Genre: Fiction
Subject: Human Rights Issues
Nation-X
No More-Third Class Citizens
by Bridget May
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 2: Old Beliefs Die Hard.. 2
CHAPTER 3: If You Ignore It, Does It Go Away?. 3
CHAPTER 4: Strength in Numbers. 4
CHAPTER 5: A Fruitful Meeting. 5
CHAPTER 6: The Way to Resolution.. 6
CHAPTER 1: A Brutal Truth
Max Elley waited patiently on the platform for the Maglev 2000 high-speed train to take him home to Green City. He had been in Peace City for the weekend visiting his girlfriend, Penny, who was based there for the month.
As he waited, he couldn’t help but notice an older couple buying tickets at the window. It was Amos and Fanny Unica, a couple Max remembered from traveling with his dad years before. They were having some sort of disagreement with the ticket seller. Max edged closer to see if he could help. Or at least overhear what was happening.
There was a lot of noise and commotion. Fanny was waving her money, yelling about how expensive the tickets were. Her husband was talking too. The ticket seller was tapping on the glass and yelling back. Max stepped in. He was much bigger than all of them and asked if he could help.
Fanny grabbed his jacket, “Yes! We paid for first-class tickets, and he gave us third-class tickets! That silly sign says the first class is for Peace City citizens, but we are Peace City citizens; we have I.D!” She had a strong accent and was very angry. Shaking her fist, she turned back to the man behind the glass. “You tried this last time! You can’t cheat us like that!!”
Max turned to the man behind the glass, “Is this true?”
He looked exasperated, “they paid for two tickets, and they got two tickets! Rules are rules!” He pointed to the sign hanging on the wall behind him. It said in large red lettering, DURING PEAK AND BUSY TIMES
THE FIRST-CLASS SEATING CARRIAGE
IS RESERVED FOR
PEACE CITY CITIZENS ONLY.
It was posted by the Midland Municipal Transport Authority (MMTA).
Max couldn’t believe his eyes, “Is that real?”
The ticket seller answered, “afraid so.”
“It’s not peak or busy times! We’ve been Peace City citizens for ten years!” Amos said indignantly. “This is a violation of our rights!” He also had a thick Northern accent, and Max immediately understood what he meant.
Recently, there has been a massive influx of immigrants into Peace City. There had been rumors of unfair discrimination and human rights violations perpetrated by the city and those in authority. Some of the local population felt like they were losing their city and neighborhoods to the immigrants and felt outnumbered. Max wasn’t in Peace City very often,
so he had not seen it until today.
“He has a point, Sir,” Max said respectfully. The ticket seller looked down. “Rules are rules. I don’t make them. I just follow them.” He didn’t look up to make eye contact with Max, Amos, or Fanny.
Just then, they heard a gruff voice from behind them, “are you having trouble here, sir?” It was one of the station security guards. He had his night-stick in one hand and was hitting it into the other hand, looking very menacing.
“No, Sir,” Max replied respectfully.
“What about these two?” He nodded towards the old couple and looked at the ticket seller.
“They were having trouble with the seating policy, so I was explaining it to them,” he replied with a half-smile.
The guard looked at the old couple. “Is this true? Do you have a problem with the seating policy?” He asked them sternly.
They were looking down, not making eye contact with him. They didn’t say anything.
“No, Sir, we do not have a problem,” Amos said.
Max was shocked. Fanny and Amos were terrified.
“OK,” the guard continued, “Best you move along then. Stop wasting everybody’s time.”
Amos breathed out hard through his nostrils. He turned to walk away. Gavin stopped him with his stick, “everything OK?”
Amos nodded, and they shuffled away. His wife glared back at them. But she didn’t say anything.
Max was stunned. He looked Gavin up and down, “was that strong-arm stuff necessary?” he demanded.
Gavin looked at him sternly, “I have no idea what you mean.”
“These people have to be kept in their place. They’ll take over if we let them.” He shook his head. He turned to watch them walk down towards the other end of the platform.
Max looked at the ticket seller, then to the security guard, and back to the ticket seller. “It seems a little harsh.”
“To an outsider, maybe,” Gavin looked him up and down.
“But you better hope they don’t try to take over your city the way they are trying to take over ours.” Again Max was surprised by how menacing he sounded.
Gavin slid the nightstick back into its holster on his hip, turned on his heel, and walked in the opposite direction on the platform.
Max turned to speak with the ticket seller, but the blind was pulled down, and he had gone.
Max was disturbed; he could not believe such blatant discrimination still existed. He knew some people were divisive and resentful about the influx of new people moving to the city. Indeed there could not possibly be such outright hatred and intolerance, could there? Although he remembered he had read somewhere about how the influx of immigrants from the North, Northeast, and West triggered some old beliefs that were harking back to the Civil War.
As he sat in his nearly empty first-class train car, he couldn’t help but think of how unfair it was to treat people that way. When the conductor came through to check the tickets, Max asked him, “Why were people sold the third class tickets on the premise of being busy when there is hardly anyone here?” Max motioned towards the nearly empty carriage.
The conductor was close to retirement age. He just shook his head. “I don’t know, son, I just follow the rules. I don’t make them.”
He moved down the carriage to the next passenger.
Max realized there was no point in asking any of the staff that worked for the MMTA. They were not interested. He thought of how sad that was and decided he would investigate more when he got home.
CHAPTER 2: Old Beliefs Die Hard
When Max got back to Green City, he called Penny. He asked her if she used the MMTA very much around the city. She said she did and had used it often enough to notice the signs. Penny also thought that was unfair. So much so that she asked her boss about it.
“According to Mr. Eric Connors, “violations occur all the time, but they should be called out,” Penny said.
“That’s it?” asked Max, surprised. “Nothing else? Nothing about basic rights being available to everyone? Nothing about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?”
“Nope,” Penny replied.
“Huh,” said Max disappointed, “I thought he would be more about the fact that the state must protect and respect and fulfill basic rights that are available to everyone.”
Penny laughed, “I hate to say it, but that’s barely on his radar.”
Max agreed, “I guess, but I still think that the Government should hold everyone accountable, especially themselves.”
“You and I both know that will probably not happen this week.” She reminded him, “or next week either.”
“Yes, I think I might talk to Uncle about it; I know he’s done some projects around Midland. He might have some insight.”
“That’s a good idea,” Penny encouraged.
They ended the call, and Max decided to stop in and see his Uncle Fred,
“Hey Uncle, how are you doing?” Max asked.
“Doing well, Max. What brings you here?”
“I just came back from Peace City, and I noticed blatant civil rights violations at the train station that I found very disturbing, and I was wondering if you had noticed anything in your dealings around Midland.”
“What do you mean, Max? Fred asked, “well…” he started,
“the MMTA has posters at their ticket stands that during peak and busy times that first class is reserved for Peace City citizens, but I saw with my own eyes that it was not busy, and two people who had Peace City I.D were refused first-class tickets.”
Fred looked at him quizzically, “were they immigrants?”
Max gave him a puzzled look, “I guess originally, but they were residents of peace City and had Peace City I.D’s.”
Fred shook his head, “yes, I notice various unusual rules around Midland, but I’m never there long enough to study it or anything, “Fred said offhandedly. He turned back to his desk, “now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to work. But we can talk tomorrow night at dinner.”
Max nodded; he had forgotten the family dinner organized for the next night. “OK, Uncle. Thank you for your time.” Max thanked him again and headed for the elevator.
The next night the Elley family met for dinner at one of the finer restaurants in town. Max was happy to see Drax, his Aunt Cathy, and Uncle Fred again.
Grant, Ethel, and Max sat around one half of the circular table. They made small talk throughout dinner while catching up, but after dinner, their conversations turned to the reason for Max’s visit the day before.
“You know Max, I didn’t want to tell you yesterday because there are ears everywhere,” Fred took another mouthful of dessert.
“But everyone who works in and around Midland knows that all sorts of restrictions are in place for the immigrants to Peace City, but it’s just to keep them under control.” He continued eating, “if you know what I mean.” He winked knowingly at Max.
“Not really, Uncle,” Max replied. “What does that mean? Everyone knows a whole section of society is being maltreated, and we are all supposed to be cool with it? Dad, I saw Amos and Fanny Unica at the station, and they were charged the first-class rice but given third-class tickets!”
Grant shook his head, “Really? That’s terrible.” Grant turned to Ethel, “remember that couple, honey?”
Ethel nodded, “Oh, yes! I do remember!”
“They were treated terribly, and a security guard even came over to make us all move along.”
“Well, if someone is making a scene in a public place.….” Fred reasoned.
“Well, would you make a scene if you paid for first-class tickets and were given third-class tickets?” Max fired back. He turned to his Aunt Cathy, “I know you would make a scene.”
Max was surprised. He had expected more from his uncle. He was fast losing hope in anyone close enough to see what was happening. Why was it so easy to look the other way?
“Well, it’s not like that. You make it sound so basic,” Cathy scoffed as she took another sip of wine. She continued, “you know it’s their choice to immigrate, and they can’t be expected to get special privileges just because they are coming to Midland for whatever reason….”
“I don’t think they want special privileges; I think they just want to be treated the same as everybody else.” Max snapped back. Then he caught himself, “I mean, isn’t that what everyone wants?”
Grant and Ethel nodded at Fred, Cathy, and Drax, eager to change the subject. Cathy wasn’t done. She had already had a couple of glasses of wine and had some things to say. “You know Max. I don’t think you understand. The only way to succeed in life, ESPECIALLY if you’re an immigrant, is by working hard.”
Max realized there was no point in continuing the conversation and dropped the subject, sensing how uncomfortable everyone else was.
The next day when he talked to Penny, he told her how strange it was whenever he raised the subject with anyone; they glossed over it or got defensive. Penny had noticed the same thing. They decided they would have to gather evidence themselves and take it directly to the media. Hopefully, they could get the Governments attention that way.
They both felt it was not right to witness these violations and not say anything. Max decided he would go to Peace Coty by train to see Penny again in a couple of weeks, she would meet him at the train station, and they would look at the ticket stands. Maybe see if they could talk to people too. Although Max warned Penny that no staff member was very friendly or informative.
CHAPTER 3: If You Ignore It, Does It Go Away?
Max caught the early train to Peace City. He was so early that he got to meet Penny for breakfast. He had tried to be observant in the Green City station, but it did not look like there were strict restrictions in place. He also noticed that there were no immigrants either. Although, what were immigrants supposed to look like? Did they have a look?
“Because no one in their right mind is traveling at 4 AM,” he thought tiredly to himself. Max leaned back into his seat and fell asleep.
He awoke abruptly to yelling and a scuffle further back in the train car. He stood up and bellowed, “what is happening here?”
The two stopped and looked at him. It was two men; the older one had the younger one by the scruff and was trying to force him out of the carriage. “Help,” Dennis pleaded, “I bought a ticket. I’ve got it right here!” he clenched the ticket in his hand. Julian ignored Max and carried on. The other five or six people in the carriage ignored what was going on right behind them.
“WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?” Max bellowed.
“It’s none of your business,” Julian snapped, “but if you must know, I’m just escorting this guy,” he nodded violently at Dennis, nearly headbutting him, “to his correct place!”
“Which is where exactly?” Max was in front of them in three steps. He put his hands on his hips and looked down his nose at him.
“He’s not supposed to be in here,” he continued, “he’s a bloody immigrant. He doesn’t deserve to sit up here!”
“According to who?” Max demanded.
“Me!” the angry man yelled back. “I have the authority; I am an employee of the MMTA!” Max put his hand on Julian’s shoulder. “I think you should let him go.” He shrugged Max’s hand off his shoulder. “I wouldn’t if I was you.” Julian threatened.
“I’m sorry, sir, but you need to let him go.” Max stood firm.
Julian let go of Dennis’s shirt’s collar and swung at Max. He grabbed Julian’s arm, Max was much bigger than Julian, and he quickly gave up but started yelling, “Help! Help! An immigrant sympathizer is attacking me!” Nobody in the carriage moved. Max was shocked; barely anybody turned their heads.
Max took his hands off the man, “OK, just don’t try to hit me again.”
Julian stepped forward threateningly, stabbing his finger at Max, “you just made a big mistake, sonny.”
He turned and stormed out of the carriage.
Max turned to Dennis, who was picking up his backpack and jacket from one of the seats.
“Are you OK?” he held his hand out to him, “My name is Max,”
“My name is Dennis,” he shook his hand and stood up, brushing himself off.
“And yes, I’m OK, thank you.” he brushed the hair out of his face, “thank you for helping me. Most of the time, everybody ignores the discrimination.” He motioned around the train car, “like now,” he whispered.
“Does that happen all the time?” Max asked, shocked.
“No, well, it didn’t used to. But it does seem like it’s getting worse,” Dennis had brushed himself off and put on his jacket.
“Recently, the MMTA has been extra vigilant in their upholding of various rules and regulations for the citizens of Peace City.” Dennis said, “antiquated signs and rules and regulations that had long been ignored are suddenly being treated like the law. Especially people like him.” Dennis was referring to Julian’s outburst.
“It’s crazy; I’m a student, not an immigrant! Dennis sighed.
Max nodded, “I saw a similar incident at the central station a few weeks ago.”
“And even though it’s a direct violation of our human rights, nobody cares or even notices!” Dennis was incensed. “It’s not fair. My sister was recently knocked to the ground at the station when she came to visit me at school. It was in front of witnesses, and nobody even came to her aid.” He shook his head and looked disappointed.
‘That’s awful! Was she OK?” Max sympathized with him. “Where are you sitting? Join me down here if you like.”
Dennis followed Max to where he was sitting and took the seat next to him.
As they sat down, the woman that was sitting closest to them turned around, “Excuse me for eavesdropping, but I know exactly what you mean about unfair treatment of immigrants.” She nodded grimly. “I see it almost every day, and it’s horrible.” She swiveled all the way around in her seat, “these ugly incidents are happening more and more. And the people acting them out are all MMTA employees or…” she looked around nervously, “people who are supposed to be protecting the innocent!”
“Would you be interested in participating in a peaceful protest?” Max asked her, an idea dawning on him.
“I think so,” she looked doubtful, “I don’t know. I just don’t want any trouble.”
“Why would there be trouble?” Max was curious.
“The people doing this are very confrontational and intimidating.” She gave a tightlipped smile. “There have been rumors of people losing their MMTA transport privileges. They have video surveillance everywhere, on the trains and in all the stations. I can’t afford for that to happen to me. I need the MMTA!” She shook her head, “Sorry.”
Martha swiveled back in her seat.
Dennis shrugged, “See what I mean?”
“These people are scared.” Max surmised. “It looks like the MMTA has become a bunch of bullies!”
Dennis opened his mouth to say something, but just then, Julian came back into the carriage with a security guard. He pointed at Max, “There, there is the man who assaulted me! Detain him!!” As the security guard walked over to Max, he could see Julian smiling behind him. “I told you that you made a big mistake!”
The guard put his hand on Max’s shoulder, “Come with me, sir,”
“Why?” asked Max, “if you want my ticket or my I.D, I can show you right here.”
‘This is concerning the more serious charge of assault,” the guard replied, looking very serious.
“OK, wait a minute,” Max said, straightening up. “I did not assault this man,” he said, motioning to Julian. “I asked what was happening as he was rough handling this young man.” He gestured towards Dennis sitting next to him. “Then, when he tried to take a swing at me, I grabbed his arm to stop him, and he started yelling that I was attacking him. I let his arm go. But I will not tolerate a bully trying to take a swing at me.” Max filled him in on the situation.
Sebastian looked from Max to Dennis, “Is this true?” he asked Dennis. Martha spoke up from the other seat, “yes, sir, that’s true. I saw the whole thing.” The security guard looked toward Martha, “do you know this person?” He turned to Julian, who was glaring at Martha. “He didn’t ask you,” Julian snapped at her viciously.
Sebastian addressed all the passengers in the train car, “did anybody else witness this?”
“Actually, it is true, the man you are talking to stepped in to prevent the younger one from being physically removed from the carriage,” a businessman spoke up from towards the back.
Another passenger spoke up as well, and another. “Yes, he is telling the truth. The younger man was reading a book, and that guy,” she pointed at Julian, “started harassing him and demanded to see his I.D. When he wouldn’t show it, he tried to grab him and get him out of the carriage.” They all agreed. “He didn’t say who he was or that he had any authority. He was just trying to pick a fight.”
The security guard looked at Julian, “Looks like you may have been mistaken, sir.” Julian pursed his lips very tightly. He said nothing and stormed out of the carriage.
The security guard looked at Max and Dennis, “we are about an hour from our destination. If you wanted anything from the restaurant car, it closes in ten minutes.” He nodded at them and headed in the other direction.
Max gratefully addressed the passengers in the train car, “Thank you for speaking up.”
“Well, I’m sick of all this,” Wayne replied from his seat.
“Yes,” Barbara agreed, “this is all getting out of hand. The way the MMTA lets its staff members run around with their bully tactics makes traveling a horrible experience.”
The others agreed. “It’s time to bring some attention to this,” Dennis said quietly. “Enough is enough.”
CHAPTER 4: Strength in Numbers
Max exchanged contact details with Dennis, Wayne, Barbara, Martha, and the others on the train. By the time he got to Peace City to meet Penny, he was exhausted but excited.
