Protest as an Instrument of Ascertaining Public Opinion
Volume III, Issue I, 2020
Protests are generally public expressions of discontent or disapproval towards a particular idea or course of action, be it political or social. Protestors organise protests in order to voice out their opinions and views loud in an attempt to influence public opinion. Although protests are systematic and peaceful campaigning for fulfilment of one’s interests, yet we get to see many instances where protests turn violent and ultimately go beyond government control. One of the most significant protest movements was the Civil Rights Movement which was a decades-long struggle (from 1950s to 1960s) by the African-Americans against racial discrimination and segregation practised upon them by the Whites in the United States.
This article discusses some of the most prominent protests that took place in the 21st century all over the world. These protests revolve around various contentious issues and concerns of the people worldwide who were eventually to a certain extent successful in their quest for the fulfilment of their basic rights, privileges and interests. Most of these protests turned violent as it concerned the sentiments of millions of people wanting their voices to be heard at a bigger platform.