Hey #Changemakers,
This year, the Texas legislature passed many restrictive laws impacting young people all across our state. Ranging from HB 25 (an anti-trans bill aimed at excluding students from school sports) to SB 8 (the 6-week abortion ban)— extreme and oppressive laws are now a new reality in Texas. The worst part is, these policies do not represent what we as young Texans want for our future.
Young people are the future and we need our voices to be heard. Young people deserve representation and we know that our needs can be acknowledged if we are collectively demanding change. And our power has become even more clear in recent years.
In 2020, the youth voter turnout in Texas was unprecedented, casting over 1.3 million early votes at the end of the early voting period. During the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people in the United States quit their jobs in a matter of months. The federal minimum wage is still $7.25 per hour and student debt is at an all-time high. Many young people made their voices heard during the legislative sessions this year, speaking out against these outrageous and harmful bills.
This pivotal time displays the urgency that many young people feel about preventing more damage to society and the environment because it would end up being our responsibility to fix in the future.
As the Earth continues to deteriorate, the mentality of “leaving the mess for the later unlucky generations” has started to change. People are realizing that the unlucky generation is not that far away anymore. We know that it is important to start addressing these problems now, and we are using all of our power to shape the future for the better. Youth activists are changing the world by taking the lead on issues including reproductive rights, voting rights, climate change, and much more.
This gives me hope because young people are demanding a voice in shaping our world and our future for the better. I want to thank you #Changemakers for your hard work and important role in fighting for what’s right.
Anna Li,
Deeds Policy Intern
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