Occupylsx https://occupylsx.org Protests, rallies, demonstrations, pickets - ways to have your say Mon, 08 May 2023 12:03:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9.3 https://occupylsx.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-logo-32x32.jpg Occupylsx https://occupylsx.org 32 32 Why would people go to protests? https://occupylsx.org/why-would-people-go-to-protests/ https://occupylsx.org/why-would-people-go-to-protests/#respond Mon, 08 May 2023 12:03:29 +0000 https://occupylsx.org/?p=215 Not everyone knows what a protest is-a form of disagreement with something. People protest to change the situation. Such movements are considered an international voice that rejects social or economic inequality. Protests […]

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Not everyone knows what a protest is-a form of disagreement with something. People protest to change the situation. Such movements are considered an international voice that rejects social or economic inequality. Protests are organized to change the structure of the economy or the attitude of the authorities to the people. The reasons may be different, the main one being the desire for dialogue, to solve various societal problems. By protesting, people are trying to get justice, to avoid discrimination.

Their disagreement with those or other actions, their disapproval they express with the help of such movements. Reactions to social situations can be both negative and positive, but the first option is certainly more common. For people it is a good way to protect their interests, to convey the opinion of society to the authorities. It is necessary to go to rallies to demonstrate your non-indifference.

History of protests
The history of protests dates back to ancient times with people who longed for freedom. The first such movements were organized against the Vietnam War and took place in 1965. Their main goal was peace. Particularly zealous Protestants were even killed.

The Paris Revolution of 1830, which overthrew the Bourbon monarchy and set the stage for other uprisings, could also be considered a protest. So can the general strike of the Chartists that happened in 1842, along with the strike of the English miners in 1984-1985.

Protest is a form of disagreement with circumstances, accessible to people of all ages, including schoolchildren. This fact is confirmed by the 1976 Soweto School strike. Students were protesting against the introduction of instruction in Afrikaans. As a result, this action led to the launch of a major movement, led by Nelson Mandela.

Nor should we forget the protest organized by Emily Wilding Davidson at the derby on June 4, 1913. She fought for women’s rights, and as a result died under the hooves of a royal horse.

The Kronstadt Uprising of 1921 included strikes and rallies of workers. Many anarchists died or were repressed at the time.

In February 2003 there were worldwide anti-war protests.

Reasons for the protests
People start rioting when they think the restrictions imposed are unreasonable.

The reasons for the protests vary and include:

-Social inequality;
-Lack of political stability;
-discrimination.

The most frequent protests are of a political nature, in the course of which they appeal to public authorities. Their goal is to change the situation and even a complete change of regime, a struggle for an idea.

Protests that are directed against social inequalities, affect existing social problems, are often of an economic nature, can turn into a political form.

There are also cultural protests, they concern various events in cultural life. For example, not so long ago people protested against the demonstration of the film “The Da Vinci Code”.

Protest mechanisms
Not only the forms, but also the mechanisms of protests are different. They can be peaceful or violent. The former are considered to be more effective, provided that at least 3.5% of the population takes part in them.

Popular forms of expressing one’s will, meaning disagreement with the situation, include meetings, strikes, demonstrations, pickets. There are also campaigns of civil disobedience. Quite often there are strikes, sometimes including hunger strikes.

It is necessary for organizers of social protest actions to understand clearly what tasks are to be solved at their expense and what support from society can be given to them. The ultimate success depends on it.

Protest can be a vote, a flash mob, a boycott.

People write petitions, go on strike, sabotage, and block the roads.

The effectiveness of such events varies greatly depending on the number of participants, the form of the protest, and the place where it is held.

Current examples of protests
Modern examples of protests concern untimely payment of wages, pensions, social benefits, various political reforms.

In addition, there were protests against the increase in the retirement age, but they did not yield anything.

After the start of the USO, information about anti-war protests began to appear, in some cities, people set fire to military and administrative buildings.

For citizens, protests are an opportunity to publicly express their will to change the current situation. People unite to loudly say “no” to certain actions, to attract the attention of the authorities.

