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Street Roots • March 16-22, 2018 Page 3 O p in io n Tomorrow’s leaders are marching today ednesday, March 14, tens of thousands of students across Oregon and the nation walked out of their schools to say “enough.” Enough with gun laws that ignore the scores of dead students in the classroom. Enough with the lip service, the feeble - and egotistic - pronouncement of thoughts and prayers. In the vacuum of political inaction, students are effectively demanding nationwide attention to I« end this perpetual political stalemate over sensible gun laws. And we can’t get enough. It’s absolutely inspiring. We’re talking, of course, about the next generation of Americans facing off against extraordinary forces, including the powerful National Rifle Association, the gun manufacturers it represents, and the lawmakers it bankrolls. But gun policy is just one in a string of issues stacking up on the next generation’s desk. They include climate change, and all the complications that our warming planet will have in their emerging adulthood. There’s the constant challenge to accessing affordable health care, as federal policies chip away at coverage standards and medicaid payments. There are immigration policies that are targeting amazing young adults for deportation to foreign lands over bureaucratic technicalities. It goes on and on. With these pressures, we’re seeing a invigorating brand of youth activism, and it should give all of us inspiration. Juliana v. U .S . was brought by a group of youths, including many Oregonians, who are suing the government for causing climate change, and thus violating the youngest generation’s constitutional rights to life, liberty and property, as well as failed to protect essential public trust resources. They’ve had early success in the courts, as the case continue to move forward. And for years, young adults - women, men, cis, transgender, non binary, straight and queer - have been on the front lines W of gender rights campaigns, pushing for greater understanding, socially and institutionally. They’ve been leaders in creating change that has saved lives. And they’re not finished. And then there’s the incredible resilience of young Dreamers, as they await political action on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA act. Their courage in coming forward, risking their own lives in America, has taught us all a lesson in standing up against Goliaths. Youths engaged from the earliest days of Black Lives Matter marched, demonstrated and campaigned nationwide for justice for the deaths of unarmed black children and adults at the hands of police. They are changing our world for the better every day. Now guns. We wonder if this time the powers that be are really listening. And if so, is it because of the grave significance to the lives and futures of children, or just a means to ride out the status quo in this highly charged political atmosphere? If they really want to listen, EM POW ER, the group behind the national school walkout, and an extension of the Women’s March, has outlined a list of demands for gun reform. They support banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines, expanding background checks to all gun sales, passing a gun violence restraining order law, and passage of the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act. They oppose the conceal carry reciprocity resolution among states, and any legislation that intends to fortify schools with more guns. For all the talk on how disconnected youths have become - living in some digital distance - there is a fire in their bellies that has burned within every generation. These are tomorrow’s voters, mentors and leaders, and too many of them are facing incredible obstacles every day. Schools, neighborhoods, businesses, civic bodies and families should foster their engagement, and we can all be energized and educated by their voices. These youth not only deserve our support and attention, they are owed our respect. if you woul to have something cole@streetroots.org Development Director Andrew Hogan andrew@stmetroots.org Senior S taff Reporter Emily Green Operations Director Sarah Beecroft Program Assistant Caelin M iltko, Jesuit Volunteer V e n d o r A s s is ta n t Scott Jackson, Alex Gillow-Wiles D e velo p m e n t A s s is ta n t Rosemary Wilson E d ito ria l P ro d u c e r Monica Kwasnik R e p o rte rs Sarah Hansell, Leonora Ko, Emilly Prado, Jared Paben, Amanda Waldroupe, Thacher Schmid, DeVon Pouncey, Helen Hill P h o to g ra p h e rs Diego Diaz, Arkady Brown, Celeste Noche C a n v a s s e r Desmond Hardison Board of Directors C h a ir Brad Taylor V ic e -C h a ir Rachel Langford T r e a s u r e r Heather Stadick S e c r e ta r y Dan Jones D ire c to rs Michael Anderson, Sandra Hahn, John Brown, Nels Johnson and Alison Hallett Volunteers Jan Bayer, John Barker, Stacey Heath, Anjali Rathore, Dennis Hogan, Lucas Hawthorne, Thomas Buell Jr., Jason Cohen, Doug Spangle, Susannah Kamala, Jon Raymond, Diana Richardson, Paul and Madeline Gefroh, Mary Anne Joyce, Brooke Anderson, Gillian Floren, Mark Oldani, Bianca Butler, Camber Hansen- A student fr o m , DaVinci Arts Middle School marches as part o f the National Walkout Day, March 14, to protest gun violence. PHOTO BY CELESTE NOCHE Karr, Miranda Woods, Henry Brannan, Helen Hill, Mary Emerson, Brooke Anderson, Kathleen McFall, Robb Hengerer, Maile Yeats-Rowe, Erin Parsons, Faye Powell, Jon Raymond and Megan Pickerel-Winer. If you're interested in volunteering with Street Roots, please submit a volunteer application at streetroots. org/volunteer. Or you can call for more information at 503-228-5657.
