Some of the first protests had commenced almost 300 years ago in the 1700s and started as social movements. Throughout history, groups of people all loosely connected, formed a united front as they all aspired to achieve a shared goal, creating transformational changes.
These changes were typically classified into two categories:
Social changes (e.g. LGBT rights movement, Environmental movement, Civil Rights Movement etc.)
Political changes (e.g Anti-war movement, Ecology movement, Anti-globalisation movement etc.)
The Suffragettes, portrayed as heroes today, were not always seen in such a positive light. They were often demonised as anarchists and in some people’s eyes as terrorists back in their day. The woman suffrage movement began in 1848 when a meeting was held in Seneca Falls, New York, in support of women's rights. In this time, women were not treated equally, they did not have access to the same rights as men, they were suffering, and a call for action was necessary. However, the meeting held in New York was not the first meeting addressing the severity of the lack of women's rights, but it was the meeting that initiated the suffrage movement.
In the next 50 years, the number of women suffrage supporters had increased and were working to educate the public about the validity of woman suffrage, spreading awareness and pressuring the government and those with authority and power to change to the system, much like the climate change protests and the George Floyd protests occurring now.
The Suffragette movement started under the leadership of Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and other women's rights pioneers, who are referred to as “activists,” in this day and age. They circulated petitions and lobbied Congress to pass a constitutional amendment to give voting rights to women.
In the 50 years before women had the right to vote in 1918, the Suffragettes used 17,000 petitions containing over 3.3 million signatures to help deliver votes for women, and these petitions were sent to the House of Commons. Other petitions were sent to the House of Lords, the king, and the prime minister. They have greatly influenced what society is doing today, as petitions are still being effectively used today to engage with the government and in light of recent events, the officers involved in the murder of George Floyd have been arrested, as the petition to bring justice to Floyd and his family and charge the officers collected over 17 million signatures, pressuring the authorities and government to charge them.
In movements such as the Civil Rights movement and the Suffragettes, protests have played a significant role, showing that ordinary citizens have the ability and right to make their disapproval heard. This type of activism is pivotal for creating a foundation for change. In the month since George Floyd’s death at the hands of the police, the world is witnessing some of the most passionate and determined anti-racism protests, from Minnesota and New York to Amsterdam and London, thousands across the globe have taken to the streets to “defund the police,” and show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and demand that governments must actively put an end to police brutality and institutional racism.
Protests have inspired and influenced people to challenge the social stigmas set in place by society, and challenge the norms. They give people a stance and empower them to make a difference, society has evolved as a whole throughout history, it has become more open to change and people are not afraid to go against the government or authorities if they believe that justice is not being served or laws should be abolished.
We have to become more united and stronger every day by using the seeds earlier activists have sown for us. It’s our time to help society become a better and safer place for everyone. We shouldn’t be afraid to challenge or call out our family and friends, higher authorities or protest, because it is our right. Now is the time for us to speak up so we can make a change.
Written By: Shrika
Comments