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What is an internal protest? https://occupylsx.org/what-is-an-internal-protest/ https://occupylsx.org/what-is-an-internal-protest/#respond Mon, 08 May 2023 09:52:03 +0000 https://occupylsx.org/?p=211 Internal protest is disagreement with something, non-acceptance of a particular situation, person, or even oneself. Such a condition occurs when some expectations are not met. A high school graduate may dream of […]

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Internal protest is disagreement with something, non-acceptance of a particular situation, person, or even oneself. Such a condition occurs when some expectations are not met. A high school graduate may dream of becoming a doctor and performing complicated surgeries, but in reality he fails his university exams and gets a job as a salesman or a loader for miserable pay. After a few years of such a life, the person develops an inner protest. He feels that he could achieve more.

An inner protest may also arise when another bet at the casino https://onlinecasinozonder.com/ fails. His friends convince him to stop playing, but he protests because he wants to continue and does not want to be the loser.

Protest behavior involves actions that involve denial of the reality around him. People in this way fight against the infringement of their own rights, demonstrate a vivid desire to achieve a set goal, the fulfillment of a desire.

Considering the topic of what an internal protest is, we can say that it is a kind of stubbornness, overcoming fear and insecurity. The unwillingness to be submissive, the rejection of habitual forms of behavior.

What is internal protest and why is it important for personal growth?

A wave of disagreement rises within a person, some consider it a kind of personal crisis. Such actions and emotions can be directed both at other people and at oneself.

Internal protest is important for personal growth, it helps to overcome insecurity. Often it forces self-improvement, acquiring new knowledge. This applies to situations where a person protests against low wages or a harmful boss and begins to learn to change jobs.

One of the most striking manifestations of protests is at the age of three. But this behavior is typical not only for children, but also for adults.

A person begins to protest if he or she is subjected to total control. Most often in such a situation are teenagers who are too much controlled by their parents.

Adults may protest internally if their bosses want to transfer the responsibilities of another employee who is sick or on vacation to them. And this disagreement is not always voiced to management. Often the employee takes on additional responsibilities, protesting internally, fearing to spoil relations with the boss. As a result, irritation accumulates, anxiety levels rise, and the emotional state deteriorates.

Many people suffer from their own desire for total control. Spend their energy and time trying to influence other people, the world around them and everything that happens in it. It is impossible to control everything, but not everyone realizes this. In some cases, you just have to accept the situation, such as when a flight is delayed due to adverse weather conditions.

How to find your voice and be heard yourself: practical tips and techniques

It is important to hear your inner voice, there are some practical tips and techniques that can help with this.

Identify your values and beliefs

To hear yourself, your desires, you need to define your individual values and beliefs, they are different for different people. Sometimes these same values imposed by society. It is necessary to sort yourself out, to set the right priorities in life.

Learn to express their needs and desires.

Many people suppress their own needs and desires – it does not lead to anything good. If you do this constantly, it is inevitable that you will feel dissatisfied with yourself and your own life. It is important to love yourself and not compromise your own interests for the sake of others.

Work on your self-esteem and confidence

A large number of people need to work on their self-esteem and confidence. Low self-esteem causes a lot of problems in life, prevents building relationships and moving up the career ladder. There are examples when people work on low-paying jobs because they are not confident in themselves, although in fact they could achieve more.

Learn to express your thoughts and feelings in a constructive way

It is not unreasonable to learn to express your own thoughts and feelings in a constructive way. Some people have a constant tendency to quarrels, because of this, they spoil relations with others. It is necessary to look for constructive ways to solve problems that arise. Disputes are almost always the desire to improve their self-esteem, self-assertion at someone else’s expense. Numerous conflicts become a source of stress. People waste their resources, they remain upset because they cannot express their thoughts and feelings in a constructive way.

Life is much easier for those who have learned to control their anger and other emotions. Reactions to the words and actions of others should not consist of aggression. Dwelling on negative situations, constantly scrolling through them in the head destroys the psyche. You shouldn’t feed the negativity inside yourself. It is important to gain control over your own life and emotions, so as not to harm yourself and those around you.

