Using Your Voice to Create Change

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On Aug. 28, 1963, a quarter of a million people gathered for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in Washington, D.C. The group marched from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial for equality, in what was at the time the largest demonstration in the history of the nation’s capital. 

2013 March on Washington

At the march, leaders like John Lewis, president of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and urged Americans to stand up for freedom, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.

Fifty years later, thousands of people, including Darnell Williams, president of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, gathered in Washington, D.C., for a recreation of the historic march to retrace the steps and continue the work of those who came before them. Williams said being present at the recreation of the march was a historical moment that he wanted to be a part of. “It gave us a glimpse of the progress we’ve made, but it also gave us a glimpse into the challenges and work that still needs to be done,” he said.   

Today, many people turn to technology to advocate for civil rights and speak up for change. Activists use social media sites like Facebook to rally, recruit and encourage people to show their support of a particular cause, and Twitter has become a platform where individuals can voice their opinions and use hashtags to keep messages united. In addition, mobile apps like Crowdshout put social action in users' hands. With the tap of a button, users can make a phone call, sign a petition, or tweet and post a Facebook message in support of a cause.

How do you use technology to create change? Let us know on Twitter at @VZWnews.

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