These protests

It turns out that I wrote about protesting about a year ago and I have the links to prove it.  

https://sporkful.blogspot.com/2024/06/i-protest.html

https://sporkful.blogspot.com/2024/06/protest-planning.html 

I know there have been other posts going further back. I also know the frustrating thing about me is that I generally don't find protests effective. People that I agree with in so many ways and care about are there, and they feel good about it -- maybe they even invite me -- and I get cranky about it.

Sorry.

In this case, I do not see much purpose in the protests except announcing that "I am angry".

I know that some protests have scheduled speakers on workers' rights or some people will set up voter registration, but mostly it appears to be about expressing anger.

It is a very privileged thing to think that announcing your anger will do anything.

By "privileged" I mean it seems pretty white, so seeing people complaining about various Black people not participating... yeah, that tracks. 

I get that protesting may bring emotional relief and some sense of solidarity when you see others out there too. I suspect that could be even greater with actions that had a clear goal.

Previously I have written about how the visual demonstrations were associated with political demands and economic pressure so that it was a multi-pronged approach.

What I have been remembering lately is that it was rarely just a protest. Often it was a march, which may not seem that different, but the destination of that march generally delivered a petition or an address to congress or something. 

There were sit-ins and bus rides for the purpose of integration.  

There have been strikes.

When I think the use of protest and signs for resistance I primarily associate that with the anti-war movement during Vietnam. I am not sure that had nearly as big an impact on the eventual withdrawal from Vietnam as the release of the Pentagon Papers and how the news covered it.

I think one thing to address is different forms of resistance. Historically there has been a much wider variety that we seem to be forgetting.

Before that, I want to go over some concepts that guide me.