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Why Should You Care About Constitutional Rights?
"Constitutional rights" and "civil liberties" may seem like abstract concepts but they have a profound impact on our daily lives. They guarantee your freedom to express your opinion and your freedom to worship -- or not worship -- in the religion of your choice. They ensure you won't be rejected from housing because of your gender or your race. They help ensure you will have a fair trial and will not be excessively punished.
These rights make us safer and more free -- but if we don't actively protect them and ensure they are upheld, they can be violated. For example, you might not currently care about criminal justice issues since you aren't a criminal. But someday you might be accused of a crime and suddenly discover that the justice system is unfair and biased, in part due to inaction by members of the public like you. Because of this bias and other violations of your rights, you could be convicted -- and maybe even executed -- for a crime you did not commit.
Fortunately, through work of committed individuals, these situations are less common. But attacks on our rights aren't only a thing of the past. Our freedoms are being challenged every day in communities across the nation. A civil liberties violation might not happen to you, your family or your friends today, but if you don't defend your rights now it might be your turn someday.
Rights Need Defending Now, Not Once They're Gone.
Once freedoms begin to be eroded, it is difficult to stop their further erosion. For example, if the government restricts your freedom of speech, it becomes much more difficult to defend your rights against further violations because you no longer are allowed to express your opinion in public. Don't think this could ever happen in the United States? In 1917 Congress passed the Espionage Act to suppress any criticism against involvement in World War I. Many people were then convicted of conspiracy for distributing anti-war pamphlets.
Civil Rights are Constitutional Rights - Guaranteed to all.
Our freedoms are clearly laid out in the Constitution, a document that is the cornerstone of American political and social thought. As such, every individual is entitled to those rights. The Bill of Rights is not a "Bill of Suggestions" that are only applicable for certain members of the community. Constitutional rights are just that: rights granted to each of us. Period.
It's the Right Thing To Do.
You may be one of the lucky ones who aren't immediately affected by attempts to roll back freedom. But it is important for the stability and health of our communities and nation that we fight against injustice wherever it is found.
As Martin Luther King, Jr. said "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
We're Winning!
We've made huge strides in protecting our rights and improving the quality of our society. We need only look back in recent history to get an idea of what our community was like without our current freedoms. Not too long ago, women, African Americans and Native Americans couldn't vote, violence against minorities was routine, and activists were often jailed for their dissent. In fact, the last law prohibiting interracial marriages was rolled back only 40 years ago.
You Can Make A Difference.
Every voice is needed to preserve and defend civil liberties. Throughout history individual people have contributed to the movements that resulted in the rights and privileges we enjoy today.
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