John Lewis

How young Filipino activists can draw inspiration from US civil rights icon John Lewis

Niña Diño

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How young Filipino activists can draw inspiration from US civil rights icon John Lewis
The Filipino youth can find a kindred spirit in American civil rights icon John Lewis, who, at a very young age, stood with the ranks of the eminent Martin Luther King Jr

Throughout the pandemic, the Filipino youth refused to shy away from fighting for people’s rights.

All over the Philippines, activists were speaking out against inadequate government policies and violations against democracy. 

Aside from the growing threat of the coronavirus in the country, Filipinos were witnessing the implementation of the anti-terror law, which many feared would give the government more power to arrest and detain government critics and activists due to the policy’s vague definition of terrorism. Many have also seen the shutdown of ABS-CBN after lawmakers dragged their feet in tackling the embattled network’s franchise renewal.

From the “Grand Mañanita” on Independence Day to nationwide noise barrages to protest the shutdown of ABS-CBN, protests from enraged Filipinos have cropped up both online and offline to assert people’s rights even under the pandemic.

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These young Filipino activists can find a kindred spirit in American civil rights icon John Lewis, who, at a very young age, stood with the ranks of the eminent Martin Luther King Jr. Lewis was only 23 years old when he delivered a speech to over 200,000 people at the 1963 March on Washington, one of the largest political rallies in US history.

The passing of Lewis last Friday, July 17, left a tremendous void in American civil rights movement history. As tributes from United States officials and fellow activists poured in for Lewis, the world was reminded of both his long-standing advocacy for racial equality and his commitment in encouraging young people to continue the fight against injustice. 

Long before his service as a congressman for more than 3 decades, Lewis was already a respected leader and fiery activist. He stood at the front lines of the protests against systemic racism, remaining firm on his stance on nonviolence despite repeatedly being beaten bloody and attacked with clubs. 

This crackdown on activists was something that the Filipino youth were facing as well. At least 8 activists, some of whom were minors, were arrested by the police last June 5 near the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu campus. The police claimed the youth had broken quarantine protocol, but in a statement released by UP Cebu, it said that the activists were simply “exercising their right to peaceful assembly.”

Nearly a month ago, at least 20 people were arrested at a Pride march in Mendiola, Manila, even when they were observing health protocols.

The police allegedly did not cite any violations while arresting the protesters and only told them, “Nasa batas iyan na bawal iyan (It’s in the law that it’s prohibited),” without citing any specific law.

Lewis, in his lifelong fight against racial injustice, was no stranger to this type of suppression. For almost every demonstration he led, he was harassed by angry white mobs, arrested by the police, and even severely beaten and burned with cigarettes. He warned that “history will not be kind,” but reiterated that “when you see something that is not right, not just, not fair, you have a moral obligation to say something, to do something.”

Like Lewis in his early days, many Filipino youth continue to stay in the forefront of fighting for human rights.

Around 60 youth organizations, student councils, and campus publications across the country are joining what has been dubbed as the People’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) to denounce the government’s slow response to the coronavirus pandemic and its signing of the controversial anti-terror law which is being challenged before the Supreme Court.

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These youth groups, along with other multi-sectoral groups, hoped to amplify calls to junk the anti-terror law and denounce the rejection of ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal through the broad protest on the same day President Rodrigo Duterte is set to deliver his 5th SONA.

In honor of John Lewis’ legacy, we remember some of his memorable words that Filipino activists might resonate with as the country pushes to maintain its democracy even with the anti-terror law:

To those who have said, “Be patient and wait,” we have long said that we cannot be patient. We do not want our freedom gradually, but we want to be free now!

From John Lewis’ speech at the 1963 March on Washington

Every generation leaves behind a legacy. What that legacy will be is determined by the people of that generation. What legacy do you want to leave behind?

From John Lewis’ memoir ‘Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America’

We have been too quiet for too long. There comes a time when you have to say something. You have to make a little noise. You have to move your feet. This is the time.

From John Lewis’ speech at a House sit-in following the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting in 2016

A democracy cannot thrive where power remains unchecked and justice is reserved for a select few. Ignoring these cries and failing to respond to this movement is simply not an option — for peace cannot exist where justice is not served.

From John Lewis’ statement in support of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act

Our children and their children will ask us, ‘What did you do? What did you say?’ For some, this vote may be hard. But we have a mission and a mandate to be on the right side of history.

From John Lewis’ speech during the House’s impeachment debate in 2019

– Rappler.com

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