It’s tempting to think the loss of rights for one group won’t affect the rest of us. “That’s their problem,” we might say. But history repeatedly shows us otherwise: when one group’s rights are eroded, it creates a blueprint, a rationale that makes it easier to justify restricting rights for everyone else.

Imagine it like a row of dominoes—tipping the first one seems minor, insignificant even. But once that first domino falls, the momentum can quickly topple many more. Each loss of rights normalizes the idea that rights are negotiable rather than guaranteed.

Take privacy rights as an example. When one community’s privacy is compromised under the justification of security, it sets a precedent. Soon, the same reasoning expands to other groups, becoming increasingly easy to justify.

This isn’t just theoretical. Historically, marginalized groups are often the first to lose rights, but rarely the last. What begins as targeted policies can quickly spiral into broader restrictions affecting society at large.

We must recognize and protect each other’s rights proactively. Defending the rights of others isn’t just ethical—it’s self-preservation. Because rights, once lost, are hard-won back. And the freedoms we protect for others today may very well be the freedoms we rely on tomorrow.