He shared his plan with her, and she was encouraging. Since he had spoken to her about the events he had witnessed at the station, she had made a point to document all the interactions she had observed when using the MMTA. Penny even managed to film a few (secretly). Max was pleased. But very tired.
He felt like he had already lived a whole day. He walked Penny to work and headed to his hotel room to get some sleep.
He didn’t rest. However, he kept thinking about his idea.
Max called Dennis, and they arranged to meet after lunch. These violations had to end. Otherwise, it would just become more commonplace and spread like cancer throughout the city. Max hoped there was still time. The scene on the train was encouraging.
They only had a few days to get organized, but Max and Dennis were sure they could rally enough support in time.
Max also called Wayne, Barbara, and Martha. They were all supportive. Wayne said he knew he wasn’t the only one sick of witnessing the discrimination he observed every day. Barbara and Martha echoed Wayne’s sentiment; they all knew others would come together about this.
After Penny had finished work, Max took the footage Penny had recorded and emailed the Minister of Transport, Mr. Eason Bighorn, and the Justice Department. Penny then emailed it to Tim Foxe and a couple of other people she knew that worked at the paper. They also reached out to the local news channel and shared the footage with them. It was time the MMTA was called out for their divisive civil rights violations. Everyone was invited to a rally on Tuesday morning. They would start at the station and walk five blocks to City Hall.
This would be huge.
They also started a social media page and encouraged others with footage of unfair treatment by MMTA staff towards immigrants to post it on the page.
Dennis designed some posters to hang around the University, and by Sunday afternoon, they were set.
Max was sure there would be strength in numbers.
Early Tuesday morning, Penny and Max walked over to the MMTA central station, it was only just getting light, but they were relieved to see Tim Foxe already there. He was talking to Dennis and a group of students that Dennis had encouraged him to attend. There was a big group of university staff and faculty members. Dennis was delighted to see James Golden, the journalism professor; Raymond White, the history professor; and even the chief university security officer, Lewis Cook.
Tim excused himself and came over to Max and Penny, “good to see you guys,” he started. “Thanks for the email,” he leaned closer to Penny and Max, “I had often wondered to myself when someone was going to call out the MMTA. Nobody likes what has been going on. But everyone is too scared to say anything.” Max looked around at the growing crowd, “I guess you’re not the only one.” They shook hands, and Tim moved away to speak with more people.
The square in front of the station filled with people little by little, and soon there was a big crowd. The air was thick with anticipation. Max felt nervous.
Tim was working his way around the crowd, talking to people and asking for their experiences and views on the violations they had experienced or witnessed when traveling by MMTA.
When Max and Penny saw Leonard Strike and his cameraman show up, he felt elated and nervous. “At last, maybe someone will do something!” he said.
Penny kissed him on the cheek, “that someone is you, Max! Look what you’ve organized in such a short time. You are just the catalyst everybody needed to speak out. Now go talk to them!”
Max smiled at her and walked over to the podium that had been set up. Dennis was up there talking about inequalities and how it was time to see each other as equals. He encouraged everyone to come together as equals.
Dennis introduced Max, who stepped up and nervously addressed the crowd, “Thank you all for coming today and showing your support.” He paused, “a few weeks ago, I witnessed something right here at central station that I didn’t think was right.” he paused, “I think that all of you are as sick of the MMTA’s treatment of immigrants too!” People started clapping and agreeing.
“There is no good reason anyone has to feel like a third-class citizen and be discriminated against when using public transportation!” More people clapped and yelled out things like “hear, hear!!” and “you got that right!!” Max felt braver and more confident, “We mean to raise this issue right now to the federal level! We will not stand for such civil rights violations anymore! Let’s take this to city hall!” Max raised his fist triumphantly.
“What do we want?” someone yelled using a bullhorn, “equal rights!” people shouted in reply. “When do we want it?” they asked again. “NOW!” Everyone yelled back.
Max stepped triumphantly down from the podium and started walking towards city hall.
He knew that they would be in session this morning. All the council members, MMTA leaders, and the Ministers of the different Government departments would be arriving at the building around the anticipated time they would be arriving at City Hall.
As they made their way through the streets, people joined in yelling encouragement and tooting their horns in support. Dennis and about a dozen other students were out in front with the bullhorn, encouraging people to keep showing their support.
