How Far Will You Go?
It’s easy to denounce injustice, but much harder to act against it.
By Katelyn Livorse
October 24 is a pivotal day in the history of America and the world. The first continental telegram was sent, the Treaty of Westphalia was signed, and the 40-hour work week first went into effect. It also marks the nineteenth anniversary of the death of civil rights activist Rosa Parks and the creation of the United Nations. Though centuries apart, each of these things have changed the American way of life and lives around the world.
These events mark critical moments in history, but also serve as reminders of, in the words of John Adams, the toil and blood and treasure they cost to achieve.
Mother of the Civil Rights Movement
Rosa Parks has long been commended as a civil rights hero for standing up against segregation, but many people forget just how heroic her actions were.
Throughout her life, the Ku Klux Klan ran rampant across the South, terrorizing black families. Parks grew up in a house with boarded windows to protect against violent mobs. She would often stay awake all night and keep watch with her grandfather waiting in case the mob came for them next. Some nights, her parents even put her to bed in her clothes so that they could flee at a moment’s notice.
The KKK had not disappeared when Parks became a figure of the civil rights movement. In fact, she had made herself a public target when she refused to give up on her seat. The thousands of other black men, women, and children who suffered alongside of her must not be forgotten either. Many lost their jobs and fought through exhaustion while participating in the bus boycott.
It is easy to denounce these racist laws and actions today. There are, however, plenty of modern injustices that need acknowledgement too. Have we ever done anything to speak about them? Has there ever been a time when we truly acted to fix injustice?
Risking Everything
Dietrich Bonhoeffer fought against Nazism from its origins, running an illegal seminary in Germany under their rule. In October of 1937, it was shut down by state police.
As Nazi domination continued, Bonhoeffer demanded political resistance against what he called the “criminal state,” writing that people must not live by ideology. His resistance to the Nazi regime garnered such attention that he was recruited for and then implicated in the plot to assassinate Hitler.
While it is unclear how much he was involved in the plot, he never recanted his condemnation of Nazi ideology and was executed mere days before the end of World War II. Even in the face of potentially being acquitted, he never abandoned his morals in the face of death. (READ MORE: Walk Toward the Fire)
How far will you go?
In the modern day and age, it’s easy to identify injustice in the world. They’re shoved in our faces every day through the news, but it’s also easy to believe they are far-off problems that someone else can take care of. The United Nations will send a relief team, we say. Missionaries will deliver aid.
What happens when injustice comes to us? When it happens in our communities? Rosa Parks risked her safety and livelihood for what she believed. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was martyred for his staunch resistance of the Nazi regime.
There’s hope in the world, but that’s only because people are persevering and working to make it a better place, no matter what they face. There’s hope, but only if you continue it.
What will you risk to protect and defend a cause or your fellow man?
How far will you go?
About the Author
Katelyn Livorse is a marketing fellow at the Institute for Faith and Freedom and the editor-in-chief of Checkpoint News. A junior political science and French major, Katelyn is a style editor for the Grove City College Journal of Law and Public Policy and served as a contributing writer for The Collegian. She is also a member of the AEI Executive Council at Grove City College.
In the summer of 2024, Katelyn interned at The American Spectator as an editorial intern. There, she covered topics ranging from Iraqi politics to the 2024 American Presidential Election. She also interviewed figures in American politics, including Paul Haring who wrote the Hyde Amendment.
Katelyn has also worked as a translator for the Jews of the Somme Project. She worked to translate French documents written during the Nazi occupation of France detailing the persecution of the Jewish population. Upon graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in international relations.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the writer alone and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grove City College, the Institute for Faith and Freedom, or their affiliates
Cover Image: Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash (Cropped).