Racial Justice

MLK Day 2020

Today, to honor Martin Luther King Jr. we celebrate all the social justice leaders who followed in his wake. The fight for equality has made tremendous steps forward since the March on Washington in 1963. But there is more work to be done. 

Fortunately, every single day at Change.org ordinary people become extraordinary social change leaders. 

Here are a few of their stories:

Richard’s fight for fairness is personal. His son, Trevon, was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 4 and it rocked their family. Trevon’s survival now depends on regular doses of insulin. But even with good health insurance, families like theirs struggle to pay for the expensive medication.

Richard’s petition is asking state lawmakers to cap the price of insulin. And he’s a part of an even larger movement of changemakers with the same mission. As Martin Luther King Jr noted, the fight to fix the health care system is a fight against inequality.

In a moment of despair, Emerald launched a petition asking the New York Police Department to hold her father’s killer to account. In doing so, she mobilized 144,644 people from around the country, and put a spotlight on racialized police brutality. 

Emerald shows us the fight for equality in the eyes of the law is ongoing. But with leaders like her, the future is limitless. Watch this video to see how Emerald is continuing to fight for justice.

Jerome is a remarkable 17-year-old leader in the youth climate movement. Every Friday he goes on strike in front of the White House to demand lawmakers act before it’s too late. 

Jerome has started multiple petitions related to the climate movement. And he’s signed many, many more. His Friday strikes in D.C. echo the lessons of civil disobedience that Martin Luther King Jr. taught previous generations.

Written by
Change.org
January 18, 2020 12:41 am