I’d like to begin with some more words from Harvey Milk, words that ring  just as true today, in 2010, as they did on June 25, 1978, when they were first spoken:

“On this anniversary of Stonewall I ask my gay sisters and brothers to make the commitment to fight. For themselves. For their freedom. For their country.

…Gay people, we will not win [our] rights by staying quietly in our closets…We are coming out! We are coming out to fight the lies, the myths, the distortions! We are coming out to tell the truth about gays!

For I’m tired of the conspiracy of the silence.

I’m tired of the silence. So I’m going to talk about it. And I want you to talk about it.

…And finally

Most of all

I’m tired of the silence from the White House.”

I, like Harvey, am tired of the silence. I am tired of the apathy. I am tired of the indifference. And I am tired of the hate.

Why come out? Because in the shadows your voice is silenced, and it is that much harder to be a part of the change when your very presence has yet to be acknowledged.

And so I say, my name is Kemi, and I want to recruit you. Why? Because I am undocumented, and this battle should not be mine to fight alone.

Coming out is not an easy feat. You are at once free, but vulnerable. But you are not alone.

In the same speech, Harvey Milk also urged:

“Come out only to the people you know, and who know you…But once and for all, break down the myths, destroy the lies and distortions.

For your sake.

For their sake.”

How many times have you sat silently by as someone close to you says something demeaning about the immigrant community or immigrant youth?

How many times have you heard someone say that “these illegals should just get in line like everyone else,” but did nothing to explain to them that there is no line?

How many times have you chosen to not participate in a march or a rally or an action, or to pick up the phone and call your legislator?

How many more times can you afford to remain inactive, to sit back and let others speak for you and fight the fight that should be yours?

We cannot afford to be indifferent. We cannot afford to let our anger breed passivity.

You are not illegal, because no human being is illegal. But if you are undocumented, I support you, and this movement supports you. If you are an ally of undocumented youth, I welcome you, and this movement welcomes you.

Change may not happen overnight, but there are many small steps that you can take to become active in this movement, your movement.

Join a local group and address the needs of the youth in your community. Don’t have a local group? Let us help you start one, or plug in at the state or national level. Participate in upcoming actions, in whatever magnitude you are able. Encourage people you know to sign the petition. One small step forward is still a step towards progress.

If you are not willing to fight for your own rights, then who will?

Fight and give hope to those who are still afraid or unable to come to terms with the undocumented part of their identity. As in the video below, we must give them hope, though we cannot live on hope alone. Using that hope, we must fight!