--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can't continue to sit on our hands and…" description: "\"We can't continue to sit on our hands and sit idly by as people are being brutalized, disenfranchised, and left out of the system.\" — Opal Tometi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/opal-tometi-9098_continue_we-can-t-continue-to-sit-on-our-hands-an_216980.jpg" --- # We can't continue to sit on our hands and sit idly by as… ![“We can't continue to sit on our hands and sit idly by as people are being brutalized, disenfranchised, and left out of the system.” quote by Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/opal-tometi-9098_continue_we-can-t-continue-to-sit-on-our-hands-an_216980.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/opal-tometi-9098_continue_we-can-t-continue-to-sit-on-our-hands-an_216980.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/opal-tometi-9098_continue_we-can-t-continue-to-sit-on-our-hands-an_216980.jpg) > “We can't continue to sit on our hands and sit idly by as people are being brutalized, disenfranchised, and left out of the system.” [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Call to action against systemic oppression and exclusion, urging active resistance. **In simple terms:** We must not stay passive while injustice occurs. Key Takeaway Act against injustice now. Themes justice activism solidarity Mood urgent determined Type activist motivational When to use this quote - community organizing - policy advocacy - public protests Key Concepts systemic oppression civic engagement Questions to Reflect On - What concrete steps can you take today? - How can you support marginalized voices? A Different Perspective Change requires sustained effort and coalition building. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brutalized Disenfranchised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutalized-disenfranchised-2225664/) [Continue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continue/) [Continue Sit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continue-sit-2225666/) [Disenfranchised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disenfranchised/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Hands Sit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands-sit-2225665/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sit/) [Sit Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sit-hands-415830/) [System](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/system/) ## Related quotes > [If you are S.e.x.y and you know it then clap your hands and sit down coz you're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-s-e-x-y-and-you-know-it-then-clap-your-hands-and-sit-down/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At intervals between the songs, more especially after the trances have begun, the dancers unclasp hands and sit down to smoke or talk for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mooney/at-intervals-between-the-songs-more-especially-after-the-trances-have/) [James Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mooney/) > [We know that there are people in our nation, black people, who are systematically being disenfranchised in a number of spheres in our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/we-know-that-there-are-people-in-our-nation-black-people-who-are/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [I've always been the girl who can't sit on her hands. If there's a pink elephant in the room, I'll identify it and say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rayner/i-ve-always-been-the-girl-who-can-t-sit-on-her-hands-if-there-s-a/) [Angela Rayner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rayner/) > [“Sit” is the command you’ll use most often. Your pup objects when placed in a sit with your hands, so try the “bringing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-chamberlain/sit-is-the-command-you-ll-use-most-often-your-pup-objects-when-placed/) [Ann Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-chamberlain/) > [As people in business know, if you just sit on your hands and don't progress with the changing environment, you won't reform and improve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-miller/as-people-in-business-know-if-you-just-sit-on-your-hands-and-don-t/) [Gina Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-miller/) > [If most traders would learn to sit on their hands 50 per cent of the time, they would make a lot more money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-lipschutz/if-most-traders-would-learn-to-sit-on-their-hands-50-per-cent-of-the/) [Bill Lipschutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-lipschutz/) > [When you see a good move, sit on your hands and find a better one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/when-you-see-a-good-move-sit-on-your-hands-and-find-a-better-one/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Sometimes we just sit around and sit on our hands and don't do anything because it's like, 'Hey, that's not my problem.' You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/sometimes-we-just-sit-around-and-sit-on-our-hands-and-don-t-do/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Our focus is on making sure that we are enforcing the rule of law. And I see an enormous amount at risk if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lina-khan/our-focus-is-on-making-sure-that-we-are-enforcing-the-rule-of-law-and/) [Lina Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lina-khan/) > [Its a shame that it ends this way with nothing left to say. So just sit on your hands while I walk away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-a-shame-that-it-ends-this-way-with-nothing-left-to-say-so-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For myself, I keep writing. I've got to do something. I can't sit on my hands and do nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-young/for-myself-i-keep-writing-i-ve-got-to-do-something-i-can-t-sit-on-my/) [Angus Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-young/) > [“My hands twitch and wiggle. Jo sees them, shakes her head and mouths, “Sit on your hands.” She can’t be serious. As if my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-crewe/my-hands-twitch-and-wiggle-jo-sees-them-shakes-her-head-and-mouths/) [Eliza Crewe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-crewe/) > [When you see a good move, sit on your hands and see if you can find a better one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/when-you-see-a-good-move-sit-on-your-hands-and-see-if-you-can-find-a/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [If you double count some votes, that makes other votes disenfranchised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ensign/if-you-double-count-some-votes-that-makes-other-votes-disenfranchised/) [John Ensign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ensign/) ## More by Opal Tometi > [There are always groups on campus that are doing amazing things. I know when I was in college, I was a student at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/there-are-always-groups-on-campus-that-are-doing-amazing-things-i/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [Let's demonstrate, illustrate, the ways in which our communities are being undermined time and time again, and make sure that the broader public and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/let-s-demonstrate-illustrate-the-ways-in-which-our-communities-are/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [Being in the immigrant rights space, I've heard a lot of transactional talk with questions like, 'When will black people show up for immigrants?