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Don’t Believe the Lie That Voting Is All You Can Do

Stop minimizing the work of movements

by Daniel Hunter

Part of the crowd at the historic 1963 March on Washington. [...] (Leonard Freed/Magnum Photos)

The Black Lives Matter movement has had significant wins in recent months. Municipalities

have removed statues of racists, corporations have changed branding that reinforced racial

stereotypes, schools have cut ties with police forces and cities have reduced police funding.

But too often, politicians, celebrities and community leaders who applaud the protesters

for these victories are quick to follow up by asserting, like Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms of

Atlanta, that voting “would be the most effective response, the deepest payback” for George

Floyd’s death — or that there is “no greater form of protest” than voting, as Lisa Deeley, chair

of the Philadelphia City Commissioners, put it.

I’ve led movements for most of my adult life and have heard similar misguided refrains far

too many times. The truth is voting is an honorable act that many movements use as a tactic.

But the popular message that it’s the only real source of power misleads the public about how

social change happens and stifles the energy required to bring about the change we need.

Instead of suggesting that participation in movements is inferior to voting, people with

influence should educate themselves and the public about the often hidden role of social

movements in achieving change in this country.

Movements led to the abolition of slavery, brought Jim Crow to its knees and won child

labor laws, the minimum wage, the Clean Water Act and more. African-Americans and women

wouldn’t even have the right to vote if it weren’t for people taking action.

Those victories weren’t just the results of elections. They came from the work of activists

to change social conditions. Where voting changes the players on the battlefield, social

movements alter the very terrain on which the battle is being fought.

“Movement work is the thing that enables any of the legal and policy change to be

successful,” Chase Strangio, a lawyer who won the recent Supreme Court ruling protecting

L.G.B.T. rights explained in an interview with GQ. He noted that Justice Neil Gorsuch, who

wrote the majority opinion, had initially worried that protecting transgender people might result

in social upheaval. But less than a year later, his mind had been changed.

“On some level, I have to believe that in eight months, he learned something from watching

what was going on in the world,” he said. “And that is a testament not to our briefs and not to

the legal movement, but to the organizing movement.”

A common misconception about movements — like the mythic story that Rosa Parks’s

refusal to move to the back of the bus spontaneously sparked the civil rights movement — is

that they “just happen.”

Yes, George Floyd’s brutal murder, a flagrantly racist president and the pent-up emotions

of a pandemic motivated people to take to the streets to demand racial justice. But social

movements never emerge just because conditions are bad.

Bill Moyer, a movement strategist, wrote about this dynamic in his “Movement Action

Plan.” He noted that the partial meltdown of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in 1979

became a rallying point for people concerned about the dangers of nuclear power. Yet

Michigan’s Enrico Fermi plant had been closer to a full meltdown in 1966 and didn’t lead to

soul-searching or a social crisis. The difference was that in the intervening years, organizers

had worked to seed local groups, build national networks, hone responses to the pronuclear

lobby and develop alternative policy platforms.

The current movement has done all those things, spurred largely by the 2014 protests in

Ferguson, Mo., over the killing of Michael Brown. It grew into a network of dozens of local

Black Lives Matter chapters across the United States and Canada. Groups like Black Youth

Project 100 and Movement for Black Lives built comprehensive policy platforms, leading to

radical, ground-shaking demands like “defund the police.” As Jessica Byrd, a leader in

Movement for Black Lives, said in a recent interview with Time, “Movement made this moment

different.”

If one isn’t aware of this work, it’s easy to assume that after this phase of street protests

ends, the movement will be gone and it will be time to turn to the “real” work of voting to fulfill

our civic duty.

But people who understand movements know that voting is not the end — it’s one part of

the process. Movements amplify complex questions that otherwise get simplified to sound bites

in elections. Questions like: Does society really need armed police answering mental health

crises? Can the police be reformed while still armed with military-grade weapons? What are

practical alternatives to police systems? By changing people’s views, movements apply

pressure to decision makers.

Contrary to popular belief, movements shouldn’t be measured by whether the preferred

candidates get into office, nor are they undermined by short-term failures to cobble together

national legislation.

A better yardstick for a movement is the public’s perception of the problem, a growing

certainty that current policies don’t work — and ultimately people’s commitment to embracing

alternatives.

After all, the 1960s student sit-ins against segregation did not immediately result in

legislative wins. Even after the peak event of the March on Washington, it took another year

for the 1964 Civil Rights Act to become law.

It’s tempting to think that reform will rain down if we elect the right leaders. Yet most of us

know through experience that voting is no magic bullet. Regardless of who wins the election

in November, anyone seeking justice knows there’s an enormous amount of work ahead of

us. Movements provide an avenue to do that work.

So yes, I’ll vote — and help turn out the vote. But I’ll never believe the lie that that’s the

best or only thing I can do to change this country.

(956 words)

Hunter, D. (2020). Don’t Believe the Lie That Voting Is All You Can Do. New York Times. 4 August, 2020.

Assignments

Outline what the author says about the general characteristics of social movements and their effectiveness.

Analyse how the author’s opinion on social movements is conveyed, referring to the article and the function of the photo published with it.

Choose one of the following tasks.

3.1

Using the article as a starting point, assess to what extent young people can contribute to social change.

3.2

“In Australia, and some other countries, there’s mandatory voting. It would be transformative if everybody voted.” (Former US President Barack Obama in 2015)

You are taking part in a session of the European Youth Parliament, an organization that encourages young people to express their ideas on pressing issues.

Write a speech, commenting on the idea of mandatory voting.

