Does Protesting Really Work?

Does protesting really work? YES! Protesting is undoubtedly effective, but don’t just take my word for it, let’s look back at history for some examples.

The first, and probably the most well-known historical revolution example, is the American Revolution. For those who don’t know, the American Revolution was a series of protests against the tyrannical, controlling king of Britain. The protests led to the American colonies declaring independence from Britain, and, ultimately, the Revolutionary War. Take, for example, the Boston Tea Party, one of the colonists’ pre-Revolution protests.

The Boston Tea Party was a protest against a tea tax imposed by the British government, in which protesters dumped loads of British tea into the Boston Harbor (no, I am not encouraging modern-day destruction of property). In response to the protests, Britain passed yet another slew of restrictive laws, which at first glance may seem like a failure for the protesters, but if we take a closer look we realize that the results of the Boston Tea Party were undeniably successful. The protest itself and resulting Intolerable Acts only further unified the colonists, prompting the creation of the first Continental Congress, and overall, increased support for the Revolution. 

Now, let’s take the Boston Tea Party and compare it to the current anti-Trump protests: The British King’s response to the Boston Tea Party was increased governmental control and oppression (the Intolerable Acts). Trump’s response to the mass protests is increased governmental control and oppression (deploying the National Guard at protests, federal funding cuts to universities allowing protests, etc.). The Boston Tea Party, although it didn’t directly result in success, led to increased colonial unity and the creation of the first Continental Congress. The anti-Trump protests, which have not directly resulted in any successes (yet!), have significantly increased awareness about the corruption within the administration, led to the creation of change-making groups, such as the 50501 Movement, and, most importantly, have proven that the American people will not bend to the will of a fascist leader.

For further reference, here are a few numerical perspectives: The Women’s Rights Movement took around 70 years (and we’re arguably still in it today), the Civil Rights Movement took 14 years, the American Revolution took 8 years, and the Haitian Revolution took 13 years. All of these revolutions are evidence that progress, unfortunately, doesn’t always happen overnight, but also that protests and consistency are the keys to championing a social movement.

It is illogical to dismiss the effectiveness of a protest in the early stages of a revolution. While I wish the anti-Trump protests would be short-lived, the reality is we shouldn’t expect them to…but that is only more reason to continue to SHOW UP! 

We only lose when we quit. We only fail when we fail to speak out. Show up, be loud, be peaceful, and never forget the POWER OF A PROTEST!

As always, don’t wait for change, be the changemaker!

-Lyn Jones

P.S. Click here to learn your rights as a protester! Stay safe!