Social rights expressions in Spanish

Useful Spanish expressions, idioms and phrases about social rights and activism

Spanish vocabulary


hacer huelga		to go on strike
manifestarse		to demonstrate / to hold a protest
echarse a la calle		to take to the streets (to protest)
tomar las calles (LatAm)		to go out to protest
salir a marchar (LatAm)		to go out to protest
luchar por tus derechos		to fight for your rights
reclamar justicia		to demand justice
exigir igualdad		to demand equality
poner el grito en el cielo		to strongly protest
no quedarse de brazos cruzados		not to sit idly by / not to stand by and do nothing
dar la cara		to stand up / to take responsibility / to show up
plantar cara		to confront
alzar la voz		to raise one’s voice / to speak up
hacer oír tu voz		to make your voice heard
romper el silencio		to break the silence
estar en pie de lucha		to be ready to fight
no dar el brazo a torcer		to stand one’s ground / not to give in
unirse a una causa		to join a cause
apoyar la causa		to support the cause
hacer frente a la injusticia		to confront injustice
solidarizarse con alguien		to show solidarity with someone
luchar codo con codo		to fight side by side
la unión hace la fuerza		unity makes strength
tener voz y voto		to have a say / to have rights in decision-making
tomar cartas en el asunto		to take action / to intervene
gritar consignas		to chant/shout slogans
hacer piña (Spain)		to stick together as a group
organizar una sentada		to organize a sit-in
estar del mismo lado		to be on the same side
hacer presión		to put pressure
hacer campaña		to run a campaign