Newton was onto something when he suggested that an object at rest stays at rest unless it’s acted upon by an external force. The apple didn’t choose to fall from the tree; gravity dragged it down. The gun didn’t choose to shoot; someone pulled the trigger. The civilians didn’t choose to protest in the streets; injustice forced them there.
With the First Amendment written into the US Constitution, every American is allowed freedom of speech, assembly, and the ability to petition, among other protected rights. Over the years, many Americans have made use of their right to peacefully protest the wrongs they see, yet day after day, this practice is discredited by those who disagree with them.. Slowly, rights are infringed and the line blurs.
“Violent demonstrations have risen by almost 50% since 2008. During this period, 126 countries deteriorated in their violent demonstrations score, compared to only 22 countries improving,” the worldwide peace organization Vision of Humanity observed.
Violence impacts movements or areas with unintended results. Following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, Black Lives Matter took to the streets in a series of peaceful protests and led to notable policy changes in several states and cities. Violence only harms and further alienates a community. On the other hand, peaceful protests have been seen to bring positive change.
“I think it’s definitely a call to action because I think it opens people’s eyes. It definitely opens the government’s eyes to what the people are wanting. This is their opinion on this,” sophomore Ellie Smith said.
Boycotts, strikes, symbols and petitions are all forms of protest. None of those actions require batons and riot shields. Impactful words can reform a culture more than violence ever can. Where would America be without the Declaration of Independence? The Gettysburg Address? The impact of these historical moments both angered plenty of people, yet the country persevered, and for the better. By banding together as a nation, America was able to overcome differences.
“Nonviolent protests are twice as likely to succeed as armed conflicts – and those engaging a threshold of 3.5% of the population have never failed to bring about change,” Erica Chenoweth of Harvard University Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights said.
Society has the chance to learn and grow, the chance to balance the power between the silenced and the outspoken. While violence alienates causes, peace can protect them.
”I think it’s important to go to these [peaceful protests] to expand your knowledge of what protests are and whatever is going on in the government,” Smith said. “Especially at our age, we’re starting to learn.”