Inner protest is inseparable from personal development, sometimes it is worth giving an outlet with emotions, but much depends on the situation. Listen to yourself, don’t ignore your desires, don’t give in to anger and aggression, and strive for a constructive dialogue.

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Khaki ball: the loudest anti-war protests and actions. https://occupylsx.org/khaki-ball-the-loudest-anti-war-protests-and-actions/ https://occupylsx.org/khaki-ball-the-loudest-anti-war-protests-and-actions/#respond Thu, 12 May 2022 13:08:04 +0000 https://occupylsx.org/?p=182 War destroys, kills and devastates. However, anti-war protest not only bring millions of people together, but also create a message of peace. Artists will paint pictures that send out an impressive message, […]

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War destroys, kills and devastates. However, anti-war protest not only bring millions of people together, but also create a message of peace. Artists will paint pictures that send out an impressive message, while directors make anti-war films that are beyond belief. The most significant pacifying action is to set up a series of “instruments for world peace”.

The anti-war movement was at its height during the Vietnam War and contributed to some of the most influential movements in US history. Towards the end of this period, ideas that promote freedom and peace gained prominence among American youths. Anti-war ideas started long before the Vietnam’s War began. In 1966, with the start of the draft, these ideas strengthened to form a movement.

After the bombing of North Vietnam in 1965, professors and students are holding anti-war seminars instead of their typical teaching activities. The peace movement is also starting to have a physical presence on the streets of America. On October 21, 1967, a massive protest by more than 100,000 people took place. They marched on the Pentagon building and gathered at Memorial Lincoln. It’s been two years since that protest but there are still large shows of support happening everywhere. There are many theories about the what influenced the outcome and signature of peace treaties. One of them is that it was influenced by movements like in the media and anti-war movement.

Protests against the Vietnam War has been appearing in popular culture for years. One of the best examples is the movie Forrest Gump. He’s first drafted by the army, he goes to Vietnam and, upon his return, accidentally falls into a Sarlacc pit. Earlier on in the rally, one of the participants had spotted a solider with an award and called Forrest to speak. Leftist activist Abby Hoffman, a leader of the protests, drags Forrest onto the stage. He delivers a speech where the sound was not working and had to end with the words “That’s all I can say about the Vietnam War.”

Many anti-war films have been made, but Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket really stands out. The movie portrays the paradoxical relationship between war and the individual in a unique way. The recruits go through a brutal training camp and then the actual difficult battles. He doesn’t talk about the reasons for the Vietnam War but we can be sure any war is destructive.

Mass rallies weren’t only in response to the Vietnam War- there are a lot of other instances, such as 2003 when the biggest protest in world history took place against the war in Iraq. There is a long-time running theory that large scale action like this one was carefully planned by international networks of national public organizations.

The three largest protests recorded in Europe took place in Rome, with 3 million attendees and counting in 2004. It was listed as the largest protest against war, making it the largest such occasion it’s history spanning to the 20th century. The Green Left, a progressive Australian publication, described it this way: “Christian monks and priests walked alongside young people with multiple piercings and Palestinian scarves. Christians, anarchists, and communists mixed. The rally was organized under the slogan “Build Bridges Not Walls.”.

Five years after the end of the Iraq War, San Francisco hosted a peaceful commemoration as hundreds of pairs of shoes were displayed on the steps of San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral. Each shoe was meant to honor those who lost their lives in the war.

Einstein once said, “I don’t know with what weapons they will fight the third world war, but in the fourth they will use sticks and stones.” His words may best explain why many anti-militars have begun to oppose arms races. Activists in all parts of the world have been showing their disdain for nuclear weapons by taking part in large-scale protests.

The first use of nuclear weapons, “The Kid”, was dropped on Hiroshima in the 1930s. It led to the bombing of Nagasaki. This was the second time in history when nuclear weapons were used. All subsequent explosions after Hiroshima and Nagasaki have been part of atomic tests.

