What would the world look like if we couldn’t express outrage against the things we disagree with or support the changes we seek?
Rivers that don’t catch fire. The choice to marry who we love. Clean air and water. Even weekends off. Peaceful protest—which, in the U.S. as in many other countries around the world, is protected as a crucial part of an inclusive, thriving participatory democracy – helped bring about each of these victories. Free speech, dissent, and public mobilization are essential tools for advancing so many causes, including environmental protection, workers’ rights, human rights, self-determination, and climate, social, and racial justice.
Though protest has brought so much progress — or maybe because of it — the right to speak freely, dissent, and even do basic public outreach and organizing, is increasingly under attack. We have come to expect crackdowns in authoritarian countries, but anti-protest sentiment is spreading in established democracies as well. Activists are being vilified, retaliated against, and even criminalized. In the U.S., anti-protest laws have been enacted in 49 states. SLAPP suits – meritless legal action taken to silence dissent -- are on the rise. New legal concepts, such as “negligent protest,” are being used to hold organizers liable for damages. At the same time, violent actions taken by anti-democratic forces have been reframed and pardoned.
Our right to peaceful protest is under attack, and we must act now!
Protest! A Tribute and a Call to Action presents a clear understanding and appreciation of the critical role peaceful activism has always played in advancing public good, and to spotlight the need to safeguard this democratic right. The book describes more than 40 iconic, inspiring campaigns from around the world. Photos, artifacts, inspiring quotes, and more make this a compelling testament to the power of public dissent. Guest essays from leaders such as Jane Fonda, Tennessee Representative Justin Pearson, Dolores Huerta, Nemonte Nenquino, and others reveal the role that protest has played in their commitment to fight for change. This book, through storytelling and first-hand reflection, encourages readers to themselves engage in peaceful activism — right here, right now.
Introduction by Annie Leonard
Legacy of Protest by Andre Carothers
Protests
Boston Tea Party (US, Boston, 1773)
The Jerry Rescue (US, New York, 1851)
Parents Protecting Indigenous Children (1800s)
Women's Suffrage Procession (US, Washington, DC, 1913)
Gandhi’s Salt March (India, 1930)
The Flint Sit-Down Strike (US, Michigan, 1936-1937)
Rosa Parks Bus Protest (US, Montgomery, Alabama, 1955)
The First Earth Day (US, 1970)
Moruroa: Mon Amor: Greenpeace Protests Against French Nuclear Testing in the Pacific (South Pacific, 1973)
Section 504 Protests: Disability Rights Activists Occupy Federal Building (US, San Francisco, 1977)
Franklin River Blockade (Australia, 1982-1983)
Daily Protests against Apartheid at the South African Embassy (US, Washington, DC, 1984-1985)
Jal Satyagrah Protests Against the Sardar Sarovar Dam (India, 1987 - present)
ACTUP & TAG Place Giant Condom Over Senator Jesse Helms’ House (US, Virginia, 1991)
WTO - Democracy Banner at the WTO “Battle in Seattle” (US, Seattle, 1999)
San Francisco’s Winter of Love: Same Sex Marriage Protests (US, San Francisco, 2004)
The Great American Boycott or A Day Without Immigrants (US, 2006)
SOPA PIPA Protests (US, 2012)
Activists Live in Treehouses to Protect the Hambach Forest and Prevent Coal Mine (Germany, 2012-2020)
Si al Yasuni Protests (Ecuador, 2013-2023)
The Lobster Boat Blockade (US, Massachusetts, 2013)
Kayaktivists Confront Shell Oil (US, Seattle, 2015)
Hologram Protest in Defense of the Right to Protest (Spain, 2015)
Removing the Confederate Flag from State Capitol Building (US, South Carolina, 2015)
Greenpeace Hangs RESIST Banner Over the White House (US, Washington, DC, 2016)
Colin Kaepernick Takes a Knee (US, 2016)
Water Protectors at Standing Rock (US, North & South Dakota, 2016-2017)
Youth Climate Strikes: From One Person to Millions (Sweden, then global, 2018 - present)
Funeral for a Glacier (Iceland, 2019)
Swamp Monster Attends Senate Confirmation Hearing (US, Washington, DC, 2019)
Fire Drill Fridays (Washington DC, 2019-2020)
COVID Nurse Protests (2020)
The Lost Class (United States, 2021)
George Floyd Protests (US, Minneapolis, then global, 2020)
Women, Life, Freedom Movement (Iran, 2022)
#StopEACOP: Protesting the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (Uganda and Tanzania, 2021 - present)
South Africans Protest Shell’s Offshore Oil Drilling (South Africa, Wild Coast, 2021 - present)
The Rocking Chair Rebellion (US, 2024)
Climbers with Palestine Banner Hang on El Capitan (US, California, 2024)
Paddle Out Protest with Surfers Against Sewage (UK, 2024)
Guest essays
Representative Justin Pearson (US)
Nimmo Bassey (Nigeria)
Maurice Mitchell (US)
Pietro Ameglio Patella (Latin
America)
Peter Staley (US)
Reverend Yearwood (US)
Dolores Huerta (US)
Dr Sandra Steingraber (US)
Louisa Zondo and Kumi Naidoo (South Africa)
Jane Fonda (US)
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