Youth Scholar Céline Alexander made a speech for the Interfaith Peace Vigil. Youth For Justice: We are the fortunate ones. We live in a world built on the backs of our ancestors, savor the fruits of their labor, and drink in the liberties so many died for, yet were impossibly far off only a few decades ago. Throughout the past century we have seen society progress faster than previous generations ever thought possible. Across the world, people have raised their voices against injustice, their collective cries a force strong enough to change entire nations and break barriers once considered impenetrable. Our ancestors struggled, bled, and wept for not only their freedom, but our own. Past generations have marched, picketed, and boycotted, not simply for their personal liberties, but our freedoms today and in the days to come. We have seen women in many cultures go from being thought of as purely objects to being leaders and innovators, we have seen countries such as America go from being racially segregated to having a black president, and we have seen leaders such as Ghandi battle for the independence of their countries without using violence. Even still, even with all of these successes, we have far to go. There are people who have not fought for freedom. Their exclamations of horror and disgust, their powerful appeals, and eloquent speeches have not been heard by the public. Why? Because they have been rendered voiceless. It is hard to scream in silence. If no one hears, if no one listens, why speak at all? How can you protest your situation if you do not have the power to make the world listen? It can’t be done alone, and that is where IBJ comes in. International Bridges to Justice is an organization working to bring a stop to torture as an investigative tool worldwide. IBJ helps victims of torture get in contact with lawyers, and uses rule of law to give people a voice. Not only does IBJ work with victims, but we provide education to law enforcement officials who perpetuate torture without realizing just how wrong their actions are. Here’s the thing, policemen are often driven to the use of torture, as they think it is a more effective, cheaper method of interrogation. Not only is this untrue as confessions given under duress are often false, but IBJ only works in countries where torture is illegal.This means that not only are law enforces being cure and inhuman, but they are violating the very laws they are hired to enforce. In fact, sometimes people aren’t even arrested for a valid reason. There are stories where a family member arrested and tortured if the actual criminal can’t be located. This means that innocent people are being seized and abused, and often held for long periods of time without adequate legal representation. We can’t let this go on. Why should we, the fortunate ones, worry about this crises? Because we are global citizens. Yes, all of us. It is impossible to live in our world of internet and easy communication, and pretend like we aren’t connected to our brother’s and sisters across the globe. We are one body, one entity, and we must hold each other as equal and worthy of the most basic human rights and liberties. To be silent, to refuse to act in support of our fellow humans, is to agree to oppression and violence. Those who fought so hard for their rights in years past did not bring us this far just for us to stop before we finish the job. We must act, act together, and act today. Get involved, and help IBJ give a voice, and therefore power, to those who need it most. Join us and help make a difference. Stand together with us to bridge the gap between justice and atrocity. Help us create youth chapters for students around the world. To get involved, go to IBJ.org. It is your voice, your powerful spirit, and above all, your action that can and will make a difference. A minute wasted is a life lost. Stand with us, you can help bridge the gap. Thank you.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 11:27:19 +0000
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