic about the electoral process. However, it is paramount that everyone engages with their community and strives to continue with civic engagement, including voting. Vote because we have a moral responsibility to push our elected representatives in a progressive direction. Vote because local and state elections matter! (And they arguably affect your life and community on a more direct and personal level than the presidential election will.) Vote not because you believe that either of these mediocre white men are going to transform our country, but because you will. Ordinary people have always been the leaders that have dismantled the status quo and made life better for future generations; think back to the courageous people who fought to propel movements like feminism, civil rights, LGBTQ + rights, and labor rights. Many civil and human rights we enjoy today exist not because of the man that was in the oval office but because of ordinary people who refused to settle for less than they deserved. We at the Jones Center hope that you will join us this coming November in uplifting the voices of the marginalized and empowering others to effectuate systemic change.  

In Unity,

The Nathaniel R. Jones Center for Race, Gender, and Social Justice