Events in Hiroshima and Nagasaki are still fresh in our minds. Every year, people from all over the world come to commemorate these events by taking part in memorials. In Hiroshima there’s a Peace Memorial Park, where people come on the anniversary of the bombing to reflect upon what happened at exactly this time.

There have been many demonstrations against nuclear weapons. For example, in June of 1982 there was a protest with over a million attendees at Central Park (New York) that’s considered the largest anti-nuclear protest in American history. This great march left from Los Angeles and finished in Washington, DC, to promote the idea of: peace. The march was an ordeal that went down in history. What was supposed to be a two-month journey turned into eight and a half months of non-stop walking. Books and documentaries have been written about the experience.

There were many protests in the UK in 2005 against a government proposal to replace the Trident weapon system with a newer model. The largest rally gathered 100,000 participants. So many people took to the streets thanks to the work of Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

Another important fact about the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament is that it was founded in 1958 by artist Gerald Holton. His design of a special symbol for the Committee of Direct Action march against atomic war has become iconic. After that, the symbol began to be used by Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and in the 1960s it became the international emblem of anti-war movement. We are talking about well-known Pacific diacritical sign, which is now the universal symbol of peace.

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“The Events of June 4” in China, 1989 https://occupylsx.org/the-events-of-june-4/ https://occupylsx.org/the-events-of-june-4/#respond Thu, 14 Apr 2022 10:18:14 +0000 https://occupylsx.org/?p=176 There was a Kent State of its own, though much more massive, in China: on April 15, 1989, protesters, among whom there were many students, occupied Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

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There was a Kent State of its own, though much more massive, in China: on April 15, 1989, protesters, among whom there were many students, occupied Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. The students demanded greater political and economic freedoms (according to some estimates, these were the first priority – more active introduction of elements of a market economy and acceleration of economic reforms), and they also spoke out against corruption (the main slogan was “Down with corrupt officials!”). The sudden death of former Secretary General Hu Yaobang gave the students a formal reason for mass gatherings.

Students at Peking University and Tsinghua University and workers set up a tent camp in the square next to the Monument to the People’s Heroes and went on an indefinite strike. On April 27, university students in Beijing (up to 100,000 people according to various estimates participated in the action) marched through the streets of the city to the square. By May 13, two days before Mikhail Gorbachev’s visit to China, the students had gone on hunger strike to attract attention. More than 300,000 people had gathered in the square by this point. The protests took place not only in Beijing, but also in other Chinese cities.

On May 20, martial law was imposed in Beijing and troops were sent to the capital (a total of 250,000 troops arrived in the city). On June 3, unarmed troops were sent to storm the square, but they failed to capture it: students resisted and clashes broke out in the streets. On the same day, tanks and armored personnel carriers entered the city, which the demonstrators pelted with stones and Molotov cocktails.

On June 4, those gathered in Tiananmen Square were told over loudspeakers that they would “take any measures” to enforce martial law. Soldiers defending the square opened fire on the protesters – according to official figures, 241 people were killed, according to unofficial reports, between 400 and several thousand people were killed.

The protesters were declared criminals, and many of the activist leaders fled abroad. Other countries condemned the bloody suppression of the rally; in China itself, the protests caused a change in the government’s course – the liberalization of society that began in the 1980s was curtailed. The events on Tiananmen Square were followed by purges in the Party: Zhao Ziyang, the General Secretary who opposed martial law, was dismissed and put under house arrest back in May 1989, and his supporters were also dismissed. Jiang Zemin, the mayor of Shanghai, was appointed as the new general secretary, and the relaxation of control over internal politics would not begin until 1992.

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“The Night of Tlatelolco” in Mexico, 1968 https://occupylsx.org/the-night-of-tlatelolco-in-mexico/ https://occupylsx.org/the-night-of-tlatelolco-in-mexico/#respond Thu, 14 Apr 2022 10:15:54 +0000 https://occupylsx.org/?p=173 Student performances in the 1960s took place not only in developed countries, but also in developing countries.

