Why I Fight: The Open Internet Has Changed My Life

Demonstrators protest in front of the White House in support of Net Neutrality on November 6, 2014. (Photo: Joseph Gruber/flickr/cc)

I’m not what you’d consider a super activist. I don’t sign every petition I receive, I don’t attend every protest or rally I’m invited to, I don’t donate to every organization that solicits me. But it’s because of the Internet that I can fight for what I believe in.

And that’s why I fight for real #NetNeutrality — to ensure that the Internet remains a space where free expression can flourish.

The open Internet has changed my life in profound ways. I didn’t get to grow up with my sister, who’s seven years older than me. We lost out on many, many years together. But thanks to the Internet, we’ve been able to connect and bond in a way that I don’t think would have been possible before. It was her birthday recently and although she lives in Puerto Rico I was able to share in her special day, in real time.

Having an open Internet is priceless, but that doesn’t mean that Internet service providers have the right to control how I connect with my sister. This is why I fight for Net Neutrality every day at Free Press.

When I’m not working at Free Press or teaching Zumba, I’m online connecting with groups like ColorOfChange.org, which works hard to strengthen Black America’s political voice. These organizations educate me on important human rights and social justice issues so that I can take action and be part of a larger community fighting for the greater good. And I can fight for the causes I care about online by signing petitions, sharing messages and donating.

The Internet allows me the freedom to financially support the causes I care most about, like the AIDS Foundation of Western Massachusetts and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Having lost my father to AIDS and watched a good friend battle (and beat!) breast cancer, it’s very important to me that I do what I can to help find a cure for both diseases. It’s also fitting that I would use the Internet to fight for Internet freedom, press freedom and a stronger democracy: This is why I don’t just work at Free Press — I also support it.

I fight because if I don’t I’m giving the groups that want to kill Net Neutrality more power and I will not be the reason we don’t win real Net Neutrality!

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Yesenia Perez

Yesenia Perez works with the development team to implement all fundraising efforts for Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund. She has over 12 years of experience in content management and fundraising. Yesenia comes to Free Press from the Institute for Community Economics. She received her B.S. in business administration from Bernard M. Baruch College.