‘A New Democracy’ for America

September 16, 2026

Young activists across the nation are mobilizing ahead of midterm elections to combat what they view as rollbacks of civil rights under the second Trump administration, including attacks on voting rights, DEI policies, HBCU funding, and LGBTQ+ protections. Following the August 2025 March on Washington, youth leaders like Ya'Kyjah Maddox of Hampton University's NCNW chapter and NAACP Youth Director Tylik McMillan are emphasizing that their generation must actively continue the fight rather than relying on older generations. These organizers are focusing on campus-based initiatives to promote civic engagement and voter education, particularly at HBCUs.

Who is affected

Young activists and youth leaders, particularly at HBCUs
Ya'Kyjah Maddox (NCNW rechartering president at Hampton University)
Tylik McMillan (NAACP national director of Youth and College)
Students at Hampton University and Spelman College
Yolanda Renee King (Martin Luther King III's daughter)
Voters, particularly young and Black voters
Women in need of mammogram access
LGBTQ+ communities
HBCUs facing funding cuts

What action is being taken

Youth delegates are stressing to voters the importance of building representative government
Hampton University's NCNW section is setting up initiatives to promote free education and accessibility throughout October
The organization is holding a raffle table during homecoming week (Oct. 18-25) to raise funds for free mammograms
Campus organizers are providing voter information resources weeks before midterm elections
People are reaching out to communities, campuses, local community centers, and local businesses to educate youth

Why it matters

This youth-led mobilization represents a critical generational shift in civil rights activism, as young people recognize they cannot rely solely on older generations to protect democratic gains. The significance lies in the intersection of immediate threats—including voting restrictions, elimination of DEI programs, HBCU funding cuts, and attacks on LGBTQ+ rights—with the need for sustained, action-oriented engagement beyond just voting. By connecting modern struggles to ancestral civil rights traditions, these activists are redefining liberation as not merely gaining seats of power but ensuring fundamental rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for all people.

What's next

Hampton University's NCNW section will hold activities during homecoming week (October 18-25)
The organization will provide voter information resources in the weeks leading up to midterm elections
Youth organizers plan to continue campus and community outreach through October

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer