The Power and Responsibility of Civic Engagement
Like so many of you, the Points of Light family is experiencing a range of emotions after what we witnessed at the United States Capitol the first week of this new year.
Points of Light values the U.S. Constitution’s protection of the rights to freedom of speech and to peacefully protest. Throughout our history, we have seen those rights successfully used by a variety of diverse movements. Yesterday’s violence represented a clear and dangerous break from the constitutional right to and tradition of peaceful protest and it was wrong.
We believe in the power of people to lead and lend support to causes they care about through civic engagement. But the power of civic engagement comes with responsibility, and the actions of one group must not threaten the civil and human rights of others.
Our community of light is powered by you. You lead and influence the volunteers, the philanthropists and donors, the activists and advocates, and the employees who all support the systems that deliver critical services to those in need.
We have a long road ahead to bring peace, security, health and equity to all. How we get there matters. Civic engagement in all its forms has the power to bring meaningful change.
But power only respects power of equal or greater value. As we approach the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, let’s reflect on the truth in the wisdom of his words that, “darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.”
If you are asking yourself what to do next, draw on your determination and courage to use your power of light to continue to lead.