“The youth is the solution to real change,” said Education for All member Marcos Perez. “Hip-hop allows freedom of expression.”

On March 9, Education for All, the Socialist Club, and Poetic LIP Movement held a “speak out” to students in Curran Plaza. The demonstration asked students to step up to the microphone and speak freely about what is happening around the world and locally.

“(We’re) doing this because people need to listen,” participant Elvis de la Cruz said. “It’s hard for some people to express themselves, and it’s up to us, the ones that can, to express the thoughts of everyone around.”

“Hip-hop is a movement,” Perez said. “We, the youth, are creating momentum towards change.”

The speak out had everything from dancing to rapping to singing and def poetry. J double A impressed the audience by performing a hip-hop dance routine as a trio. Browny Lox, the second-place winner of City College’s talent show, amazed audiences again with her spoken word performance. Many other students had the courage to step in front of the microphone and express their opinions.

These clubs will have more events this semester. EFA meets Wednesdays at 11 a.m. in the cafeteria, and the Socialist Club meets there Thursdays at 4 p.m.