Ororo Munroe crawled to the edge of the bed, the dark green sheets wrapped around her from the waist down. He sat taking off his black work boots, never taking his eyes off the television set. He kicked his boots away from himself. Still giving most of his attention to the glowing box in front of him.

He was watching the news. The reporter was talking about another case of brutality against mutants. He bit his bottom lip and slid off his pants.

Ororo was staying at his house for the night. She had met him when an anti-mutant rally had gotten out of control.

He was co-founder of a group of mutants and non-mutants who were activists for mutant rights. They fought hard for their cause, but sometimes they got downright violent. Which is what happened that night.

Storm, Wolverine, Beast, and Shadowcat stood on the roof of one of the many buildings in New York City. They watched solemnly and silently as the newcomer spoke. He stood on at a podium on a raised platform.

"Mutants, the next step in evolution, a leap forward for mankind? BULL!" The crowd cheered and some threw fists into the air. "Does that mean they're s'posed to be better than us? Those freaks?"` There was more cheering.

The man went on. Never making a point, only putting down the mutants. The crowd ate it up.

The four uniformed X-Men saw a man making his way through the crowd, he stood at the bottom of the platform. He waited patiently as the newcomer ended his "speech".

"I don't think I can take much more of this." Kitty said.

"I don't know why I always come to these things. I guess I always think it'll get better." Beast said. The four of them turned to leave.

"Human or mutant, in most cases we all come into the world 'normal'."

Hank, Ororo, Kitty, and Logan stopped in their tracks.

"As far as I know there is no way for parents to prevent mutation."

They turned around and went back to where they were positioned.

"The mutant powers manifest during puberty." The crowd was silent, listening. The man was dressed in jeans, black boots, and a dark green sweatshirt. "You sir." He pointed to a rough looking man in the crowd. "Why do we hate mutants?"

"Cause their dirty. They spread disease"

"Did people not say that blacks, like myself, were dirty? Some of us i still /i say that gays spread disease, right ? I seem to remember something called Aids.

"How can a minority hate mutants? I see alot of students here tonight. Don't you read in your history books about segregation? Can't you see similarities.

"This group the FOH. What are the differences between them and the KKK? The answer is three letters and white sheets.

"Many of you are parents. What if your beloved child, your pride and joy wakes up tomorrow morning and flies to school? What then? You are going to disown them. Keep it a secret. Or will this kid still be your pride and joy?

"When did we become the ones who said who gets to stay and who doesn't.

"Am I the only one who notices that we get along better when we're tearing someone else down? My name is Ali."

He walked off the stage as calmly as he walked on. The crowd was still quiet, dumbstruck. A college aged student in the back started the clapping. A few more jumped in and then everyone else joined in. The X-Men clapped proudly as the man made his way through the crowd.

So what do you think?