Max felt positive this would make a difference. As he got to the steps and City Hall, he could see Leonard Strike speaking to Mr. Bighorn on camera.
This would be amazing!
As the group got closer, Mr. Bighorn and other members of the council all hurried inside. Max was disappointed. He had always thought Mr. Bighorn was a fair person who listened to the people.
The protesters waved their placards and chanted on the steps of City Hall. There were members of the media and different television station news crews that had come to cover the peaceful protest.
As everything was winding down, Police Officer Allen approached Max and Dennis and asked them to accompany him into the building.
Max smiled at Dennis, “shall we?” They followed Officer Allen up the stairs.
CHAPTER 5: A Fruitful Meeting
Max and Dennis were guided through the foyer area, “where are we going?” Max asked the officer, “Mr. Bighorn would like to speak with you.”
Dennis gave Max a big smile and mouthed YES! Max grinned back.
They walked through the metal detector and received Guest name tags.
After taking the elevator to the third floor, they were met by Mr. Bighorn’s assistant.
They were shown into a modestly decorated office. There was a big desk in the center of the room. Mr. Bighorn was sitting at it, working on his computer. He stood up and came around the front of the desk, shaking their hands.
Max was surprised he knew their names.
“I got your email, Max. And those attachments and photos you sent with it….” Mr. Bighorn shook his head. He turned to Dennis, “we know that sort of thing has been going on for a while, but until now, nobody has come forward.”
“It’s been getting worse, sir. People are becoming more fearful of the MMTA, and nobody wants to make a scene or bring attention to themselves.” Dennis gave a grim smile and continued, “except, once Max brought attention to it, so many more people have spoken up. It turns out everyone is sick of the way immigrants are treated.”
“I see,” said Mr. Bighorn. “I knew there was an issue. But I didn’t realize the extent.” He walked around to the other side of his desk and motioned for them to sit down in the chairs in front of his desk. “I was shocked at seeing how far-reaching it is and the number of posts and videos of MMTA staff mistreating people? I am sad that this is going on right here in Peace City.” Mr. Bighorn shook his head again. “I believe the government must protect and respect all human rights; we must hold everyone accountable.” Mr. Bighorn shuffled the papers in front of him. He had a reputation for being a fair man, and Max was pleased to see that was true. “I am meeting with the Department of Justice later today; I think this is something for the Civil Rights Division.”
Max and Dennis nodded enthusiastically; Mr. Bighorn carried on, “I will present all of this to them, and we’ll get the wheels turning on this one.” He thoughtfully rubbed his chin, “then I think I’ll have to remind the MMTA where they get their funding from.” Mr. Bighorn was referring to the fact that the MMTA survived mainly from grants from the federal government.
“That would be great, sir!” Dennis enthused.
Mr. Bighorn spent a few more minutes explaining how the process worked. The Civil Rights Division enforces federal statutes that prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, or national origin.
He recommended that they keep applying the pressure as citizens to the MMTA, and the change would occur with some consistency. When it came down to it, popular opinion was that civil rights were for everyone.
Mr. Bighorn stood up; the meeting was over. “Remember, boys, the wheels of bureaucracy turn very slowly. This is going to be a marathon, not a sprint.”
Officer Allen was waiting outside the office to show them out. When they got back to the steps at City Hall, Max was surprised to see still so many people milling around. Penny was waiting for him.
“How did that go? Did you meet with Mr. Bighorn? What did he say? What’s going to happen now? Did he think there was enough evidence?” She asked him all the questions at once.
Max held up his hand, “Whoa, Penny! One at a time!”
She took a deep breath, “OK, how do you guys feel about that? Do you think we made an impact?”
Max and Dennis nodded, “He said he will present what he has to the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice today.”
“He also said that they had known this was going on but did not have enough evidence until we sent them footage and requested everyone else who had footage to post it on the MMTA social media page.”
“That’s amazing!” Penny enthused. “I wonder how long it will take until we see some changes?”
Tim Foxe joined them, “what’s the scoop, guys?”
Dennis faced him, “I think we have sent a clear message to the MMTA that it is time to shed the antiquated rules and regulations designed to segregate and demean people as they go about their days and lives. Enough is enough!”
Tim nodded, understanding. “How do you think people can support this cause?”
“For a start, they can demand the posters behind the ticket desks and around the stations be taken down. They are in direct violation of immigrants’ civil rights.” Max chimed in. Dennis nodded.
