Young people have been at the forefront of the most critical fights for our communities taking place in state legislatures. Alliance Network organizations are mobilizing their communities to pass innovative policies that strengthen our democracy and block harmful legislation that threatens it.
Learn how youth organizers are taking on their state legislatures.
Highlights of Local Wins and Fights in the Alliance Network
As legislative sessions wrap up, we have already seen some exciting policy wins! Forward Montana fought in coalition for the extension of the Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force beyond its termination date to continue the fight to protect Indigenous lives. New Era Colorado celebrated the passage of their Student Loan Equity Bill that creates protections for private student loan borrowers. The Washington Bus helped pass legislation that increases voting access by automatically restoring the right to vote to those no longer in community custody.
Youth organizers in our network are also making progress on transformative pieces of legislation to expand voting access. Chicago Votes and Next Up are both fighting for voting rights restoration for people who are currently incarcerated. Chicago Votes is also leading legislation to end prison slave labor by expanding the state minimum wage to include incarcerated people. Next Up is also leading legislation that would allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections.
Youth organizers inside the Texas capitol with signs that say stop hb6 and stop voter suppression. [[link removed]]Youth organizers with MOVE Texas at a rally advocating against voter suppression bill HB6.
Youth organizers in some states faced a hostile and aggressive legislative environment where conservative legislators threatened the right to vote. Forward Montana, Loud Light, Mississippi Votes, MOVE Texas, and New Hampshire Youth Movement fought hard to protect the right to vote and block harmful legislation including laws that would strip away critical voting rights. Thanks to the tenacity of youth organizers, many of these harmful pieces of legislation were successfully blocked.
Meanwhile, organizations are not backing down against the harmful legislation that did pass. Forward Montana is suing the state over legislation that, if implemented, may make their organization face steep penalties for conducting voter engagement activities on college campuses. Loud Light is suing the state of Kansas over a dangerous voter suppression bill that prevents organizers from registering voters. MOVE Texas will continue to fight during a special session in July called by Texas Republican lawmakers who introduced one of the most restrictive voting bills in the country that would primarily suppress voters of color. All these organizations will keep up the fight through elections, direct action, lawsuits and more.
Read more about how Alliance Network organizations led incredible legislative wins and are working to stop harmful legislation.
Read Our Latest Blog PostWe are in awe of the work Alliance Network organizations have led in their respective state legislatures. These advocacy efforts are critical in shaping our communities and holding our elected officials accountable.
From the ballot box to the streets to the state house, this is the power of year-round youth organizing.
To the tenacity of youth organizing,
Gnora Gumanow
Director of Network Capacity
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