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BY CLARENCE J. FLUKER

Fight for the Freedom You Want to Celebrate

She had been violated. The police were and yelling, “Why don’t you do something?” pushing her into their vehicle to take because she desperately needs defending her away. She turned to the onlookers and protecting. and yelled to them, “Why don’t you We must all do something. There is a role guys do something?” for everyone. Your something could be calling, And hundreds of them did do something. texting, and emailing all of your friends and They fought back. For several nights, using family to ensure that they are registered to their voices, their bodies, and bricks, a vote and have a plan for getting a mail-in community made Greenwich Village their ballot, participating in early voting, or heading battleground for the uprising we know today to the polls on Election Day. as the Stonewall Rebellion. The lesbian, gay, Intentions are good, but a person who has bisexual, trans people, and allies who took created a vote plan or scheduled to vote will to the streets of New York in protest were a be more likely to actually cast a ballot. You can revolutionary force in pursuit of freedom. help those in your network come up with their In the words of Audre Lord, “Revolution vote plan and then check in with them to hold is not a onetime event.” The idea of America them accountable. has been fought for in the Revolutionary War, Your something could be hosting a the Civil War, and in streets, courtrooms, community Zoom call to create a safe space and legislatures ever since. The to have tough conversations about the events fight for freedom is ongoing and of the day, promoting better understanding relentless. Seneca Falls was and providing factual information to help She is turning to us and a battleground. Selma was a battleground. Stonewall was a educate others. In our communities there are potential allies who are still learning and can yelling, “Why don’t you do something?” because battleground. Recently, the streets of Minneapolis, Louisville, and help advance causes and advocate for policy changes when pointed in the right direction. We can lead them. she desperately needs Atlanta are battlegrounds. People all over this country are Your something could be writing letters and emails to your elected officials and defending and protecting. still fighting for the revolutionary American idea and promise of life, newspapers, participating in peaceful marches and rallies, or providing pro bono services to a liberty, and pursuit of happiness nonprofit organization that needs the support. regardless of their race, ethnicity, Each of us possesses an ability and a moral gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, class, responsibility in this moment in our history to and status. The battles are interconnected actively engage. The fight for freedom is far because we are all connected to each other. from over and battles will have to be fought Fannie Lou Hamer said it plainly and best, again and again. Freedom is not free and the “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.” price of liberty is indeed eternal vigilance. Amidst a pandemic highlighting health Each of us, all of us, must do something. inequities, we’ve seen the spotlight turn to the What will you do? ▼ police killings of unarmed Black people. At the same time, we still see news reports about the murders of Black trans women, and a federal Clarence J. Fluker is a public affairs and social education department gutting the protections impact strategist. Since 2008, he also has been a for trans students. We see stagnant wages not contributing writer for Swerv, a lifestyle periodical rising to the increasing cost of living, making it celebrating African American LGBTQ+ culture and ever more difficult for so many to have secure, community. Follow him on Twitter: @CJFluker or affordable housing. Instagram: Mr_CJFluker. All of these things run contrary to the idea of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That idea and promise of the America we know we can be has been hit, bruised, and violated. In this moment she is turning to us