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Student performances in the 1960s took place not only in developed countries, but also in developing countries. In 1968, Mexico hosted the XIX Summer Olympics – the first in Latin America. The money invested in the competition was gigantic, reinforcing discontent with President Gustavo Diaz Ordaz’s regime: suppression of civil liberties, restrictions on trade unions and heavy-handed government regulation of the economy. “We don’t want the Olympics, we want a revolution,” the students proclaimed.

The student protests, joined by the workers, began in the winter and lasted several months. As the Olympics approached, the actions became more and more massive. On August 2, students formed a “National Council of Strikes” to organize protests, which was joined by students from 70 universities. Students demanded respect for university autonomy, the release of political prisoners, and punishment for officials responsible for the violent crackdown.

On October 2, 10 days before the competition, a massive peaceful protest began in Mexico City’s Tlatelolco neighborhood in the Plaza de las Cultras, with 10,000 people in attendance. In the evening, troops (5,000 soldiers and 200 armored vehicles) surrounded the square and helicopters patrolled it from above. According to official data, the protesters were the first to open fire, and the military only responded. But later (the investigation was opened 30 years later, in 1998) it became known that the first shots were fired by snipers from the houses surrounding the square. In the “Tlatelolco massacre” between 30 and 400 people were killed, according to various estimates, and many protesters were detained on the spot and sent to prison.

In 1970 Díaz Ordaz’s presidential term ended and he did not run for office again. The events in Mexico’s Three Cultures Square became a symbol of the struggle for civil rights and gave rise to democratic changes in society and the emergence of new activist groups.

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Massacre at the University of Kent, 1970 https://occupylsx.org/massacre-at-the-university-of-kent/ https://occupylsx.org/massacre-at-the-university-of-kent/#respond Thu, 14 Apr 2022 10:12:40 +0000 https://occupylsx.org/?p=170 Events at Columbia University in New York took place in revolutionary 1968 almost simultaneously with the French.

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America, like France, experienced an economic and demographic boom in the 1960s. But young people, who often lived much better than their parents, were uncomfortable in a conservative post-war society in which stability was seen as a core value.

Events at Columbia University in New York took place in revolutionary 1968 almost simultaneously with the French. In 1967, students discovered that Columbia University was collaborating with the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), a research center under the Defense Department, involved in the unpopular Vietnam War in progressive circles. Another reason was the university administration’s plans to build a gymnasium for students on a park in nearby Harlem.

Protests on campus (which included activists from the “new left” organization Students for a Democratic Society, SDS) began in March. In late April, activists seized one of the university buildings – Hamilton Hall, where the classrooms and administration offices are located. The protesters did not fail to take a photo in the chancellor’s office: one of them was sitting at his desk wearing dark glasses and carrying a cigar [1]. At the end of the month, the university administration, after unsuccessful negotiations, let the police onto its territory, which stormed the buildings, more than 700 people were arrested. The protests and occupation of the buildings repeated in May and again were suppressed by the police, this time over 150 people were arrested.

The protests ended up achieving both the students’ goals – the plans to build a gym in Harlem, as well as the cooperation with IDA, were abandoned by the university administration. In addition, the protests showed Columbia and other university administrations that they do not live in an airless space and should listen to students.

The events at Columbia University were not the only student protests in the United States in the 1960s. In the same decade, large-scale actions took place in Berkeley, California, with participants demanding rights for blacks and opposing the Vietnam War: young people were also threatened by the possibility of the draft. As early as 1964, 1,500 students seized one of the university buildings. And in 1965, they held an anti-war march of 10,000 people in Oakland, one of the first major actions against the Vietnam War.

Tragic events occurred in 1970 in Kent, Ohio. On May 4, students staged a peaceful strike against the Vietnam War and the U.S. invasion of Cambodia. The National Guard arrived on the scene and opened fire on the demonstrators, killing 4 people and wounding 9 others.

“The massacre at the University of Kent (as the media dubbed it, which is how the events have remained in history) did not frighten the students and only led to a new wave of protests.

