Activism can take many forms—everything from posting about social and political issues on social media to lobbying members of Congress to write legislation addressing a problem. Activism is not limited to these two examples, but one method of activism that people tend to overlook is testifying.
The definition of testifying, as stated by Oxford Dictionary, is to “give evidence as a witness in a law court” and “serve as evidence or proof of something’s existing or being the case.” Despite the word having more than one meaning, the first is more aligned with activism. Testifying is a critical part of court cases; criminal and civil testifying is how a witness, specialist, or one of the parties involved in a case explains what the lawyer is asking them. But the bigger question is: how does testifying apply to activism? What will it do? Will it cause change?
Many sociologists have researched the connection between social activism and testifying. Jean-François Lyotard, a famous French philosopher and sociologist addressed this issue in his book The Differend: Phrases in Dispute. He states that the perfect crime consists of “obtaining the silence of the witness, the deafness of the judges, and the inconsistency of the testimony.” As a human rights activist, you have to advocate for issues even if that makes you or others feel uncomfortable. What you say will have meaning behind them. You will be speaking up for voices that are unable to, showing a face for faces that cannot be there, and trying to create change for the issue you are speaking on.
Testifying can occur in any public hearing procedure, including locally within Montgomery County. There have been multiple examples of people testifying on planning boards, council sessions, committee meetings, and public hearings. While most issues constituents testify pertaining to the county as a whole, there have been occasions where activists have testified on Montgomery County’s Board of Education. For example, Sara Milger’s “Testimony in Opposition to Bill 7-2” that she gave in March of 2021 explains why School Resource Officers should be kept in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). Milger is a coordinator for Bonimot Tzedek, a social justice leadership and activism group for Jewish teens across Montgomery County. Milger is one of many examples of testifying as an activist addressing social issues. She testified because of an issue that would affect her job and took the initiative to find a solution where she could not only represent herself and her organization but other members of her community.
To testify, you do not have to be helping run an advocacy organization. According to the MCPS website , the easiest way to testify is to fill out two forms that would allow you to testify in school board meetings and general board meetings conducted by Montgomery County. The county also heavily encourages students to join the advisory committee on the Board of Education and the other boards in Montgomery County’s committee meetings.
Written by Maru Amtataw of John F. Kennedy High School.