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/being-in-the-immigrant-rights-space-i-ve-heard-a-lot-of-transactional/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [Our communities are reeling from poverty, from unemployment, from discrimination of all sorts and different interactions that they're having with the law enforcement, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/our-communities-are-reeling-from-poverty-from-unemployment-from/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [Antiblack racism is not only happening in the United States. It's actually happening all across the globe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/antiblack-racism-is-not-only-happening-in-the-united-states-it-s/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [I'm really looking for an agenda that looks at safety for our communities beyond policing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/i-m-really-looking-for-an-agenda-that-looks-at-safety-for-our/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [I just look back at my time in college and think about how much my community activism and my work in neighborhoods really informed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/i-just-look-back-at-my-time-in-college-and-think-about-how-much-my/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [Trump's racism has clearly driven his policy decisions during his first year in office - from his Muslim ban and his despicable treatment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/trump-s-racism-has-clearly-driven-his-policy-decisions-during-his/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [I have two younger brothers, and I know my parents have spoken to them about driving and interacting with police. They didn't have those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/i-have-two-younger-brothers-and-i-know-my-parents-have-spoken-to-them/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [Lean into your curiosity about any issue, and there will likely be people to share a little bit more of their knowledge and insight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/lean-into-your-curiosity-about-any-issue-and-there-will-likely-be/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [Far from ending, systemic racism reinvents itself to conform to what is publically acceptable, leaving the quality of black life diminished and more permanently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/far-from-ending-systemic-racism-reinvents-itself-to-conform-to-what/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [Some of us have held the hands of friends or brothers as they struggled with military and police academy recruiters, and though many of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/some-of-us-have-held-the-hands-of-friends-or-brothers-as-they/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [Only when the oppressed are heard can we have an honest solutions based dialogue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/only-when-the-oppressed-are-heard-can-we-have-an-honest-solutions/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [We know that there are people in our nation, black people, who are systematically being disenfranchised in a number of spheres in our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/we-know-that-there-are-people-in-our-nation-black-people-who-are/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [Get involved in your neighborhood. That's how I got really, really committed to the immigrant rights movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/get-involved-in-your-neighborhood-that-s-how-i-got-really-really/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) [Explore all 75 Opal Tometi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) ## More Continue quotes > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [I'm very proud of some of the stories I've been given thanks to the team at 'Emmerdale,' they've been great over the years so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-fletcher/i-m-very-proud-of-some-of-the-stories-i-ve-been-given-thanks-to-the/) [Kelvin Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-fletcher/) > [Sometimes, when full and in fear that I will continue to eat unwanted food just because it's staring at me, I will place my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-nichols/sometimes-when-full-and-in-fear-that-i-will-continue-to-eat-unwanted/) [Rachel Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-nichols/) > [Trends that can't continue, won't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-stein/trends-that-can-t-continue-won-t/) [Herbert Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-stein/) > [Though my grandmother had picked up modern ideas in America, she still had some conflicting 19th-century Irish notions. She believed that daughters, educated though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-mahoney/though-my-grandmother-had-picked-up-modern-ideas-in-america-she-still/) [Rosemary Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-mahoney/) > [“...continue on the right path. You have potential...Don't give up. Don't let yourself get down and quit studying or fighting for what you want.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabela-pamelli-martins/continue-on-the-right-path-you-have-potential-don-t-give-up-don-t-let/) [Isabela Pamelli Martins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabela-pamelli-martins/) > [Fossil fuels, including oil, are running out and supplies are getting harder to find. If we do nothing, prices will continue to rise and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/fossil-fuels-including-oil-are-running-out-and-supplies-are-getting/) [Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/) > [Push yourself every single day to continue to work at yourself. And I feel like that's the reason why I made it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-scherzer/push-yourself-every-single-day-to-continue-to-work-at-yourself-and-i/) [Max Scherzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-scherzer/) > [Throughout my journey, my mother has been my biggest inspiration and will continue to be in my future endeavours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harnaaz-sandhu/throughout-my-journey-my-mother-has-been-my-biggest-inspiration-and/) [Harnaaz Sandhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harnaaz-sandhu/) > [I've had a long career and I want to continue to have a long career. The way to do that is not to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-ve-had-a-long-career-and-i-want-to-continue-to-have-a-long-career/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [I'll just continue doing what I'm doing until I'm told otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-page/i-ll-just-continue-doing-what-i-m-doing-until-i-m-told-otherwise/) [Rob Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-page/) > [“Continue with whatever it is that you have been doing, except for attachment-abhorrence. If ‘we’ stay in our state of Pure Soul, attachment-abhorrence will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/continue-with-whatever-it-is-that-you-have-been-doing-except-for/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Financial independence could be one of the factors, but most 65 plus artistes in our industry wish to continue working for the passion they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashok-saraf/financial-independence-could-be-one-of-the-factors-but-most-65-plus/) [Ashok Saraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashok-saraf/) > [“This is how they are able to continue and endure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/this-is-how-they-are-able-to-continue-and-endure/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [Because you continue to inhabit and believe your metaphors, you cannot see what is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/because-you-continue-to-inhabit-and-believe-your-metaphors-you-cannot/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) [Browse all 2,414 Continue quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continue/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We can't continue to sit on our hands and sit idly by as people are being brutalized, disenfranchised, and left out of the system.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Opal Tometi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/we-can-t-continue-to-sit-on-our-hands-and-sit-idly-by-as-people-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Continue" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/we-can-t-continue-to-sit-on-our-hands-and-sit-idly-by-as-people-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/opal-tometi-9098_continue_we-can-t-continue-to-sit-on-our-hands-an_216980.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/opal-tometi-9098_continue_we-can-t-continue-to-sit-on-our-hands-an_216980.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/opal-tometi-9098_continue_we-can-t-continue-to-sit-on-our-hands-an_216980.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We can't continue to sit on our hands and sit idly by as people are being brutalized, disenfranchised, and…” — Opal Tometi", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Opal Tometi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We can't continue to sit on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/we-can-t-continue-to-sit-on-our-hands-and-sit-idly-by-as-people-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/we-can-t-continue-to-sit-on-our-hands-and-sit-idly-by-as-people-are/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```