Occupylsx

Why would people go to protests?

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.