Young Voices Won’t Be Silenced
In March, the South Carolina State House gathered to advance on Bill H.3927 - a bill designed to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs across state-funded institutions (among other harmful repercussions). For students in South Carolina, this bill represented more than legislation; it represented erasure.
Through our College Programs and Chapters, we worked with students to prepare testimony. They were ready to speak directly to lawmakers about how this bill would impact their lives and futures. But the first opportunity to do so fell over spring break - a scheduling conflict that meant many students could not be at the state house. And then, just hours before the second committee hearing, the committee announced they would no longer allow public testimony.
In an instant, young people who had spent days preparing, building the courage to testify at the State House for the very first time - some making travel plans to Columbia, others willing to take unexcused absences from class - suddenly found themselves without a voice in the legislative process.
But they didn’t stay silent.
Be The Ones worked with students to create a new kind of public testimony - one that may not appear in the formal record or be broadcast inside a committee room, but one that was accessible, visible, and met students where they were.
We gathered students at the College of Charleston’s Cistern Yard - a historic site that has witnessed generations of student organizing and protest. There, with a camera and a tiny mic, students reclaimed their power. One by one, they recorded the testimonies they had planned to give in Columbia, refusing to let a broken process erase their stories.
Among them was Emmalyn, who admitted she felt nervous, pressured to get everything “right.” But as she spoke, supported by our team, she realized perfection wasn’t the point. 🎥 Watch Emmalyn’s testimony here. 🎥
“It reminded me of the power I hold, even when I can’t be physically present at the State House,” she said.
Samantha, another student, had been determined to testify in person. When she learned that opportunity was stripped away, she still showed up - choosing to speak on camera instead. 🎥 Watch Samantha’s testimony here. 🎥
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to vocalize how our officials’ decisions impact us,” she reflected afterward.
These students’ courage is a reminder: civic engagement doesn’t always look like standing behind a podium in the halls of power. Often, it looks like gathering in community, speaking your truth, and refusing to let your story be erased.
When institutions close doors, we find new ways in. And when young people are given tools, support, and encouragement, their voices don’t just echo - they lead.
Did their testimony change the outcome of the committee’s vote to move the bill forward? No.
Did their testimony go viral on social media, and even shared by South Carolina State House Representatives and local leaders? Yes.
Did their stories bring new young leaders and students into our community, asking how they could take action too? Yes.
Did their voices inspire peers to have conversations about why speaking up matters, helping demystify the process so others might step in next time? Absolutely.
This is why Be The Ones exists: to create opportunities, break down barriers, and remind people that their stories deserve to be heard and their power is theirs to claim - regardless of who tries to silence them.
At Be The Ones, we don’t see barriers or roadblocks and simply accept them. We ask what new possibilities can emerge when we change course. We experiment with different ways forward. And in doing so, we show that power is still in our hands - and it doesn’t always have to look the way we’ve been told, or be exercised in the places we’ve been told it must.
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What story has shaped your journey, your community, your hope? Send us an email at hello@betheones.org - we’d love to listen - and if you’re open to, we’d love to share your story.
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📚 Together, we’re not just telling stories. We’re writing the future. 📝