Think about it: what evidence can the officers acquire, without a warrant and without research, to determine someone’s immigration status? Based purely on visual clues, I imagine no white individuals will be harassed under this new law. Instead, Latino, Latino-Americans, and individuals who may not identify as but merely look Latino will be targeted.

The last bit of hope remains at the governor’s office. Governor Jan Brewer has the ability to veto the bill, and has received pressure from mayors, President Obama, and thousands of local high students to do so. Today, thousands of high school students walked out of their classes to demonstrate against this heinous bill at the Capitol. The footage from their walk out shows a community of students who are fed up with racist legislation, and it also reveals how school walk outs can be peaceful, intentional, and proactive. The reporters seemed pleasantly surprised by the efficiency of their protest, but we at Youth Kicking Ass know what young people are capable of and applaud their movement.

Rock on, Arizona high school students, Rock on.

UPDATE: The governor has signed the bill. Hopefully this will spark a new, stronger immigration movement. Students, lead the way! If you are outraged and want to get involved, Alto Arizona is the place to go.

More information about protests from young people can be found here, here, and here.

Rock on, Will Phillips, Rock on!

Jessup, 18, said when she was 13 she found out that one in three women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. As a black belt martial artist, she knew she could help her classmates.

The number of women who are assaulted by the time they graduate college is horrifying, and when Jessup first heard the stats, her first impulse was to act. As a black belt martial artist, Jessup utilized her skills and knowledge to create a home video for her classmates that included self-defense techniques. She uploaded the video, and it went viral. Today, her program has spread across 45 countries and reached 1 million young women.

Wow.

She established the organization, Just Yell Fire, to further the message of skills and empowerment to young women, and is recently a published author! Her book, Young Revolutionaries Who Rock: An Insider’s Guide to Saving the World One Revolution at a Time is right up this blog’s alley, and I will be chasing it down in the coming weeks.

What I appreciate most about Jessup’s story is how shocking statistics and reality can really move a young person to changing her community, and even the world. I am really excited about the movement among young men to discuss sexual assault and positive masculinity with other men. This emerging movement focuses on sexual assault as a community problem, and not a woman’s responsibility. Don’t you worry, I will be covering these activists next week!

Rock on, Dallas Jessup, Rock on!

I found out about this kick ass organization through Sarah, who has been a disability activist since she was 15. The issue is deeply personal to Sarah, and this fuels her activism.

To me the very serious issue because as a cancer survivor, I’ve dealt with many challenges and lost many things. I never knew that we had history. I had to discover that history on my own and I feel like it’s important that everyone be taught it if we are trying to be one as a people.

YO! and Sarah’s actions go beyond disability recognition; they are carving out their own history, and trying to share it with the young people in California. Sarah met with the superintendent of South San Francisco schools, Howard Cohen, to discuss the importance of Disability History in schools, and the meeting was a success! On April 22, Sarah will be presenting about disability history and empowerment to South San Francisco’s entire school board. We wish her the best of luck!

Sarah and YO! are starting from the very beginning, retracing their histories, revamping how we think about bodies and ability, and shaping a new education for California students. The young people who are the at forefront of this emerging movement are truly kicking ass. Most importantly, they are showing the world that ability is not what defines young people: it is the strength of community and the willingness to stir shit up.

Rock on, YO! and Sarah, Rock on.

Constance wanted to bring her girlfriend to prom, a simple request that was shot down by her high school’s administration. The case drew heavy attention from national media after the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the school district on Constance’s behalf. Public support for Constance flooded from all corners of the US, and she currently has 426,000 fans on her facebook page. Even more exciting, Ellen teamed up with Tonic.com to give Constance, who has a 3.8 GPA, a $30,000 scholarship.

The rest of the story is less exciting. Although the judge ruled that the school violated Constance’s rights, they didn’t enforce the school to hold an inclusive prom (I suppose it isn’t the judicial branch’s responsibility to regulate high school social outings, so I’ll let this court slide). But then the story gets down right sad; while Constance and her girlfriend were going to an alternative prom hosted by school officials at a country club, the rest of the school had a secret prom where Constance was not invited. At Constance’s prom, only seven students showed up.

Ya, the pain from your stomach dropping to the floor? I felt that too.

The story is far from ending, but I do believe one thing: Constance showed the country how one person can shake things up. She drew our attention to the state of Mississippi schools and started a much needed conversation about safety and equality in schools. She’s already started important work advocating for safe schools across the country. Her story has awakened a sense of urgency about LGBT youth and schools, a conversation that I hope will continue after she graduates.

And best of all? That scholarship might take her out of that toxic Mississippi town and off to more friendly, supportive places.

Rock on, Constance, rock on.

Now, imagine how students at a high school felt when they heard that the WBC was paying them a visit. The school, Gunn High School, is well-known for its celebration of diversity and acceptance (on a side note, it makes me sad that one high school could be well-known for acceptance when, come on now, every school should be practicing equality and creating safe spaces). Instead of launching a violent counter-protest or doing nothing, the students organized, with the faculty and administration’s support, a rally full of singing, poetry, and community.

Wow, just wow. So many things stand out in this video. First of all, look at the number of students! I’m overwhelmed by the energy and community these students have created. I imagine many of the students haven’t been targeted by the anti-gay or anti-military antics of the WBC, but they came out to celebrate diversity as allies. Also, faculty and administration supported the students from step one. Instead of fighting against “the man” to plan this peaceful protest, they were able to channel all of their energy toward their main goal: creating an overwhelming moment of love to counter the putrid ignorance paraded by the WBC.

Imagine, for a moment, what our society would be like if all high schools embraced difference, focused on community, and supported young activists.

Rock on, Gunn High School, rock on.