In May there was a student strike in the U.S. that spanned more than 700 campuses across the country, with clashes with police at 26 of them. On May 9, 100,000 people marched against the Vietnam War.
As in other countries, students in the U.S. were an important part of the protests and actively advocated for democratic change in the country and against the Vietnam War (which did not end until 1975).

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Battle of Valle Giulia, Italy, 1968 https://occupylsx.org/battle-of-valle-giulia/ https://occupylsx.org/battle-of-valle-giulia/#respond Thu, 14 Apr 2022 10:06:26 +0000 https://occupylsx.org/?p=167 Protests provoked by dissatisfaction with the authorities and the pending reform of university education also broke out in Italy in 1968.

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Protests provoked by dissatisfaction with the authorities and the pending reform of university education also broke out in Italy in 1968. But unlike the student protests in other European countries, in Italy they involved not only leftists, but also right-wing radicals (for example, from the neo-fascist organizations FUAN, Caravelle, and the National Vanguard).

The protests began three months before the French, in February, when students at the University of Rome seized several faculties. They held the buildings for almost a month, until February 29, when the police began to storm the buildings. The protests spread not only to Rome, but also to other cities across the country.

The protests culminated in the so-called “Battle of Valle Julia.” On March 1, police and up to 4,000 students met in fierce fighting in the square in front of the Faculty of Architecture in the capital’s Valle Giulia neighborhood. The students threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at the police, who responded with batons. Despite police action, protesters reoccupied several university buildings. About 500 students and 150 policemen were injured in the clashes.

The authorities and parties condemned the actions of the students; public sympathy was not on their side either. But then there was a split in the ranks of the protesters themselves: On March 16, communists and neo-fascists were involved in a mass brawl in Rome. In 1969, factory workers joined the protests, and in the summer hundreds of thousands of people took part in joint marches demanding better working conditions and democratic freedoms, chanting anti-capitalist slogans.

The aggressive actions of the students preceded the “leaden seventies” in Italy, a decade of street violence and terrorist attacks that began with the 1969 bombing of the Milan Bank.

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May Events in France, 1968 https://occupylsx.org/may-events-in-france/ https://occupylsx.org/may-events-in-france/#respond Thu, 14 Apr 2022 10:04:10 +0000 https://occupylsx.org/?p=164 In France, as in many other Western countries, the 1960s were a time of economic growth and a post-war demographic boom: living standards became higher, the number of young people grew

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The 1960s were the most protestful decade in post-war history, with social protests reaching their peak in 1968, which many historians call a turning point.1 The events of May 1968 in France are probably the most famous student protests in history.

In France, as in many other Western countries, the 1960s were a time of economic growth and a post-war demographic boom: living standards became higher, the number of young people grew, and many of them had a university education, which became increasingly accessible (in 1958 France had 175,000 students, in 1968 there were already over 500,000).

But by the middle of the decade, the economic upturn had slowed down, wages, unlike the number of unemployed, were not rising, which was the cause of strikes in 1966-1967. The policy of the authorities and their methods of force, the war in Vietnam, a former French colony, and, above all, the figure of General Charles de Gaulle, who had been president for almost 10 years, since 1959, caused dissatisfaction among students. The popularity in the 1960s of leftist ideas, including radical ideas: there were anarchists and Maoists among the students also influenced the growth of protest sentiments.

The formal reason for the protests was the forthcoming higher education reform, which included restrictions on students’ freedoms. The May events began with protests at the University of Paris in Nanterre, a suburb of the capital. Its students were dissatisfied with the actions of the university administration, in particular the introduction of separation of students of different genders in dormitories. Then students from the Sorbonne and other universities joined the protesters, and new protests were dispersed by riot police who used tear gas and batons. The brutal crackdown did not stop the protests: French sympathies were now on the side of the students, and actions of solidarity with the students began across the country (for example, on May 13, a million people marched in Paris in solidarity with the students). Trade unions and workers joined the protests and began a spontaneous strike.

Events unfolded spontaneously: the center of Paris was engulfed in something like military action – students dismantled cobblestones and built barricades of stones.

