[A Sentinel Situation] – The Times Are Changing
Center of City Hall Park in Lower Manhattan,
"We want justice!"
"Justice for the mutants!"
"Arrest the murderers!"
"The govt. are murderers!"
"We want Truth!"
"Stop lying to us!"
In front of the New York City Hall, the area was filled with hundreds of protesters holding up banners, signs, and shouting slogans.
Among the crowd, Hannah covered her face with a mask and she held the megaphone and shouted, "No more secrecy! No more injustice! We won't stand idly by and forget the atrocities committed by Project WideAwake against mutants! We demand answers! We want arrests!"
The crowd around heard her and shouted angrily.
"Yeah! Arrest them!"
"Make them rot!"
"They are murderers!"
They continued protesting as they shouted slogans until a few minutes later, the doors to the city hall opened and a man wearing a fancy suit walked out.
He was surrounded by several police officers and a few security officials.
The crowd quieted down and waited for the man to speak,
The man adjusted his tie and with a confident smirk on his face he began loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Senator Harrison. I understand your concerns but Let me tell you that Project WideAwake was a necessary national security initiative."
"What?"
"What the fuck did he say?"
The crowd erupted in anger and they began booing him and shouting curses at him.
Hannah spoke through the megaphone angrily, "Necessary? Was it necessary to torture innocent people, Senator? Was it necessary to kill innocent children? To strip away their basic rights and dignity?"
Seeing the crowd being worked up, Senator Harrison fired back defensively, "Those claims are baseless! Project WideAwake was designed to protect our nation from threats, both foreign and domestic. The sacrifices made are regrettable, but necessary."
Hannah shouted back angrily, "Regrettable? Necessary? How can you defend the violation of human rights in the name of security? How can you defend murdering innocent children and call it necessary?"
Senator Harrison shouted, "You don't understand the complexities of national security! The sacrifices made keep us safe! Their deaths kept us alive!"
The crowd shouted angrily and hurled curses at him when suddenly...
* SPLAT *
From somewhere within the crowd, an egg was hurled at Harrison.
It's contents splattered all across his face and someone shouted, "Murderer!"
Harrison was left momentarily stunned and the crowd gasped in surprise.
A few seconds later, chaos ensues as the crowd erupted, "Murderer! Murderer! Murderer!"
Rocks, bottles, and even paint rain down on him and the police officers around him.
They quickly circle around to protect him.
Some of them form a line between them and Senator Harrison and they tried to push the protesters back.
The protesters hurled curses at the police officers and clashed with them as they continued to throw objects at the Senator.
. . .
In a news studio, reporters, anchors, and crew were frantically running around to cover the breaking news of the protests.
One such anchor, Jessica, sat on a desk as the videos of protests played around her.
She adjusted her earpiece as the crew around her indicated that she was going live in 3...2...1...
She began in a grave tone, "If you think what you saw in front of the NYC city hall was everything, then you're very wrong. Similar protests have begun occurring all over the world, with everybody demanding justice for the inhumane crimes committed against mutants under Project WideAwake. From London to Tokyo, Johannesburg to Sydney, citizens are uniting in their outrage. They are protesting against the U.S. government's involvement in Project WideAwake and demanding accountability for the reported human rights violations. President Nixon has already declared that he would resign earlier today and a few other White House officials are resigning along with him. But, people on the other hand aren't happy with a simple resignation. They want answers, they want accountability, and they... want justice."
. . .
A few days later,
The city that was once filled with normal people and peaceful protesting now resembled a scene of chaos and unrest.
The buildings were spray-painted, their windows shattered and debris littered on the ground.
The air on the streets was filled with smoke and appeared grey.
Police sirens wailed in the distance and a few people wearing masks emerged out of the store with stolen goods and ran in an alleyway.
On a different street, tires were lit as well as a few cars and a group of people threw rocks at the police in front of them.
The police, wearing riot gear, formed a defensive line and launched tear gas at the crowd.
The crowd dispersed and ran away from it but they continued to throw more rocks and small firecrackers at the police.
These riots began happening in every major city all around the world.
Stores, offices, and schools were shut down.
People barricaded their homes.
It was as if the end of the world had come and people thought that this was it until...
A person emerged who took control of the situation easily.
This person was none other than... Magneto!
. . .
In a city park,
Around thousands of people, Magneto stood on a tall makeshift platform.
He glanced around the crowd and realized that they had weapons in their hands.
He smirked and raised his hand, lifting every weapon away from their hand into the air.
The crowd gasped and looked at him.
Magneto kept the smirk on his face and thought, 'The first step in making people listen to you and acknowledge your presence is to make them show how powerful you truly are.' When they realize the difference between them and you, they would surely listen to you.'
He balled his fist and the weapons in the air were crushed together until they formed several small balls which he dispersed in the air.
The crowd looked at him with slight fear and awe of his power and he shouted, "Enough! This violence only serves to distract us from the true fight. We are not enemies of humanity; we are fighting for justice, for the rights of mutants. Violence won't give us those rights. It would only make us seem like criminals."
The crowd listened to him intently as he continued, "We must channel our anger and frustration into constructive action. Together, we have the power to create change, to dismantle the systems of oppression that seek to divide us. "
The crowd murmured and whispered among each other.
Magneto raised his voice and declared, "I offer you a path forward, a united front against the injustices that plague our society. Let us join forces, mutants and humans alike, in this fight for a better world."
The crowd looked at him with hope and they shouted and cheered happily.
Magneto smiled at their reaction and continued, "Together, we can rewrite the narrative of injustice. Join me, and let us fight for a future that embraces the rights and dignity of all beings."
