Seattle students pushing back against bullying in politics

They were saddened to see the example politicians were setting when it comes to bullying in the lead up to the presidential election, so a group of middle school students decided to do something about it. Because they’re too young to vote, they had to get creative.

They’re a group of 11- and 12-year-old girls from Seattle, who call themselves the DC Bully Busters. Their message:

“Kids shouldn’t bully and neither should politicians. So we decided to write letters to congressional leaders, both Democrats and Republicans, telling them about what we know and about bullying and asking them to stand up to bullies,” one of the girls said.

Nearly 20 girls traveled to meet with lawmakers in March and ask them to sign a simple but powerful pledge, vowing to represent the people of the United States without engaging in bullying or being a bystander to bullying tactics.

It’s a message Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal took to the House floor.

“I rise today on behalf of a group of 11-and 12-year-old girls from my district who have noticed an unsettling trend in modern politics … They see bullying from leaders who are supposed to be role models.”

The girls now have more than 20 signed pledges from the House, and seven from the Senate.

DC Bully Busters from Seattle

These determined girls are from a variety of schools in Seattle, including Mya, who was happy to describe why she felt compelled to get involved.

“I got involved because I heard a lot of derogatory language in the election directed at women and things I didn’t think were right. And I just noticed a lot of bullying in it…”

She’s proud of their cause and says they’ve made significant progress in just the few months they’ve been at it.

“I think having at least almost 40 people who have vowed not to bully; that’ll hopefully spread throughout the government.”

Her fellow leadership team member, Mia, realizes it’s a tough ask whether you’re a student in school, an everyday Joe, or a lawmaker.

“I think everyone knows it’s really hard to stand up to bullies,” she said. “But it’s just needed. Even if you can’t stand up to a bully, you at least have to support your friends who are being bullied and you can’t be a bystander to it because being a bystander is equally as bad.”

Bully Buster Julia says she felt broken down after the election and without the ability to vote didn’t think there was any way for her to have a voice or facilitate change.

“I think that we are helping kids get more involved in politics,” she said.

She says spreading their message is key because the DC Bully Busters believe lawmakers are setting a bad example when it comes to bullying.

The DC Bully Busters cite numbers from the Southern Poverty Law Center that show educators reporting an increase in derogatory language toward Muslims, immigrants, and gay students since the election as proof of that bad example.

One of their examples of lawmakers being bullied came during a debate over the nomination of Jeff Sessions for attorney general. In her opposition to Sessions, Elizabeth Warren read a letter written by Coretta Scott King. She was silenced by the Senate.

The girls’ message to lawmakers they see as bullies.

“We’re not going to let them keep bullying and we are going to hold them accountable for bullying.”

As for those being bullied?

“Hold their views. Don’t get bullied out of their views, and stand their ground.”

In addition to the 20 or so girls here in Seattle, about 1,500 students across Washington state and a few others are writing letters to lawmakers, asking them to sign their pledge.

Washington Congresswoman Suzan DelBene who was among the first to sign the pledge, met with the girls on their recent trip to DC, and says she couldn’t be prouder.

“They are really inspiring because they are taking action and I think have taught a lot of the members of the community how important it is that we’re engaged and involved and that words matter.”

Follow @https://twitter.com/HannaKIROFM