Cars were set on fire in the streets and Molotov cocktails were thrown. In all, up to 10 million people participated in the May protests – out of France’s population of 50 million. Students and workers now demanded not only rights and freedoms for themselves, but also the resignation of de Gaulle and a change of government. One of the victims of the protests was the Cannes Film Festival: Jean-Luc Godard, who supported the left, and other French filmmakers said that in such a situation there was no time for shows.

On May 30 de Gaulle announced on the radio that he refused to resign, but that early parliamentary elections would be held in the country. The elections were won by supporters of the president, who feared a revolution and that the country would descend into chaos, and the protests gradually died down as early as June. True, de Gaulle did not last in power for long – already in 1969, after the defeat at the referendum, he resigned, and another year later suddenly died. Former Prime Minister Georges Pompidou became the new president and the country switched to “Gaullism without de Gaulle”.

After the student protests of 1968 (the significance of which is still debated to this day – they are called one of the most important events of the century, and the failed revolution) the course of the country changed, new political forces gradually came to power. In 1969, the Socialist Party, represented by presidents François Mitterrand and François Hollande, was founded. For several years, the current French President Emmanuel Macron was also a member, who then founded the social-liberal party “Forward, Republic!”.

What is certain is that the May events have left an indelible cultural mark – hardly any other protests have had so many films made about them.

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“Women’s March” Against Trump https://occupylsx.org/womens-march-against-trump/ https://occupylsx.org/womens-march-against-trump/#respond Thu, 14 Apr 2022 10:00:21 +0000 https://occupylsx.org/?p=161 On January 23, protests against Donald Trump's policies took place not only in the United States, but also in other cities around the world, with several million people participating in the actions.

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On January 23, protests against Donald Trump’s policies took place not only in the United States, but also in other cities around the world, with several million people participating in the actions. The ironic pussy hat – a pink hat with ears referring to Trump’s offensive quote about “pussy” – became a symbol of the struggle for equality and made the cover of Time magazine, and the “Women’s March” once again showed that the feminist agenda covers many social issues, including racism and oppression of minorities. Thousands of ordinary people and dozens of celebrities supported the protests, with Gloria Steinem, Scarlett Johansson, Angela Davis, Whoopi Goldberg, Cher, Madonna and other top stars taking the stage in different cities.

Anna Narinskaya spoke in detail in her column about why the “Women’s March” should be taken seriously. On March 8, the organizers of the march plan to hold a nationwide strike – we’ll be keeping a close eye on events, and we advise you to do the same.

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“Black Friday” in London https://occupylsx.org/black-friday-in-london/ https://occupylsx.org/black-friday-in-london/#respond Thu, 14 Apr 2022 09:57:49 +0000 https://occupylsx.org/?p=158 The Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), led by the legendary Emmeline Pankhurst, carried out many actions, from peaceful pickets to window-bashing and arson

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The Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), led by the legendary Emmeline Pankhurst, carried out many actions, from peaceful pickets to window-bashing and arson, but it was Black Friday that helped the suffragettes win media attention and public sympathy. On November 18, 1910, the British Parliament was to consider a bill granting the right to vote to women with a certain level of income – the document was to cover about a million British women. The law passed its first reading, but Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith postponed further discussion of the document. As a sign of protest, about three hundred WSPU supporters went to the Palace of Westminster, where they clashed with the police: constables arrested more than a hundred people, many of them were injured during the arrest.

The police brutality provoked a violent reaction in the press and society: although the Daily Mirror, with a picture of the suffragette lying on the ground, was withdrawn from stores by government order, reports of police brutality found their way into other newspapers and spread all over Britain. As a result, the women’s movement became more sympathetic in London and beyond.

For the duration of the war the British suffragettes halted their actions, but after the war ended they again demanded recognition of the right to vote. In 1918, Parliament passed a law allowing women over the age of thirty who were heads of households or married to heads of households, or who had graduated from university, to vote. In 1928, women in Great Britain were fully equalized with men in voting rights.

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