After the election, media became a whirlwind of hate, rants, messages, and comments. All of which trapped users in an endless cycle that seemed to go nowhere as people preached for new ways to fight Trump. Many protests began to pop up all over the country to inspire people to speak up against messages of homophobia, Islamophobia, and sexist comments, but people can make an impact in their own communities.
1.Donate
With women’s rights over their body seemingly up in the air, try donating a few dollars to groups such as Planned Parenthood, or a Woman’s shelter.
2. Stand Up
If you are on a bus, or on the street and you see someone being harassed, stand up for them. Try striking up a conversation with them so that you can safely lead them away from their harasser. If the situation escalates, call the police, but don’t leave them alone. Look out for one another, no matter what.
3. Volunteer
Go out to centers and volunteer. Whether for your community, your campus, or your student organization, go out and help bring people together.
4. Educate, Don't Belittle
If you hear someone saying something untrue about a group of people, don’t attack. Step back and asses how you can clear the situation up. Attacking or yelling at them will only enforce what the think and make what you say sound bias and untrue. Try striking up a conversation and try to ease into the matter without being mean.
5. Reach Out to Your Community
Help start and organize events in your community to bring people together. The more people you bring together; the more bonds are strengthened. When you are able to help bring people out, new ways of thinking are too.
6. Share Smart
Facebook has made it easy to stereotype groups, whether jokingly or not. When you ostracize groups of people in items you share on your feed, it only makes situations more awkward in the future.
7. Report
If you see something, say something. Don’t let aggressors get away with harassment or assault. Those who get away with petty crimes will sometimes do worse things when they think they can get away with it.
8. Be Kind
When you go out into the world, be kind to everyone you meet. Don’t let things such as apparel, religion, or ethnicity stop you from being the good in the world.
