Article: What you say and do is important. It is important to stand up for what you believe, even if it is in a small way. But you can also help encourage others to say and do the right thing. If you see or hear something that is oppressive or offensive, you should speak up. Use your words to show that you are an ally. Most simply, you can just say, "Stop." Maybe you are in the break room at work and you overhear someone make an offensive joke about women. You could say, "Please don't say those kinds of things around me. They are offensive and inappropriate." Sometimes you might need support in order to be an effective ally. If you're a kid or a teen, turn to a trusted adult for support. If the other kids on your basketball team are using racial slurs, don't be afraid to tell your coach. Even adults might need help with this. If necessary, report offensive comments by your coworkers to your boss or to HR. It's great to want to be an ally for your friends. It's also important that you stick up for other people, too, even if you don't know them personally. Try to find ways that you can use your voice and actions positively. Maybe you don't personally know any immigrants. You can still be an ally by donating clothing or household items to an organization that helps immigrants get settled in their new homes. Use your voice to help provide information for others. By helping to educate people about oppressed groups, you are fulfilling a key function of being an ally. The first step is to make sure that you are fully informed. Maybe you want to learn more about the rights of the LGBT community. Try contacting the local community center and asking what resources they recommend. Once you are informed, you can begin passing that knowledge along to others. If someone at a party makes an uninformed comment, you can say, "Actually, gay marriage has a higher success rate than marriage between two straight people." You can also educate your kids. Try saying, "Even though Abby used the word 'homo', we don't do that in our house. It might hurt someone's feelings." It is especially important to educate children early on and correct them as needed so that they do not grow up with faulty beliefs. Allies are really important in helping secure rights for others. There are several ways you can use your voice for good. Contact your representatives and tell them you don't support immigration bans that target certain religions. You could also signs petitions, help make phone calls, or post flyers about important legislation. Make sure to vote as well! This is the best way to make your opinions count.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Say "stop". Ask for help. Support people you don't know. Educate others. Advocate for change.