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Note:
Our solutions are listed in bullet points. In the examination, full marks can only be achieved by writing a continuous text. It must be noted that our conclusions contain only some of the possible aspects. Students can also find a different approach to argumentation.

author addresses a common misconception that social movements are more than just the result of coincidences
events, such as the murder of George Floyd and a pandemic, may motivate people to take to the streets
historical significance of social movements effect change in the United States
movements have led to the abolition of slavery, the dismantling of Jim Crow laws,the minimum wage, the Clean Water Act ...
movements played a crucial role in achieving these milestones
voting is an honorable act used as a tactic by many movements
author argues against the popular message that voting is the only source of power
to achieve change social movements are integral
recent Black Lives Matter movement as an example of a well-organized and effective social movement
the Civil Rights Movement, which did not immediately result in legislative wins but played a vital role in changing societal attitudes
voting is just one part of the process
social movements provide a means to address complex questions and apply pressure to decision makers

At a time when social change is inevitable, the role of social movements often takes the spotlight. In the article "Don't Believe the Lie That Voting Is All You Can Do" published in the New York Times, the author Daniel Hunter challenges the predominant belief that voting is the only source of power for change. This article reassesses the importance of movements and sheds light on their often underestimated role in achieving significant change.

Introduction

the author passionately advocates for the significant role of social movements in bringing about change
it provides historical evidence, such as the abolition of slavery and the civil rights movement
emphasize the importance of social and policy changes have been the result of activist movements
$\rightarrow$ "Movements led to the abolition of slavery, brought Jim Crow to its knees and won child labor laws, the minimum wage, the Clean Water Act and more." (l. 16-17)
use of quotes from individuals such as Chase Strangio to support the idea that movements play a critical function in achieving legal and political change
$\rightarrow$ "Movement work is the thing that enables any of the legal and policy change to be successful" (l. 22f.)

Main Body
Written content

the photo's function strengthens the author's argument by providing a visual representation of the power of social movements
while the photo is not explicitly discussed in the text, it enhances the emotional and visual appeal of the article
$\rightarrow$ reinforcing the idea that movements are an important tool of change and shouldn't be underestimated
the historical photo from the 1963 March on Washington, which depicts a large and diverse crowd of people symbolizes unity, strength and the power of collective action
serves as a visual representation of the author's assertion that social movements are dynamic and impactful
photo conveys the idea that when people come together for a common goal, they can effect change

Function of the photo

finally, the author conveys his opinion on social movements by presenting a well-structured argument in the article
the historical and contemporary examples, as well as the photograph, underscore the author's point that social movements are indispensable catalysts for social change and challenge the notion that elections alone are sufficient to bring about meaningful change

Conclusion

3.1

The empowerment of young people to initiate and contribute to social change is an issue of great importance in today's society. As the recent successes of movements such as Black Lives Matter demonstrate, the function of youth in shaping and promoting social change cannot be underestimated.

Introduction

the article highlights the recent successes of the Black Lives Matter movement, in which young people in particular have participated
$\rightarrow$ young activists have been at the forefront of the protests and advocating for racial justice
shows that young people are willing to take to the streets and raise their voices against injustice

Main Body
Youth as catalysts of social Change

young people have the energy, enthusiasm, and technical skills to organize and motivate others
young activists skillfully use social media and online platforms to gain support and engage communities
$\rightarrow$ for example the Black Lives Matter movement was spread widely through the internet

Organizing

social change also involves changing social attitudes and perceptions
young activists have the opportunity to influence public opinion and challenge deeply held prejudices
social media has become the first go-to source for young people and has also become their tool to get news out faster

Empowering the next generation

important to recognize that the impact of youth engagement goes far beyond the immediate results
their commitment and energy often leave a lasting impression and shape social change for years to come

Long-term impact of youth engagement

Young people are not only benefiting from social change, but are actively contributing to creating a more just, equitable and inclusive world. As we look at empowering the next generation in the area of social change, it becomes clear that their engagement is not only invaluable, but also essential to addressing the pressing issues of our time.

Conclusion

3.2

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I stand before you today to speak on a concept that has sparked international attention and debate, a concept that former U.S. President Barack Obama called "transformative" in 2015 - the idea of compulsory voting. This is an issue that goes to the heart of democratic principles, and I believe it is a discussion of the utmost importance, especially for the committed and conscientious young people gathered here in the European Youth Parliament.

Introduction

exploring the concept of mandatory voting in countries like Australia
emphasizing the role of every eligible citizen in the democratic process
stressing the significance of active civic participation
voter apathy must be countered
$\rightarrow$ call to action
recognizing the global problem of voter apathy
presenting mandatory voting as a solution to voter disenchantment
promoting a diverse and representative electorate through compulsory voting
yet we must be careful, because compulsory voting raises a complex web of questions
at its core, democracy celebrates individual freedom, which includes the freedom to abstain from voting
mandatory voting could accidentally run counter to this freedom
$\rightarrow$ forcing citizens to cast their votes out of a sense of duty rather than genuine conviction
in addition, we must address accessibility and inclusion issues that could hinder those who cannot vote despite the obligation
it is crucial to ensure that citizens not only cast their vote but make an informed choice
$\rightarrow$ mandatory voting alone is no guarantee of an informed and engaged electorate
at the same time, there should be more focus on civic education and instilling a sense of civic duty to grow active and enlightened voters
$\rightarrow$ e.g. : in schools

Main Body

in conclusion, the concept of mandatory voting is, without a doubt, transformative
its success, is closely linked to the delicate balance between civic responsibility and individual freedom
it challenges us to reassess our function as responsible citizens and active contributors to the further development of our democratic societies

Conclusion

Thank you !

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