From then, the riots stopped and Magneto became the de-facto leader.
He organized several protests.
He went on several hunger strikes.
People began viewing him as their Messiah.
His influence spread across the globe and grew so much that even world leaders had to acknowledge him.
The new President of the United States, Gerald Ford, called him in for a meeting that was widely publicized by the U.S. government, in hopes of restoring their image in the eyes of mutants.
After Magneto met President Ford, a new bill was sent to Congress which was unanimously passed.
This was none other than a new act made especially, for the mutants.
When this act was passed, several people came out on the streets and celebrated.
They hailed Magneto as a hero, a beacon of hope.
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THE MUTANT EQUALITY AND FREEDOM ACT
Preamble:Recognizing the inherent dignity, equality, and rights of mutants, and the need to ensure their full and equal participation in society, this act seeks to provide comprehensive legal protections, promote the freedom and well-being of mutants, and foster a society that embraces diversity, equality, and respect for all individuals.
Section 1: Recognition of Mutant Rights
1.1. Equality and Non-Discrimination1.1.1. All individuals, regardless of their mutant or non-mutant status, shall be equal before the law, possessing the same inherent rights and freedoms, without any distinction, discrimination, or prejudice based on their mutant abilities, genetic mutation, or any associated characteristics.1.1.2. Discrimination against mutants in any form, including but not limited to employment, education, housing, healthcare, and public services, shall be prohibited and punishable by law. Measures shall be implemented to eliminate systemic barriers and ensure equal opportunities for all individuals.
1.2. Right to Privacy and Genetic Autonomy1.2.1. Mutants shall have the right to privacy regarding their mutant abilities, genetic information, and personal data, ensuring protection against unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. Efforts shall be made to prevent genetic profiling, stigmatization, and discrimination based on genetic makeup.1.2.2. No individual shall be compelled to disclose their mutant abilities or genetic information, except where necessary for legitimate public safety reasons as defined by law. Genetic testing shall be conducted with informed consent and in adherence to ethical standards.
Section 2: Mutant Marital and Family Rights
2.1. Marriage Equality and Recognition2.1.1. Mutants shall have the same rights and freedoms as non-mutants to enter into a legally recognized marriage, which shall be defined as the voluntary union between two consenting adults, regardless of their mutant or non-mutant status, gender, or sexual orientation.2.1.2. All marriages, whether between mutants or between mutants and non-mutants, shall be recognized and afforded the same legal protections, benefits, and responsibilities as provided by law.
2.2. Recognition of Diverse Relationship Structures2.2.1. Mutants shall have the freedom to form consensual unions and relationships in diverse structures, recognizing that different cultural practices and personal choices may result in non-traditional relationship arrangements. These structures may include polyamorous relationships or other forms of multi-partner unions.2.2.2. The legal recognition and protection of diverse relationships shall be subject to local laws and regulations, ensuring that the rights, well-being, and consent of all individuals involved are safeguarded.
2.3. Parental Rights and Family Protections2.3.1. Mutants shall have equal rights to adopt children or have their biological children, based on their suitability as parents and the best interests of the child. All legal parents, regardless of the number of individuals involved in the parental relationship, shall have equal rights, responsibilities, and benefits.2.3.2. Adequate support systems, including social services, parental leave, and child welfare programs, shall be provided to assist mutant parents and ensure the well-being of their children, without discrimination or prejudice.
Section 3: Education, Awareness, and Support
3.1. Education and Awareness Programs3.1.1. Government agencies, educational institutions, and civil society organizations shall collaborate to develop comprehensive education and awareness programs to promote understanding, acceptance, and respect for mutants.3.1.2. These programs shall aim to eliminate stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination against mutants, and foster inclusive environments that celebrate diversity, encourage empathy, and promote equal opportunities for all individuals.
3.2. Supportive Services and Resources3.2.1. Mutants shall have access to specialized support services, including healthcare, counseling, employment assistance, and community resources, to address their specific needs and challenges.3.2.2. Adequate funding and infrastructure shall be provided to ensure the availability and effectiveness of these support services, with a focus on promoting physical and mental well-being, and enabling mutants to achieve their full potential.
Section 4: Enforcement and Implementation
4.1. Legal Protection and Enforcement4.1.1. Government agencies and relevant institutions shall enforce and ensure the proper implementation of this act, taking necessary measures to prevent, investigate, and address any violations of mutant rights.4.1.2. Mutants who experience discrimination, harassment, or infringement upon their rights shall have access to legal remedies, including the right to seek redress, obtain appropriate compensation, and hold accountable those responsible for the violations.
4.2. Public Engagement and Collaboration4.2.1. Mutant advocacy groups, civil society organizations, and government entities shall collaborate to promote and protect the rights and freedoms of mutants through regular dialogue, consultation, and joint initiatives.4.2.2. Transparent mechanisms shall be established to encourage public participation, enabling mutants and other stakeholders to contribute to policy development, decision-making processes, and the ongoing evaluation and improvement of this act.
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Just like everybody else, Madame Hydra was happy too.
But, she was happy for a different reason.
On a screen in front of her, her eyes were fixated on Mark 001 flying through the sky.
A devious smirk appeared on her face as she thought, 'What a golden opportunity!'
'While the world is busy celebrating, wouldn't it be an amusing twist if they were to experience sorrow as well?', she thought evilly as images of people dying and crying popped into her head.
She couldn't control her excitement and began laughing madly, "Hehehehahahahaha!"
The HYDRA soldiers and scientists around her squirmed in fear and thought, 'She's gone crazy again! Please don't take out your excitement on us!'