Chloe Cooper
We investigate why protesting is so vital for creating lasting change.
Protests have been a hot topic in the media recently as activists continue to make waves with powerful–and sometimes disruptive–direct action. But why are protests important and how do they actually work to make change happen?
How do protests lead to change?
Looking back through some of the greatest moments of change in the civil and animal rights movements, there’s one theme that runs through all of them…protest. Whether it’s the suffrage movement winning women the right to vote, brave folks standing up for an end to segregation, or school students striking for climate reform, protest has the power to move people and make a difference.
Protests work because they force an issue into the public consciousness. They take up space, make noise. Sometimes they purposefully inconvenience people because it makes us sit up and pay attention. It makes us re-think policies, systems, and societal norms that we may have otherwise never thought about.
When people assemble to speak out against injustices, they encourage others to care, take action, and even join the movement themselves.
Do protests really need to disrupt ordinary people?
Groups like Just Stop Oil, Animal Rising, and Extinction Rebellion have faced harsh criticism from the media and the public over stunts that disrupt the day-to-day lives of the general public. These include slow marches, invading sporting events, and glueing onto priceless works of art.
These tactics may have inspired anger amongst the public and the media, but this isn’t a popularity contest. These organisations aren’t here to be liked, they’re here to make a difference. In spite of 78% of Britons believing that ‘disruptive protest hinders activists’ causes’, studies have in fact shown the opposite.
Social Change Labs conducted public polling on the environmental organisation, Just Stop Oil, in 2022. The poll found that, despite the majority of respondents being opposed to the group’s tactics, there was no significant negative impact on the number of people who said they supported its goals. Evidence also suggested that protests led to improved public discourse on the cause and a marginal increase in respondents willing to attend a protest in the future.
What this tells us is that although initial reactions to disruptive protests can be negative, the overall effect can be resoundingly positive for the movement.
Why do we need to protect the right to protest?
Evidence shows that protests work to increase public awareness and support for an issue. Therefore it’s vital for governments, organisations, and individuals to protect citizens’ right to take to the street for what they believe in. Sadly, in the UK this right is under threat.
The UK Government’s introduction of policies such as the Public Order and the Police Crime and Sentencing acts means that police forces now have even more power to shut down peaceful protests and silence those who attempt to speak out. These powers include criminalising some forms of protest altogether, prohibiting individuals from protesting, controlling individuals’ movements and associations, and expanding stop-and-search use.
The right to peacefully protest is a marker of a country’s true democracy. As citizens of a free society, this is something we should all be concerned about.
How to get involved in protesting for animals
Ready to get out there and make your voice heard for the animals? The best way to get stuck in is as a volunteer! Find out more and apply here. You can also sign up to hear about some of the impactful actions coming up.
