Post-election, young people feel less safe

As a former Challenge Day volunteer and a survivor of school bullying, I want to amplify the sentiment in an email message from Challenge Day, its post-election statement.

The vision of Challenge Day and Be The Change Movement, “a world where every child feels safe, loved and celebrated,” applies to all children without exception — but since the election of Donald Trump as our next U.S. President, “reports have arisen of young people on campuses all over the United States who do not feel safe on campus.”

These students face violence, bullying, racism and intimidation.

I can understand this fear; with nearly every utterance, Donald Trump demonstrates his contempt for anyone who is not like him. The man actually boasted of sexually assaulting women, of grabbing their private parts.

In Challenge Day’s words: "No student should ever have to endure hate speech or discrimination at school.”

Our young people are “the strongest investment we can make toward a brighter, more inclusive future,” and we adults need to do our part to protect them from bullying.