As the pile of breaking news continues to grow daily, many Americans are feeling distraught, discontent and angry. How do they cope with these feelings? Some express their frustrations to family members or suppress them, while others choose to take to the streets. Protesting is certainly not a new concept; in fact, the American Revolution began as a massive protest. Each year, rallies, vigils, pickets, strikes, boycotts, walkouts and demonstrations occur worldwide, addressing a wide range of issues from various perspectives.
In recent times, the United States has experienced a surge in these protests as the public reacts to their changing lives and controversial laws. However, on March 4, Trump took to social media to declare that any “College, School, or University that allows illegal protests” would lose federal funding. Additionally, the “agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came.”
Then, Mahmoud Khalil was arrested and deportation, for a man with a green card, was threatened. People were scared and rightfully so. The idea that disagreeing with your government, or even with an idea or a company, could end with your life being wrongfully dismantled and destroyed is an unexpected overreach of power. Now, Columbia University, where Khalil attended, has agreed to a list of demands to restore $400 million in federal funding.
Students have responded by organizing a vigil for March 24, which is, of course, a kind of protest. The Department of Education is threatened? People protest. Dislike Elon Musk inserting himself into democracy? Protest. Are tariffs going to hurt your business? Protest. Worried about your rights? Protest. The right to protest is threatened? You’ll never guess what people did.
This is to say that protesting is a fundamental part of democracy. It allows people to make their voices heard, support the issues they care about and create a foundation that politicians can address. But more than that, protests are for people. Because when you stand in a crowd, signs in hand, repeating chants, and marching, you feel a part of something. It reminds you that you’re not alone. When you turn on the news and see a protest for an issue you care about you think, “Good, someone’s doing something.”
I’ve attended protests. On street corners, outside city halls, and walkouts during school. And honestly? In a strange way, they’re fun. There is an exhilaration in taking action, in seeing others agree with you, and allowing your voice to join the chorus. Yes, protests can become violent. Yes, people can get hurt or take things too far. But most of the time, it’s about handing out hand warmers, making signs, packing snacks and calling your friends.
Protesting is a timeless exercise in self-advocacy and support. Threatening protesters is a fear tactic designed to intimidate average people, making them scared to show their support and stand up for what they believe in. As a result, many remain quiet and compliant while their freedoms are stripped away. However, this is also a display of fear.
The only way for your voice to be heard is to make some noise.
Be safe and kind, but be loud.
