#theflorala

A brush fire has forced the evacuation of thousands of people in the Southern California city of Carlsbad.

Bring Back Our Girls. This phrase has been all over the place lately: on posters plastering the walls of neighborhoods, as a hashtag taking over twitter and on large signs in the middle of protests. But what does it mean? In an article by Amnesty International, the movement is identified as a response to the mass kidnapping of 234 16-18-year-old Nigerian school girls by Islamist group Boko Haram. The girls were kidnapped as ransom for the return of Boko Haram members by the Nigerian government. .

Although #BringBackOurGirls happened in Nigeria, it has been supported by American celebrities, politicians, and even iconic First Lady Michelle Obama. Bringing awareness to the issue, and stressing to the world how important the return of these girls is, will force the Nigerian government to take action as well as encourage anyone with information on the girls' whereabouts to come forward. With the pressure of knowing their actions are being seen by so many, Boko Haram might even begin returning the girls, which is the hope of everyone involved in the movement. 

At this point, some people might be wondering what they can do to help. Others might think there is nothing they can do; after all, if people like the First Lady, Alicia Keys or even education activist Malala Yousafzai can't get the girls back, who can? The answer is you.

Hundreds of Chicago residents rallied together on May 10 in support of these girls. They weren't celebrities. They weren't politicians. They were regular people like you and me. If Chicago can rally behind these 234 girls, so can the people of Alabama -- the individuals of each county, the students on college campuses, and the individuals who value the lives of those around them and wouldn't want the same fate for their families. Unlike Nigeria, where the rallies have been stopped by police action, we in the United States, in Alabama, have the power to rally over any situation -- and we should. 

Amnesty International also has a way for individuals to send a message to the Nigerian Ambassador in order to pressure the Nigerian government into action. Go the the site, and send the message. If you're from a small town or a big city, or whether you have two twitter followers or two million, you can make a difference. #BringBackOurGirls.