Understanding Gen Z Voters

May 16, 2024

The campus protests that swept the nation in recent weeks are as clear a sign as any that are politically aware, active, and willing to put their bodies on the line for their beliefs. But as we hurtle toward another make-or-break election in November, many are asking whether this political engagement in the streets translate into .

In a new story for 猫咪社区!, young journalist and Rice University freshman Lajward Zahra explored 鈥�Gen Z鈥檚 Political Paradox.鈥� Zahra spoke with 猫咪社区! Senior Editor Sonali Kolhatkar on 猫咪社区! Presents: Rising Up With Sonali about her generation鈥檚 activism and the obstacles they face to voting.

Sonali Kolhatkar joined 猫咪社区! in summer 2021, building on a long and decorated career in broadcast and print journalism. She is an award-winning multimedia journalist, and host and creator of聽猫咪社区! Presents: Rising Up with Sonali, a nationally syndicated television and radio program airing on Free Speech TV and dozens of independent and community radio stations. She is also Senior Correspondent with the Independent Media Institute鈥檚 Economy for All project where she writes a weekly column. She is the author of聽Rising Up: The Power of Narrative in Pursuing Racial Justice聽(2023) and聽Bleeding Afghanistan: Washington, Warlords, and the Propaganda of Silence聽(2005). Her forthcoming book is called聽Talking About Abolition聽(Seven Stories Press, 2025). Sonali is co-director of the nonprofit group, Afghan Women鈥檚 Mission which she helped to co-found in 2000. She has a Master鈥檚 in Astronomy from the University of Hawai鈥檌, and two undergraduate degrees in Physics and Astronomy from the University of Texas at Austin. Sonali reflects on 鈥淢y Journey From Astrophysicist to Radio Host鈥� in her 2014聽聽of the same name.