Since America’s beginning people have used protests, which are protected under our First amendment right, to make their voices heard and advocate for change. However, police and other government officials are allowed to place certain narrow restrictions on the exercise of speech rights to make sure nothing gets too out of hand. The most influential protests in American History have included the Boston tea party, The March on Washington, Occupation of Alcatraz, among many others.
I understand wanting to stand up for a cause like freedom of speech, immigration, gender equality, abortion, LGBTQ rights etc. A peaceful protest, or a nonviolent resistance/action, is the act of expressing disapproval through a statement or action without the use of violence. For instance, one of the most successful nonviolent protests is the Women’s March held every year in different cities. And although some may disagree, I do not think all street protests are very influential. Some have no point in being held. Even though they start off as what is known as a peaceful protest, alot of them end up in the police interfering, tear gas, break up of a crowd or horrific deaths. An example would be George Floyd, whose brutal death ignited the start of the protests in the Black Lives Matter Movement. Author Moses Naím wrote in his article “Why street protests don’t work” that protests “turn at high speed and produce a lot of political energy…and so the “movement” doesn’t move.” Whenever politics get involved, the issue hits very close to home. Politics can be very controversial. When many voices get involved, it can get very heated and sometimes, no solution is made. I suggest that if change wants to be made start a donation on social media, or a petition, write a proposition to congress, make a speech.
There are so many other ways that do not end in violence. To be real, there’s not a single pathway to a successful movement. Although I say the more organized one is, the better able one is able to frame your movement and the grievances, the better one is able to control what is going on in the streets and how that plays out is what makes for a more successful movement. So my question is to the readers: What do you think is the definition of an effective protest?