She Held The Longest Vigil In U.S. History, And Now It’s Time To Honor Her Legacy

It’s no secret that we live in an increasingly socially conscious world. While plenty of people want nothing to do with political correctness, there’s something to be said for young people who commit themselves to making the world a more inclusive place in the face of unrelenting criticism.

But the outspoken activism of this generation is not without precedent. In fact, one woman by the name of Concepcion Picciotto committed herself to social activism not only before most of us were born, but before our parents ever laid eyes on each other. She held the longest peaceful vigil in U.S. history, and now that she’s left us, it’s time to take a step back and pay homage to this woman’s powerful legacy.

Whether she was alone or with fellow protestors, Picciotto’s post was never once abandoned over the course of 35 years.

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When asked why she protested for almost 4 decades, her response was simple: “Because people do nothing. If people would be more concerned, I wouldn’t have to be here.”

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She primarily focused on nuclear proliferation, but as her social consciousness grew, so did the breadth of her concern. Picciotto regularly spoke out against Wall Street, government corruption, and the denial of climate change.

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“You have to have a cause,” she said. “You must have the courage to sacrifice.” For many years, Concepcion Picciotto sacrified her time and comfort for the sake of fostering a greater sense of understanding. The world lost this dedicated monument to social change on January 25, 2016.

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Check out the video below to learn more about why the world was a better place with her in it.

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Activist Who Held Longest Peaceful Protest In History Passes Away

The longest-standing protester in American history passed away after spending 35 years outside the White House

Posted by NowThis on Wednesday, January 27, 2016

(via Facebook)

Concepcion Picciotto’s life and work are stunning testaments to the fact that change doesn’t — and shouldn’t — come easily. For systems to be overturned, people have to stand in opposition of institutions with which most have grown complacent. For the vast majority of her life, that is exactly what she did.