Penny looked thoughtful, “I would also encourage people who see something to say something. Pull out their phones and start filming. Let them know it is not OK to treat people that way and then hide behind a poster on a wall.”
Tim nodded again, they had some valid points and solid evidence, and he hoped it would be a front-page story.
Max added the final thought, “I think when it comes down to it, everyone is entitled to safety and equality before the law. There shouldn’t be a different world for immigrants. Their money is as good as everybody else’s. This has got to stop!” Penny and Tim nodded.
Dennis had his fellow students with him by now, and they murmured their agreement.
Tim stopped recording and said his goodbyes. As he headed back to the Newspaper office, he thought about what made people speak up for others. Tim had been aware of the stations’ signs, but he hadn’t noticed them be enforced as he hardly used the MMTA during peak times. He wondered if that went for most MMTA passengers too. Or was it just that he was usually too preoccupied with his phone or some other device that he didn’t notice?
CHAPTER 6: The Way to Resolution
That evening there was a short clip on the news of Leonard Strike talking to people as they walked along to City Hall to protest the segregation of immigrants by the MMTA. Max was disappointed, it was a blink, and you’d miss it story. He thought it should have been the main story! The matter was not given much attention or coverage.
Penny patted Max on the shoulder, “don’t worry, I’m sure Tim would have written a great piece for the paper.” Max gave her a half-smile. “I hope so.”
The following day the story was on the front page of the City Opinions Section of the paper. Max was disheartened. Penny tried to reassure him, “It’s still a front page.”
“Yeah, of the third section.” Max grumbled, “and how is it an opinion? It’s facts!” Max felt terrible. He thought there would be a significant change instantly!
His thoughts returned to what Mr. Bighorn had said to them earlier that day. About change being a marathon and not a sprint. He laughed to himself at the sheer lunacy of his impatient idea. He knew Mr. Bighorn was right.
The next day Max headed back to Green City. Penny only had two weeks left working in Midland. He promised to return in another week.
The week dragged by; Max spoke to Dennis almost every day. Dennis seemed to have a penchant for organizing people to take action. There was a groundswell of support in and around the University community. Professors James Golden and Raymond Wise’s interest had also piqued the other staff and faculty, and it was fast becoming a hot topic of discussion in all lecture halls. The social media presence was building. It seemed nearly everyone who had used the MMTA had stories of witnessing civil rights violations, and many of them had recorded them. Max felt satisfied that awareness was building. A few days later, he felt even more excited when he watched one of the late-night talk news shows and even talked about it.
It turned out Central Newspaper had spent the week investigating their own story about the ongoing discrimination, and by Saturday, it had made it to the front page. Penny called Max, full of excitement! “Guess what??” She squealed, “Central Newspaper has done a massive expose about the MMTA and the ongoing discrimination! It takes up the whole page!” Penny was thrilled, “and there have been promises of change from the MMTA. Max was delighted. “This is amazing! The issue is getting noticed!”
Penny went on, “the social media page has exploded! It’s been a trending topic all over Nation-X!” She was excited, “Max,” she gasped, “this issue has gone VIRAL! It’s amazing! It’s like the whole city has woken up! The energy is incredible!”
Max couldn’t wait to head to Peace City in a few days to see what else had happened.
Again, he caught the red-eye to Peace City and napped in the first-class car, except there was no interruption or scuffles this time. He noticed the carriage was more packed than last time. Everyone looked as regular in his eyes as everyone else. Although as he looked around at all the people, he realized he didn’t know how to tell an immigrant from anyone else.
As he exited the central station, he noticed two men in MMTA overalls with a ladder and paint. They were painting over the signs in the ticket booths. Max instantly felt buoyed. This was amazing.
He saw Penny walking into the station as he was coming down the escalator. She looked beautiful. All dressed up for work. Max felt so much gratitude at the moment. He felt like he might burst.
He noticed the vibe of the train station was entirely different too. Gone were the stern-looking security guards with nightsticks. Everything felt lighter and in balance.
“Wow,” he said when he got to Penny, “this place feels a million times better!”
“I know, right?” She agreed. “Definitely less menacing.”
Max took another moment to take it all in.
“I guess everybody was ready for it all to change,” he took her arm, “as Dennis said. All they needed was someone to push a little.”
Penny smiled at Max, “I’m so glad you did.”
“Me too,” said Max kissing the top of her head. As they walked out of the
building, Max was already thinking of other causes of civil rights violations. Helping people in those situations was so rewarding!
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