Alice Paul was one of many women who fought for the right to vote. When president Wilson did not back the cause of women's suffrage, she organized a protest outside the white house. This lead to her arrest for "obstructing traffic". To protest this unwarrented arrest, she went on a hunger strike in jail. Officials responded to her hungry strike by moving her into the psychiatric ward, restraining her and force feeding her raw eggs through a plastic tube.Harvey Milk, a community leaders and activist, became the first openly gay man elected to public office when he was elected to the board of supervisors in San Francisco in 1977. Knowing the risks 
of this public personna, and having received multiple death threats, Milk said "If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door." Milk was assassinated by Dan White in 1978.
of this public personna, and having received multiple death threats, Milk said "If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door." Milk was assassinated by Dan White in 1978.Being a leader in creating more inclusive communities is not easy. Our country's history is filled with stories like those of Alice Paul and Harvey Milk - stories of individuals who stood against oppression, only to face dire consequences. But that does not mean that they stood in vain. Alice Paul's ordeal inspired a much larger number of women to join in the fight for the right to vote (which finally came to pass in 1920), and outrage over Harvey Milk's assassination helped to jumpstart the movement for LGBT rights and inspired other members fo the community to become more involved in the political process.
Sometimes being an ally and standing up for others means facing embarrassment or harrassment ourselves. Sometimes it means being willing to cause tension among those who are closest to us, or being willing to speak against people who are in authority. Being a leader for diversity and inclusion means realizing that whether we are talking about the fight for equality for people with disabilities, or the fight for respect for people of different faiths - that we ALL have a stake in the struggle for inclusion.
Reflection Questions:
What consequences might people face for standing up for others in your school or community?
Have you ever stood up for a cause that you believe in, even though you knew that you were risking some negative consequences?
Activity:
Think about all of the people that you feel close to. How many of the people in your life are a different race than you? A different religion? A different sexual orientation? Identify the culture, group or demographic that you know the least about - and learn more about that group. What is their history? What challenges face their community? What opportunities are there for someone like yourself to become an ally for their cause?
