The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America reads, “Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech.” We are fortuitous to have this right and the Civil Rights movement is the epitome of why the amendment was necessary; it allowed them to amplify their message when they were arrested for speaking out. Nobody has ever changed the world by standing still — Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, Rosa Parks, and you — changed the world by standing up and speaking out for what they believed in.

The world has changed for the better because people have stood up and spoken out. These people have genuinely influenced our country. They are people who recognized injustice and acted to make it just. Martin Luther King’s altruism made him stand up and speak out and build up empathy in his I Have a Dream speech. Thanks to him, we have the Civil Rights Act. Thanks to him, people can’t be discriminated against based on their race, color, or religion. Thanks to him, we have the Voting Rights Act. Rosa Parks was arrested when she stood up for her rights as an American because she refused to give up her seat. She sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Ms. Parks’ gumption, even with her deference for the laws, to get arrested led to the integration of the Montgomery bus system. Abraham Lincoln stood up and spoke out against slavery. His Emancipation Proclamation, which he fervently passed, freed the first slaves through government action. He pushed for the Thirteenth Amendment, which made slavery illegal. He edified the country by ending what was a blemish on our great nation. Our nation has changed because these individuals were unafraid to stand up and speak out for what was right.

I believe we all must stand up and speak out against injustice. As Dr. King said, “Injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere.” Whether it’s economic or racial injustice we must stand up and speak out because we cannot allow injustice a home in our country, the land of opportunity. We will stand up and speak out against injustice in all its forms.

I believe we all must stand up and speak out against the ongoing gun violence epidemic in our country. An epidemic that claims an average of 100 lives every day. We need to join activists in saying “enough is enough.” We need to stand up and speak out to end the ongoing gun violence epidemic. We will stand up and speak out against the ongoing gun violence epidemic because we cannot wait any longer.

I believe we all must stand up and speak out against the inadequate funding for education. Education is the backbone of our democracy. Education helps prepare us for the future so that we can continue to compete in a global economy. Fully funding education will allow us to create the next Apple, the next Google, or the next Amazon. We need to stand up and speak out in support of fully funding our schools. We will stand up and speak out against inadequate education funding because we cannot wait for a fully funded education.

I believe we all must stand up and speak out about any and all attempts at voter suppression. Voting is a fundamental right granted to us. We cannot afford to allow others to take it away from us because voting is one of the many ways for us to stand up and speak out. We need to stand up and speak out against any attempt at voter suppression. We will stand up and speak out against any attempt at suppressing the vote.

Blaise Pascal said, “All man’s troubles come from not knowing how to sit still in one room.” I disagree. I disagree. I disagree. Sitting still has never solved anything. Being complacent has never solved anything. All good things have come from people standing up and speaking out for what they believe in.

That is why I am asking all of you to join me, right here and right now, in standing up and speaking out for what you believe in. We can make a difference. We can stand up. We can speak out. We can change the world! Si, se puede! Yes, we can! Yes, we will!