Letter to the Editor: How To Stand Up For What Is Right
The following letter appeared in the Oakwood Register on September 16, 2026.
Upstander (noun) : A person who chooses to speak up, take action, or intervene to support someone or oppose injustice, rather than remaining a passive bystander.
Have you ever witnessed something you knew was wrong but felt like you couldn’t stop it? When someone makes a hurtful joke or writes a hateful message, it’s easy to freeze up: deep inside, you know that someone ought to speak up, but in the moment, it’s easier to just not react or even laugh along.
When you do this, you become a bystander, sending a silent message that you agreed that what was said or done is okay. To be an upstander is to speak up for those being hurt. It means intervening in the moment, using your voice to support someone who may not be able to use theirs at that time.
Good news: you can prepare yourself so you’re not standing there frozen the next time you hear a hateful message. You can make a commitment to yourself now that you’re going to be brave and stand up for what’s right! You can gather friends and family and make a promise to each other as well.
It can be helpful to think about what you can say before you witness a harmful behavior. You will feel more prepared to intervene instead of freezing. Sometimes, just calling out the behavior helps someone reflect on what they’re saying: “Are you saying that everyone in that entire country is stupid?” “What does his sexuality have to do with whether he’s good at sports?” You can be direct and assertive to set a boundary, such as "Please stop that," or "That language is not appropriate here." This can sometimes be more impactful than simply saying “That’s racist” or “That’s sexist" as those words have become loaded and can often cause the speaker to become defensive.
If the speaker is someone you care about, you can call on them to be the good person you know they truly are: “You’ve always been a good friend to me, so it upsets me when I hear you say something that hurts others like that.”
If someone else is the first voice to speak up, be the next voice! Chime in with support for the first voice. You don’t have to gang up on the person who made the hateful comment; you can do this in a positive way: “I think you’re right, First Voice. Let’s not say things like that anymore.”
Finally, check on the person or persons being harmed. Ask if they are okay and what you can do to help them. And, if the behavior does not stop, alert those in charge when appropriate. This may be seeking out teachers, coaches, party hosts, or managers, or even contacting local authorities.
The OIC stands against hate speech and discriminatory behaviors and language in our community. We acknowledge the incidents reported at local sporting events and encourage everyone to educate and inform themselves on the impact of such language. Please reach out to us if you have ideas on how we can further support our community members and increase awareness for our citizens on how to build a more inclusive neighborhood where everyone feels safe.
