You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

Connected Learning Alliance Logo
  • About Connected Learning
  • Who we are
  • Resources
  • Publications
  • Blog
  • Get Connected
June 22, 2016

Watchworthy Wednesday: Protego — An Orlando Call to Action

Author

Mimi Ko Cruz
Categories: Civic Engagement, Equity
illustration of Harry Potter casting the Protego spell in response to Orlando tragedy

Just days before a gunman killed 49 people in a crowded nightclub in Orlando, Fla., the Harry Potter Alliance launched its “Protego” campaign, which aims to make the world a safer place for the transgender community.

The Pulse nightclub shooting, the 11-year-old nonprofit HPA notes, was a hate crime that “sits at the intersection of many forms of oppression.” In author J.K. Rowling’s books, the heroes fight against injustice and the HPA wants people to do that in real life. 

“Protego is the HPA’s first ever transgender rights and safe spaces campaign, named after the shield charm used in the Harry Potter universe,” explains Jackson Bird, HPA’s communications director. “We don’t have such spells in real life, but we can try to make the world safer by working together to combat violence and defeat acts of hate.” 

Eight percent of HPA’s members identify as trans and non-binary and 44% identify as LGBTQIA+ “so Orlando hit all of us extra hard,” says Katie Bowers, HPA campaigns director. “We really wanted to do a campaign that focused on the needs of that particular community, so we launched Protego 10 days before the Orlando tragedy, and it’s an excellent framework for channeling grief and fear into hope and activism.”

The campaign offers a downloadable toolkit that gives advice on individual, community and policy actions and provides resource links to organizations committed to helping trans people. It offers action guidance, including:

  • Read and educate yourself and others about the many intersecting issues of oppression, policy, and identity using the #PulseOrlandoSyllabus.
  • Be visible. Visit weareorlando.org to learn about local vigils and solidarity events in your community.
  • Be online. Use social media to show your support for the LGTBQIA+ community, Latinx, and Muslims, and speak out against racism, Islamaphobia, homophobia and transphobia.
  • Donate to the Pulse Victims Fund to help cover the costs that victims and their families will face.
  • Host a blood drive. Even if you don’t live in Orlando, keeping blood banks stocked is essential to saving lives when violent tragedy occurs.

Here’s the HPA Protego campaign video.

Banner illustration by Martine Joelle McDonald

Editor’s note: This is the first Watchworthy Wednesday post, highlighting an interesting DML resource, that will appear in this blog every Wednesday. Any tips for future posts are welcome. Please comment below or send email to mcruz@hri.uci.edu.

Related Posts

December 12, 2022 ConnectedLib Toolkit 2.0: Bringing Connected Learning to Small and Rural Libraries

A young Black boy with glasses types and sits in front of a large computer monitor.

November 1, 2022 Education During COVID: The Voice Of Teachers Across Canada and the US

A ripped sign reads in large red capital letters: you are under surveillance

October 25, 2022 Getting Over Privacy: Surveillance Studies and Edtech

Categories

  • Civic Engagement
  • Connected Learning
  • Critical Perspectives
  • Digital Citizenship
  • Digital Learning
  • Edtech
  • Educational Practice
  • Equity
  • Featured
  • HX
  • New Trends
  • Research
  • Youth Well-Being

Blog Archive

  • 2023
    • 2022
      • January 2022
      • February 2022
      • April 2022
      • May 2022
      • June 2022
      • July 2022
      • August 2022
      • September 2022
      • October 2022
      • November 2022
      • December 2022
    • 2021
      • January 2021
      • February 2021
      • March 2021
      • April 2021
      • May 2021
      • June 2021
      • July 2021
      • August 2021
      • September 2021
      • October 2021
      • November 2021
      • December 2021
    • 2020
      • January 2020
      • February 2020
      • March 2020
      • April 2020
      • May 2020
      • June 2020
      • July 2020
      • August 2020
      • September 2020
      • October 2020
      • November 2020
      • December 2020
    • 2019
      • January 2019
      • February 2019
      • March 2019
      • April 2019
      • May 2019
      • June 2019
      • July 2019
      • August 2019
      • September 2019
      • October 2019
      • November 2019
      • December 2019
    • 2018
      • January 2018
      • February 2018
      • March 2018
      • April 2018
      • May 2018
      • June 2018
      • July 2018
      • August 2018
      • September 2018
      • October 2018
      • November 2018
      • December 2018
    • 2017
      • January 2017
      • February 2017
      • March 2017
      • April 2017
      • May 2017
      • June 2017
      • July 2017
      • August 2017
      • September 2017
      • October 2017
      • November 2017
      • December 2017
    • 2016
      • January 2016
      • February 2016
      • March 2016
      • April 2016
      • May 2016
      • June 2016
      • July 2016
      • August 2016
      • September 2016
      • October 2016
      • November 2016
      • December 2016
    • 2015
      • January 2015
      • February 2015
      • March 2015
      • April 2015
      • May 2015
      • June 2015
      • July 2015
      • August 2015
      • September 2015
      • October 2015
      • November 2015
      • December 2015
    • 2014
      • January 2014
      • February 2014
      • March 2014
      • April 2014
      • May 2014
      • June 2014
      • July 2014
      • August 2014
      • September 2014
      • October 2014
      • November 2014
      • December 2014
    • 2013
      • January 2013
      • February 2013
      • March 2013
      • April 2013
      • May 2013
      • June 2013
      • July 2013
      • August 2013
      • September 2013
      • October 2013
      • November 2013
      • December 2013
    • 2012
      • January 2012
      • February 2012
      • March 2012
      • April 2012
      • May 2012
      • June 2012
      • July 2012
      • August 2012
      • September 2012
      • October 2012
      • November 2012
      • December 2012
    • 2011
      • January 2011
      • February 2011
      • March 2011
      • April 2011
      • May 2011
      • June 2011
      • July 2011
      • August 2011
      • September 2011
      • October 2011
      • November 2011
      • December 2011
    • 2010
      • January 2010
      • February 2010
      • March 2010
      • April 2010
      • May 2010
      • June 2010
      • July 2010
      • August 2010
      • September 2010
      • October 2010
      • November 2010
      • December 2010
    • 2009
      • October 2009
      • November 2009
      • December 2009

    Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date with our latest news and information.

    • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
    • Connected Learning in Teaching Practice
    • Connected Learning Research Network
    • Connected Learning in Libraries
    • Connected Educators
    • Connected Courses
    • Connected Civics
    • Institute of Play

    • Contact
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Work With Us
    • Media
    • Write for Us
    • People
    • Newsletter
    • CLRN
    • CL Summit
    • CL Lab