Sydney Martinez, Campus Carrier news editor

I bet some people have already turned the page, extremely upset at being called out. If you find yourself in a situation where people around you are distraught by a certain political event, and you don’t feel the same way, you are most likely privileged for having your needs met by the status quo.

If you’re not politically active, whether through protesting or simply showing up to the polls, you are privileged. It’s not hard to have compassion and empathy for people who are being impacted under the current presidential administration.

Take the situation of immigrants, for example. Americans with citizenship in Minneapolis and other cities across the country are outraged because their neighbors are being abducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Because they are privileged enough to be able to walk the streets of America freely, they speak up for those who can’t. This is a good example of using privilege for good. 

Just because a new bill doesn’t impact you, it doesn’t mean it won’t impact some of your neighbors. The SAVE America Act (SAA) recently passed through the House of Representatives. Republican Chip Roy advertises the SAA as a bill that will ensure only citizens can vote by having voters bring in a valid ID or passport to a polling site. Your legal name and current permanent address must be displayed on the card for it to be considered valid. 

Wake up, everyone. This is blatant voter suppression, not a bill to ensure only Americans can vote. If you don’t have a permanent address, you can’t vote. If you haven’t updated your address on your ID or passport, you can’t vote until you get that fixed. 

According to the Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement, 28% of Black Americans and 27% of Hispanic Americans do not hold a driver’s license. These are the very people the Trump administration doesn’t want voting.

If your voting rights aren’t restricted because of this bill, good job, you are privileged enough to have the means and time to keep your ID updated. This doesn’t mean you should sit back and watch this all unfold. You probably have a neighbor, a friend or a distant acquaintance who is being affected by this, and you should be outraged that they are being prevented from voting in the upcoming major elections.

There are multiple ways you can get involved in your community. This upcoming Saturday, there will be a protest at 601 Broad Street at 1 p.m. The purpose of this protest is to take a stand with immigrants, but you can also protest against the Trump Administration if you feel like it. You can even vote and campaign for candidates who advocate for basic human decency in the upcoming special election. Also, you can also assist people in your community. Help your Hispanic neighbor get groceries if they’re too afraid to go out on their own.

There are so many ways you can remain politically active if it isn’t election season. You just have to get creative and use your privilege to help others.