(This is a guest blog post by Wendy Johnson. Over the course of her career, Wendy has been involved in politics at all levels and worked in both Youth Ministry and Communications for local congregations and the Episcopal Church in Minnesota. She is now consulting with my office on social media and communications.)
Today is National Faith Call-In Day. Immigration Reform has been at the top of our national agenda for years now and it is time Congress take action.
How do we spur them into doing something?
Each of us must call BOTH of our Senators and tell them that as a person of faith you want them to support a pathway to FULL CITIZENSHIP that prioritizes FAMILY UNITY.
You can read a full, sample script on the Interfaith Immigration website. To be connected to your Senators, there’s one number to call: 1-866-940-2439.
I’m not just talking to the adults here. I’m talking to young people.
Do teenagers have a voice?
Let me tell you as a former Congressional staffer who has served at all levels of government that YES, ABSOLUTELY! teenagers have a very valuable and important voice.
Think about it at a very base, political level – teenagers are future voters. In most cases, their vote will impact the next election cycle and any member of Congress who can generate a favorable vote in a young person will probably have a supporter for life.
Additionally, every member of Congress knows that teenagers likely have influence over current voters who happen to be their parents, family, friends, and teachers. Members of Congress are strategic and savvy teenagers can use that to gain attention from their Senators and Representatives.
If you are a young person who cares about this issue, you need to make your position known.
You come from a long history of activists who have changed the face of this country. Afterall, it was teenagers and young adults who protested for civil rights in the 1960s and peacefully marched on Selma, Alabama with Dr. Martin Luther King. In 1964 it was teenagers and young adults who protested for equal voting rights, and once again changed the law. In 1965 it was teenagers and young adults who protested for health care and changed the existing law. It was teenagers and young adults who marched on Washington to protest the Vietnam War. And it was new voters – young adults – who tipped the scales in our last two elections.
Now is not the time to abdicate power, allowing this issue to be decided without your input.
Stand up for what you believe in by calling your Senator today. It’s 5 minutes that could impact thousands and change the course of US history.
Filed under: Immigration Reform