Protesting is not a new concept and it's one that has allowed millions of people, worldwide, to speak up and allow their voices to be heard. While the right to a peaceful protest is one that the US does grant, in many countries, protesting is a radical act against the government and usually ends up in historical textbooks for that same reason. The brave souls who take to the streets in defiance of the inequality they're rallying against are always bound to make an impression and make other think, which is exactly what a protest is designed to do.
Throughout decades, the world has been witness to many protests around the globe for a myriad of reasons. The power of the people to change, reverse, or alter history often lies in the hands of those who take that first step and for many, it has been successful. There are always two sides to every protest and despite what onlookers might think, every march was ignored by a spark of passion, usually spawning from an injustice done - and these are the marches throughout history that have gone on to create wildfires.
The Boston Tea Party
Perhaps one of the earliest-known protests, of a political nature, anyway, was that of the Boston Tea Party. The rebellion of the colonists against British taxation came in the form of sabotaging three British ships by dumping their tea imports into the surrounding harbor. The rebellion took roughly three hours and it's estimated that 45 tonnes of tea went into the drink, thus becoming one of the founding moments for the Revolutionary War.
The Berlin Wall Protests
The Berlin Wall is still fresh in many people's minds, as the wall was finally torn down, piece by piece, in 1989. The wall separated east and west Berlin, standing as a barrier between family, friends, and opportunity. After protests which lasted about two months, the gates to both sides were finally opened, and citizens of both sides took part in dismantling a dividing symbol that served little purpose to them.
The Iraq War Protests
Perhaps one of the biggest protests to ever take place in the UK was the Iraq War Protest. This was one of many which took place around the world in the months leading up to the US invasion of Iraq, and many stood side by side in an attempt to stop it. In the UK, nearly one million people gathered to take a political stand, thus making history for being the largest political demonstration ever seen in the region.
The March On Washington
In 1963, the March on Washington took place in D.C., led by Martin Luther King Jr. In August of that same year, the entire country would bear witness to a speech that would go down in history as one of the greatest ever given, starting with, "I have a dream...". The massive protest, with an estimated 200,000 people in attendance, was intended to illuminate the racial injustices in the country and encourage the president at the time, John F. Kennedy, to take action against it. It would soon prove to be only the beginning of a long battle for civil rights.
South Africa's National Day Of Protest
In a similar vein, South Africa's National Day of Protest was led by Nelson Mandela's ANC party in 1950 to end Apartheid. The protests led by him were part of the 'Stay at Home' tactic that was widely effective, and one which thousands of South Africans participated in. From that point on, all the way up until 1994, National Freedom Day was celebrated on June 26th every year in South Africa.
Gandhi's Salt March
The Boston Tea Party was not the only protest on British taxation and in April of 1930, Gandhi was ending his 240-mile journey to collect his own salt. This was an action that was forbidden by the British government, and one which Gandhi underwent mental and physical abuse. It's estimated that 600,000 people walked with Gandhi on the 23-day trek, all of whom were jailed with him, but by the time that happened, the world had already taken notice of the injustice.
The Women's March On Washington
It's estimated that 470,000 people took to D.C. for the Women's March on Washington in 2017, in an effort to support women's rights in the light of Donald Trump being elected president. In a rare turnout, the march ignited similar protests in 81 other countries around the world, gathering support from what's presumed to be over five million people who participated alongside the US on the same day, during a span of 600 similar protests. To this day, it remains the largest one-day protest in history.
The George Floyd Protests
Most recently, the George Floyd Protests sparked outrage from both police and their supporters as well as those who supported justice in the wake of the tragic killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. Beginning on May 26th, thousands of people took to the streets, followed quickly by protests in every single state in the US. In the months following, more and more protests spawned, all filled with US citizens speaking up for Black Lives Matter, and against racial inequality, countrywide racism, and police brutality. The protests have prompted the deployment of the National Guard as those fighting for racial justice continue taking to the streets.