This week, Gen Z activist Olivia Julianna joins Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to debate the significance of political engagement and the pursuit of social justice at an extremely tough second in our historical past. Collectively, they discover how a rising era of younger leaders is doing essential work to deal with systemic injustice and inequality – and the influential position that religion and religion communities can play in fueling that activism and alter.
Olivia, recognized for her work in reproductive rights and advocacy, discusses her journey as a younger activist and the challenges and triumphs she has already skilled. She emphasizes the significance of utilizing one’s voice and platform to create significant impression, and the need of working collectively to construct a extra simply and compassionate society. Olivia discusses how her religion informs her activism – and helps give her the power and power to persist in her work it doesn’t matter what obstacles are thrown her method.
I posted a video the place I stated if Jesus, Mary, and Joseph confirmed up at your door and requested for a spot within the inn, would you welcome them into your private home? Or would you say, “Present me your papers”? And this girl, she’s a conservative, she responded to me. She stated, “If three strangers confirmed up at my house in the midst of the night time, I’d reply the door with a gun.”Do you not perceive how insane you sound? Do you not perceive how warped your view of faith has grow to be? … I’m like, do you not understand that you’re the false prophets that we’re warned about within the Bible, do you perceive that?
– Olivia Julianna, abortion rights activist, democracy organizer, and political influencer from Houston, Texas. With over 1 million followers throughout TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram, her content material has collected over 1 billion views, placing youth voices entrance and heart within the struggle for our future. She rose to nationwide prominence for initiating the takedown of a whistleblower web site that focused these within the state of Texas who aided in abortion entry, and raised $2.2 million for abortion funds after she was publicly attacked by Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz. Olivia spoke on the 2024 Democratic Nationwide Conference in regards to the complexities of her spiritual upbringing whereas championing progressive causes. An influential pressure on social media, extra of Olivia’s work could be discovered on her Substack.