Dear Young Americans,
I’m 16 years old. I’m female. I’m queer. and I’m having my life decided for me by old white straight men.
Since Trump has become the President-elect, one of my best friends fears being harassed because she is a woman and my other best friend fears being assaulted because he is gay.
It’s terrifying to think that there is so much hate in this country that someone such as Donald Trump could rise to power. It’s terrifying that people are so scared of diversity that even though Hillary Clinton was chosen by the people, Donald Trump was elected by the system because a woman in office following a black man’s two-term presidency is just too much to handle.
I, along with many of my friends, have cried a few times since Trump was elected. We cried for each other, for our safety, for the safety of those we don’t know, for the safety of our country, and for the safety of our future. We are constantly being told that we are the future but yet we’re not allowed to vote on it. Don’t silence us when our fate is at stake.
We’re going to march and protest and riot and yell and scream just so it’s known that we know what’s happening, and we don’t like it. And when that’s done with, we’re going to do it again. These next 4 years will not be something that discourages us, but rather encourages us to fight oppression.
The other day in class my teacher said that these presidential elections never really effected him. My teacher is a white, straight, cis-gender, able-bodied male. He is inherently privileged by being these things, just as I’m automatically privileged by being white.
But those who are privileged, such as myself and my teacher, must stand with people of color, Muslims, the LGBTQ+ community, and women to fight for rights. And let it be known that their lives do matter and that Love Trumps Hate, even when everything is bleak and hate is so prominent.
Sincerely,
Please Don’t Stay Silent
