Essay on Protest

What exactly is protest? As a noun, it is defined as ‘an expression or declaration of objection, disapproval, or dissent, often in opposition to something a person is powerless to prevent or avoid’. When used as a verb it can be ‘an earnest declaration or to make a remonstrance to or object to’. Protest against unfair treatment has long been the history of people wanting to get fair treatment in the midst of those in authority. I can think of one very large protest against authority which is celebrated today, the wryly labeled ‘Boston Tea Party’. This party of a protest was perpetrated by a group of men poorly disguised as the hated minority of the time, probably to take the heat off themselves, in order to protest the ruling authorities levy of taxes on imports. Plenty of people living at this time, were very disparaging of the protesters actions. But, 300 years later, history writers have sanitized this large protest, which was rowdy and took hours to complete, into a party of men righteously standing up to the abusive authority, for the good of all.

Does that sound familiar? It might, almost 60 years ago, the hated minority of the time were speaking up, taking a stand, halting work, public transportation, school, and homes in their bid to get a fair chance at living their best lives without being indiscriminately murdered. The ruling authority was both vociferously and quietly opposed at every turn. Spending public resources to impede, belittle, and harm those protesting the status quo. Polls taken during this time showed the majority of Americans felt the protests were unhelpful, disruptive, and unnecessary. People died, businesses and communities were decimated, and only after the famous face was murdered did anyone in authority push efforts to rectify the disparity prevalent in America. You know how we view this protest today? The ruling authority has co-opted this protest into a ‘we all worked together for what was right, those leading these protests were beloved and peaceable, and any protest not like this one, is terrible and detrimental to the greater good’.

Maybe none of those examples hits home for you. Let me talk about the resounding protest being waged against the ruling authority today. Now, many of the same minority populations of our past, continue to be harassed and denied and murdered indiscriminately. Like all civilizations, America has grown through the labor of all who come here. Both those brought here by force and those who come here by choice. This country has a long history of poor practices where those outside the established rule are concerned. Today, the marginalized populations are many and the ruling authority feels more threatened than ever before. Protests are never embraced by those it may negatively impact, no matter how just the goal. Today, people who may be negatively impacted spend an enormous amount of time loudly disclaiming wrongdoing and cleverly changing the narrative of protesters in order to silence and belittle them. We spend all our time defending ourselves, taking sides on issues that have nothing to do with the protest and telling those minority populations how they should tell their stories or that their stories or false. My story has nothing to do with the settlers who arrived on the Mayflower and I don’t look to tell that story, nor can I deny that story exists, in good conscience.

Protesting is akin to collective constructive criticism. They are meant to convey that something could be done better. Protests come when we cease to listen to the negatively impacted, when we dismiss their concerns because it doesn’t align with our experience, when we don’t give the courtesy we give ourselves. When in protest, you are saying I insist on being heard and seen. I have come to you dressed in my best for the appointment, with my meticulously researched and constructed ideas, so that we can brainstorm and implement solutions. You have said NO! Over and over again, you yell NO! I must be heard, I am fighting for my life, the lives of my loved ones, therefore I will make it extremely difficult to ignore me and thereby you can no longer ignore the problem. No one likes to admit to being wrong. It is hard to stand up to those who hold your livelihood in a stranglehold of oppression. Oppression is only the prolonged, unjust treatment or control of another. To be unjust is to not be right. This doesn’t have to be limited to one part of history. Oppression is systematic and pervasive and anytime you hold sway over someone, you have the ability to oppress them. The reach of the protester is vastly larger today than in the past. It is harder to hide and conversely easier to be mislead and ignorant of opposing views which may have merit, but are different from yours. Protests speak out because they want you to know that not everything is great for everyone, they are screaming out, “I have validity!” Difference of opinion does not equal hate. Changing the narrative of protest to hate is an easy way to oppress. A majority will only see the hate narrative, never know the protest narrative and then are unwittingly oppressive.

We need to spend more time finding and listening to the protestors narrative in order to make informed decisions on whether or not we agree, can change ourselves, or help change others. Those heard and seen by many are uniquely able to disseminate stories in a bid to bring productive change. Their actions and words are far-reaching and impactful. Let their impact be presented not changed.  Dismissing the voice crying out in defense of the marginalized will not bring you peace.

I wish you peace.