Every Defeat Is A Stepping Stone When Justice Is the Ultimate Goal.
Those of us in the fight know that disappointment and indifference are the social-justice warrior’s frequent rewards.
Nevertheless, it still stings that Worcester’s voters in Tuesday’s election chose so many candidates that are opposed to policies that create fair and just communities.
But the fight goes on. It must. Despite the defeats individual social-justice campaigns may suffer, those campaigns are still the foundation of a fair and just society.
And so, my Worcester social justice warriors, keep your heads up.
There appeared to have been a well-organized effort to promote voter participation this year. That momentum should be sustained by starting today to plan for the next municipal elections.
In doing so, a concerted effort should be undertaken to understand the dynamics of the city’s political environment. We know, for example, that city leaders have used gerrymandering in the past to dilute the vote of residents of color.
But are there other structural issues damping voter turnout in the city? Other questions worth exploring are: How many green card residents live in the city, and can they be convinced to seek citizenship?
What more can be done to engage young people in the electoral process?
Is the city’s Plan E form of government damping voter turnout? This is one of the questions raised in this 2016 master’s research paper by Clark University Student Molly B. Kazin.
It is titled “Why Doesn’t Worcester Vote.” It is worth a read.
