Purpose
Human Writes is a platform for human rights analysis and advocacy, supported by the University of Minnesota Human Rights Program (HRP) and organized by its Undergraduate Working Group. It is an outlet for the student body to express, address, and advocate for issues pertaining to human rights. Human Writes is dedicated to challenging injustice, uplifting the dignity of individuals, promoting inclusivity, and amplifying young and emerging voices within the human rights advocacy movement.
The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in the blog posts on Human Writes are the author’s only and do not reflect an official position of the University of Minnesota, the Human Rights Program, or the College of Liberal Arts. As an institution of higher education that values and promotes free speech, civil discourse, and human rights we welcome a variety of perspectives and opinions from our student contributors that are consistent with these values.
Read the newest blog! : Talking Midterms: A Human Rights Conversation
As we race toward election day, Human Writes was eager to get student perspectives on election issues. We sat down with Elizabeth Gust, who works as a communications assistant for the Human Rights Program and runs the Brewing Justice Coffee Hour. In conversation with her for this piece, she offered insights into Minnesotan human rights issues, DHS/ICE funding, and the cutting of USAID.
For more information about voting with human rights in mind, check out the HRP's voter guide. If you still don't have a plan to vote, it's not too late! Visit this page for information about same-day registration and finding your polling place.
The Conversation:
Editor: Participation in the political process is a human right. Unfortunately, we have seen a number of attempts to curtail voters’ ability to have their say, as I outlined in a recent piece. Nationally, democracy is under attack. Locally, though, we saw a huge response to the ICE occupation this winter; it is clear that the civic spirit is alive and well here in Minnesota, despite plenty of efforts to thwart it. Given that context, what do you think the upcoming elections mean for human rights in Minnesota specifically?
Elizabeth Gust: The upcoming elections could be the most widespread public response to Operation Metro Surge since the protests and strikes that occurred here last winter. The midterms provide an opportunity to vote against the human rights violations committed by Immigration Customs Enforcement through their violent, manipulative, and discriminatory behavior towards immigrants and people of color. By supporting candidates who denounce the actions of the Department of Homeland Security and refuse to pass funding for ICE, we can dismantle the resources that allowed ICE agents to occupy Minneapolis without facing legal consequences.
Previous Blogs
Our Right to Political Participation
We face serious threats to democratic norms this election, but we have the power to fight back. Read more...
The Honor of Taking
The United States has a long tradition of ignoring the right to self determination in Latin America. As the humanitarian crisis in Cuba worsens, it is time to face the realities of the American empire. Read more...
Inside the Language of Human Rights
Before governments can respond to an injustice, they have to recognize and describe it. Before advocates can argue that institutions have fallen short, they need standards against which those institutions can be judged. International human rights language helps structure both of these processes Read more...
