By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

Renowned civil rights activist Diane Nash said it takes more than “standing in a voting booth to be a responsible American citizen.”

Nash, a keynote speaker at Fort Hays State University Thursday, was a leader in the non-violent sit-ins to end the segregation of lunch counters in downtown Nashville, Tenn., and part of the Freedom Rides to end segregation of interstate bus travel in the 1960s.

Nash was a 20-year-old Fisk University college student at the time of the movement and told Hays Post though it was scary at times, she feels lucky to have been a part of it.

Nash said lessons learned during the Civil Rights Movement can be used today to solve many of the country’s problems.

“American citizens need to change their attitudes,” she said. “In a democracy, people are the rulers of the country and, tragically, most Americans don’t see themselves as rulers of the country.

“I think the elected officials have not done what is necessary to serve the interests of the country, and they will not,” Nash said. “Can you imagine if we had waited for elected officials to segregate lunch counters and public accommodations and interstate bus travel and get the right to vote? I think 50 years later, we would still be waiting.”

Nash added if Americans do not “do what is necessary” to make positive changes concerning major issues including the economy and education, the status quo will reign.

“We need to make decisions and make changes and really take democracy seriously,” Nash said. “The founders of this country gave us a valuable framework to use and we should not stand idle and lose it.”

Nash encouraged Americans to “organize with their churches, community members and sit down and make decisions” on how to make positive changes in the country.

Nash admitted standing up for your beliefs can be scary and talked about her involvement in the Freedom Rides.

“It was scary because, at certain times, you had to risk your life,” she said. “After all the violence … people beaten, buses burned, you had to realize … your life was in danger.”

But Nash said there was no choice.

“Black people in the South were so fed up with the dehumanization and segregation at that point,” she said. “And the choice was to tolerate it or do something to change it. And if risking your life was necessary, then that’s what people were willing to do.”

Nash’s appearance was part of the university’s celebration of Women’s History Month and was hosted by the American Association of University Women.