Protests Propel Policy

Over the last century, social, civil, human, and climate issues have become so dangerously prominent they have transformed into national movements. The 1920’s Women’s Suffrage, Civil Rights Movement from the 1950s to 1960s, Roe v. Wade in 1973, to now the national Climate Crisis Movement and Women’s Marches since 2017, all of these movements have one thing in common…protests. Protests can be inherently seen as unnecessary or problematic, but from what history has shown us, protests are the ultimate force for strong national change. The magnitude of certain protests has highly influenced legislation, policies, and government officials. 

‍

The Purpose Of A Protest

What is a protest and what is its purpose? Protests are the effects of a monumental loss, or drastic tragedy that has occurred within society—an objection or disapproval to a statement or action. Within the 1950s and 1960s, segregation, racism, the mistreatment of African Americans, and police brutality were the catalysts for the historical Civil Rights Movement. The purpose reigned to give a voice to those discriminated against, expressed through both peaceful and eventual violent protests. 

The overall purpose of a protest is to give a voice to either the person, place, or objective that’s oppressed. By pushing for what is believed to be right, many can prosper. Many believe their voice or vote doesn’t count because they are just one person, but if each of those ‘one persons’ come together, their numbers increase to monumental potential. Protests have a way of making each person feel like they are not alone, no matter where they come from, or what their background or story is, they each share a common denominator… to fight and to help. 

‍

Protests Matter

The effectiveness of these protests can be high depending on the scale and severity of the issue. Local, statewide, or even citywide protests tend to be more practical and end up having higher rates of success due to citizen action. National-level protests gain traction quickly due to social media. In previous years, society got their news from newspapers and news channels on the television, now social media platforms have become a primary source of news gathering. So whether publicizing a protest for more attendees, giving the protest more exposure for support, or even visually showing the damages certain actions have had on society, social media plays a huge part in the growth of a movement. 

But, the main questions are, are these protests effective? And have policies actually been enacted due to the protests? Well, I’m here to tell you, yes! Depending on the publicity and severity of the conflicting issue, government awareness becomes strong, and in turn, policies become enacted. The speed at which they are enacted depends on the subject at hand–if it’s a delicate one such as issues related to abortion, especially since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, such policies would take longer to be voted through. But, policies following the death of George Floyd, were enacted within months of the tragedy.  

‍

Significant Examples 

Through the many accounts of policy changes over the past century, many were influenced by heightened protests and aggressive objections. Let’s take a look at some historically significant examples. The events of George Floyd’s murder were horrific and heartbreaking but is what ultimately catapulted the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement back into effect. Over the span of a couple of months, these protests, riots, and heavy confrontations were met with police force and governmental hesitation, but in the end, shined a blinding light on police brutality. 

In July of 2020, just two months after Floyd’s death, President Biden and Congress enacted the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020, addressing a wide range of issues regarding law enforcement accountability. And, in the state of California, Governor Newsom made a public statement enforcing the need for a statewide standard of policing peaceful protests and an end to the carotid hold by law officers. 

These two instances are huge strides in the right direction of reformation but also highlight that a major tragedy has to happen in order for change to occur. Another national example is the now annual Women’s March started in 2017. Caused of former President Trump signing into office, many voices carried across the states in forms of objection. Around 3 million people united on January 21, 2017, to send a bold message to the White House that women were not backing down. From there on, marches erupted across the nation regarding women's rights, abortion rights, young empowerment, Indigenous people's rights, gun reform, and so much more. The impact that the first march had on the US was catastrophic. In fact, in the 2018 Midterm Elections, out of the 535 members, 116 of the elected were non-white—an 84% increase. Also, the number of women voted in was the biggest jump since the 1990s. 

Besides holding weight on a sociological level, protests can also be fiscally beneficial. A study produced by a collaborative team at Global Economy and Development at Brookings believes that citizen-led protests can lead to meaningful economic redistribution. They studied evidence from regions in Nigeria with high protest rates dating from 1988 to 2016. They found that many intergovernmental organizations funded regions that were politically aligned with their agenda. This proved that protests have an effect on transferral revenue. This study also found that the regions that do not align politically with the governmental authorities have an increased rate of police violence and interference at protests. Those non-aligned states receive less enforced interference. 

‍

More Support Needed

Many believe that protests are unnecessary, cause violent confrontations, and are worthless in effect. This societal stigma causes hesitation and halts communication and progress. If one already perceives protests in a negative light or is told to do so, when and if they come in contact with one, their preconceived notions, tell them to shut down. To shut down their logic and react to emotion, ultimately causing tension and potential violence. Because of some groups using extreme tactics for their cause, many governments have become proactive in creating anti-protest laws.    

The point of a protest is not to inflict fear but to have their voices heard and listened to, triggering an intellectual response from the watcher. And in turn, they are intended to raise questions such as: Why are they speaking these words? Why do they feel this way? What is the ultimate cause of this reaction? What can we do to help? 

Get involved or support those already involved. There are hundreds of nonprofits, organizations, national groups, online petitions, in-person events and so much more to submerge yourself in. In order to find the correct avenue and cause that resonates with you, research is key. Ask questions to those who have already attended events or that have been involved with a set cause for a solid duration of time, push yourself to try something new, call the organizations and become familiar with their work, or even just pick a day and show up to an event. Any of these ways can help get everyone involved, one person at a time. 

Protests and movements throughout the decades have been the cause of monumental change in the nation. Without the silent voices becoming louder and speaking out, so many issues will still be at large today. Being able to conclude your own opinion through experience and education is one of the many freedoms citizens have, and using that token can provide freedom to more avenues of conflict. 

‍

Key Takeaways

• Protests are created to bring a loud voice to those that believe they have to stay quiet—yes some may gravitate into violent encounters, but the main goal is to have people listen to the why.  

• Advocacy can be found in many areas, whether local, national or international, and getting involved is simpler than you may think. 

• If you want to get involved in a protest, rally or march, research where local ones are being held, bring your friends, post on social media and share your thoughts to the world. If a public event isn’t your thing, try something more discrete, like petitions or contacting your local or national congressman. 

• Change takes time. It may not happen within weeks or even months following a protest or event, but consistency is key. Keep pushing and fighting!