The first time I participated in a nonviolent, peaceful march for justice was my freshman year of college. The march was based on racial inequality around the country, but also on my campus. I am not going to lie, I was nervous at first, but I quickly realized how welcoming everybody was and how similar we were to each other.
It also made me realize that I am never alone- there are people who believe in the same ideas that I do. My biggest concern was what were people going to think if they saw me at this protest, but I realized that this was bigger than me. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." There could be a million reasons not to march, but if one reason to march is because it's the right thing to do, you should march. I decided I couldn't let my fear control my actions and allow me to be another bystander. I knew that I would regret my decision not to march because if I didn't march then I was basically saying that I was OK with how the world is today. A lot of people might not feel comfortable marching, but I think it's time that we stopped avoiding the injustice of our country and start taking action. Marching is the action that we need to be taking to make a change.
Marching opened my eyes to a world full of inequality. Privilege determines the opportunities a person has. Our country does not have equal opportunity yet, but I have hope that someday soon that we will. Marching sends the message that we will not be forgotten or pushed aside. That we are using our First Amendment right to peacefully protest to bring awareness of a prevalent problem that millions of Americans are facing.
One day I will get to tell my children and grandchildren, I marched for justice. I marched in remembrance of the victims of the Orlando Pulse shooting. I marched on my college campus for racial justice in my community and around the country. I will continue to march in memory of those who can't march beside me. I will continue to march because inequality is still very much present today.
We march to send a message. We march for love. We march for peace. We march for hope.
