What is a petitioner? From historic trailblazers to modern changemakers
Dec 28, 2024
Photo by ashtonmartin on Flickr
Livia Fry started a Change.org petition to end nonconsensual pelvic and rectal exams by medical students in Connecticut. As Fry notes, when the petition launched in 2021, it wasn’t illegal for medical students to “practice pelvic and prostate examinations on anesthetized patients without their direct and informed consent” due to the wording of medical consent forms.
Over 110,000 supporters signed the petition, many who shared it with people in their networks, and with local and state legislators. The petition and the public support it created resulted in victory. Connecticut signed a bill into law requiring a separate form for the express consent of any “intimate examination” performed by a student for training purposes on a patient, whether conscious or sedated.
According to Merriam-Webster, Cambridge Dictionary, and Collins Dictionary, a petitioner can include anyone who organizes, presents, makes, submits, or signs a petition. In the previous petition example, the author Livia Fry, and the people who signed it, shared it, and presented it to each level of government are all petitioners.
So a petitioner isn’t just one person or role, but a collaboration of people supporting a common cause and joining a movement. Likewise, there are different types of petitions that serve unique purposes and functions. Learn more about what a petitioner is, and examples of important historic and recent petitioners in this guide.
What is a petitioner?
A petitioner is anyone involved in creating or facilitating a petition. A natural follow up question would be, what exactly is a petition? It’s important to know that first to understand how the people responsible for it are connected.
A petition is a formal, written request to an elected official, person in authority, or decision maker. Supporters of the request or cause sign the petition, and then it’s presented to the individuals or group it’s addressing — known as the respondent. The goal is for the respondent(s) to acknowledge the petition and, ideally, grant the request or take the proposed action.
There are different types of petitions, so petitioners have distinct goals and audiences based on what it’s for. Common petitioner scenarios include:
Legal disputes or issues
Legal petitions are formal written requests submitted to a court or legal authority, seeking a specific action or decision. A petition outlines the issue or grievance and asks the court to intervene, make a ruling, or grant relief. Examples include petitions for divorce, custody, restraining orders, challenging laws or government actions, and contesting criminal convictions.
Political proposals
Political petitions are formal requests signed by citizens to support policy or political goals, such as nominating a candidate or placing a proposed law or amendment on a ballot for voters.
Social change
Petitions to raise awareness and demand change for various social justice and community causes are one of the major ways to participate in democracy. Social petitions can target issues from healthcare to immigration, reproductive rights, and the economy, to name a few. Many Change.org petitions fall into this category.
Work-related concerns
Work-related petitions are formal requests or statements signed by employees to address workplace issues or advocate for changes in policies, conditions, or practices. Examples include petitions for better wages, improved safety standards, flexible work schedules, or addressing workplace discrimination. Work petitions are often presented to management, HR departments, or unions.
School-related concerns
School petitions are formal requests initiated by students, faculty, or staff to advocate for changes or address concerns within an educational institution. Different types of school petitions can include those to revise policies, improve campus safety, implement new programs or curriculum, or address concerns like bullying.
Historic petitioner examples
Petitioning is one of the oldest forms of civic engagement. These are just a few of the prominent petitioners in history whose efforts achieved significant milestones and profound societal change.
The Petitioners
In the late 17th century, the “Petitioners” were English politicians and citizens who supported the Exclusion Bill. The bill aimed to prevent James, Duke of York, from succeeding his brother, King Charles II, to the throne. They sent numerous petitions urging Charles II to summon Parliament to address this issue.
The Petitioners led to the development of the Whigs, and those who opposed the bill, known as the “Abhorrers,” became the Tories. The conflict from this bill led to these first English political parties.
Frederick Douglass
Petitions played an important role in the abolitionist movement in the 1800s. One of the leaders of the movement, Frederick Douglass, signed, supported, and promoted many petitions to Congress to abolish slavery.
In a meeting in 1841 in Massachusetts, Douglass shared that petitions to Congress were how he first learned of the abolitionist movement. He also emphasized that petitions provided encouragement to slaves, demonstrating their ability to raise awareness and create hope.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
During the Civil Rights movement, Martin Luther King, Jr. and other activists organized petitions to Congress, urging them to pass laws banning segregation and protecting voting rights. Some examples include:
- A petition to desegregate parks in Montgomery, Alabama
- A petition to integrate schools following the 1959 Youth March for Integrated Schools in Washington, D.C.
- A petition to Governor Wallace to secure equal voting rights legislation
Impactful Change.org petitioners
The petition tradition is stronger than ever today, with millions of advocates using online petitions to make change every year. The following are some standout petitioners who created movements on Change.org that produced major, meaningful results.
Kellen S.
In 2020, a petitioner who was just 15 years old started a petition demanding justice for George Floyd following his murder by a police officer. The petition earned almost 20 million signatures and was supported by social media promotion, supporter-created videos, and coverage in major news outlets and publications. The petition helped raise awareness for the movement and contributed to the arrest of the officers responsible for his death.
Cyntoia Brown supporters
Supporters of Cyntoia Brown started a petition in 2017 requesting clemency for the sex trafficking victim who was sentenced to prison for killing her abuser she was sold to. Over 350,000 people signed the petition, adding to the public pressure that ultimately led to her release from prison in 2019.
Bettina Siegel
Bettina Siegel started a petition in 2012 demanding that the United States Department of Agriculture stop using unhealthy and potentially dangerous “pink slime” ground beef filler in school lunches. Only nine days after she started the petition which earned over 250,000 signatures, the USDA announced they would start offering schools a filler-free meat option.
Anyone can be a petitioner to fight for change
Just like the pivotal petitioners of the past and the passionate advocates of the present, you can turn your concerns and challenges into action to make progress. Become a petitioner to fight for injustices or important social causes that are affecting you, your local community, the environment, or even people on a national or global scale.