On The Stride

On July 19, 2022, several US House Democrats were arrested at the abortion rights protests on Washington DC. As arguments have risen against the overturning of Roe v Wade that ended the right to abortion at most US states, there have been numerous protests in USA. Majority of the world too is quite shocked to see such a regression on women rights and that too in one of the longest-standing democratic institutions in the world. It is as if time turned back and the light that shined on women’s rights was dimmed significantly. 

As a result, the US citizens, politicians, public figures, and celebrities among others have been protesting relentlessly. As such, it is a norm and even a status of political and social clout to protest on the streets.A protest is also called a demonstration or remonstrance. It is a public expression of dissent, disapproval or objection against an act or ideology. It ranges from individual statements to mass demonstrations against governments, politicians and corrupt organisations. 

Organisers of protests display public demonstrations and march on streets with written slogans, occasionally chanting them in unison. At times demonstrations turn violent when police use brute force. However, most protests are an act of civil resistance conducted non-violently. And very often protests are organised on public spaces such as streets where traffic is stopped or stalled while people march for a cause they dearly value. 

It was Mahatma Gandhi who introduced Nonviolent Resistance as a form of rebellion against British rule. And eventually it led to the toppling of British colonisation on the Indian lands. Gandhi even said, “Blessed is the man who can perceive the law of Ahimsa in the midst of the raging fire of Himsa all around him.” Here ‘himsa’ refers to violence and ‘ahimsa’ to nonviolence. 

As such, nonviolence is an individual practice of refraining from causing any harm to others, whatever the circumstances. It stresses that no injury is done to individual and even animals. India became a republic owing to Gandhi’s nonviolent resistance. It goes to show how peaceful protests can be a step towards bringing changes in a society from grassroots level to national level. 

These days, protests take different forms, from posting about a cause in social media to walking the streets in mass demonstrations. Such protests are ideally peaceful. People nowadays rally for women’s rights, climate action, equal pay, LGBTQ rights and political causes. Governments that turn tyrannical will eventually have to face the wrath of disgruntled citizens who get tired of being subject to oppression. Even today there are many nations that are under dictatorship or the monopoly of an unjust and cruel leader. Their citizens have to bear rising inflation, lack of modern services and a dearth of transparent governance. Politicians instead fill their pockets while their citizens starve in destitution. 

It isn’t thus surprising that such citizens protest. As seen in Sri Lanka and its economic collapse, angry Sri Lankans barged on the presidential palace as the president fled town. It led to a sort of anarchy with raging demonstrations. Protests are a way of holding the government, multinational organisations, companies and corporations accountable to bring forth enduring positive changes in a society, community and nation. And positive outcomes do occur when people protest peacefully in unison.