Are Protests “Dead”?
Are protests relevant today? I think it depends on who you ask. Is a public demonstration enough to fuel social movements? What's even the point of a protest to begin with? Throughout history, marginalized groups have occupied physical space to express a unified voice in opposition of systemic oppression. Revolutions have started at the level of a protest, and resistance has taken on various manifestations as society adapts over time.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a protest as "a declaration of opinion and usually of dissent: such as… a complaint, objection, or display of unwillingness usually to an idea or a course of action." I would argue that most people generally see protests as a venue to express a shared opinion publicly. It's a way to send a message and is often positioned to disrupt "business as usual". Disruptions can be an effective way to garner attention through media attention, amplifying voices that are generally marginalized or straight up ignored (in both public and private sectors). Visibility plays an important role in social change.
Are protests effective for social change?
Former Adbusters staff member Micah White has been vocal about his criticism of protest as an instrument for social change. He came to prominence while speaking publicly about the Occupy Wall Street movement of 2011. It came as a disappointment that the movement did not change the systems of oppression at the root of the issue. In an interview with NPR in 2017 he shared that "…one of the things about being an activist is what you have to do is you have to first create a theory of social change and then also you have to test it out." He suggests that "there's something fundamentally broken about protest". White suggests that protest is ineffective and needs to be adapted or even replaced with other forms of resistance.
I would agree that occupying physical space in the form of protest is not usually sufficient on its own. Overcoming systems of oppression by facilitating sustainable, long-term social change extends beyond a single (or even a series of) event(s). I see protest as an interdependent function of social change rather than an isolated event. I see it as an active “piece” of the puzzle.
Protests can be a unifying space for predominantly marginalized communities to join forces to “take the mic”, so to speak, and to build community. Native Communities joined Black Lives Matters (BLM) protests all over the Twin Cities during the Uprising after George Floyd was murdered. They led the march through downtown Minneapolis in full Regalia, dancing, singing and drumming in solidarity with the Black community.
Cultivating hope and resilience is a key component in mitigating “activist burnout”. It can be incredibly exhausting to continue fighting for a cause when it seems like nobody cares. A sense of community can foster a sense of connection and mutual support when it’s unclear if anyone on the “outside” is listening. During the Sonya Massey protest in July of 2024, a speaker encouraged participants to pause in silence, and to notice the people occupying the physical space around us. She reminded the crowd, “These are your people. This is your community, right here,” emphasizing support in reaching a shared vision of the future.
Hearing first hand from Daunte Wright’s mother the day after her son was killed mattered. It showed her that people care about what happened and that she would not have to stand alone in her suffering. Protests can act as a “classroom” of life. They inform us about what’s happening in our communities. And they can serve as a reminder that we are ultimately all responsible to lift one another up during times of struggle.
The end?
I don't think so. I don’t believe that protests are “dead” or that we should abandon them. As with any meaningful change, it’s usually not a single moment in time that makes the difference. Long-lasting change is often a gradual, unfolding process. The goal and the approach may adjust over time as we continue learning from one another. Protest is communal, collaborative and adaptive. Keep showing up. Protests are very much alive.
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