July 23rd, 2024: The meaning of protest (Amnesty International) and student protests met with violence (Bangladesh, Tiananmen Square, Salem)
We discussed what a protest is, what it isn’t, whether they should be regulated, and trends in protest crackdowns across time and space with reference to the quotes below.
We came to the following ideas:
‘Protest’ is in the eye of the oppressor. If an action scares power, then it is a protest. This means that ‘protest’ differs in different dynamics of power, and there cannot be a general definition.
‘Protest’ is in the eye of the victim. If an action brings empowerment to a victim of oppression, then it is a protest. This means that ‘protest’ is highly individualized.
‘Protest’ is symbolic. If someone wears a resistance symbol without knowing what it is, the protest history carried by the symbol will still make the act a protest. For example, toddlers holding Palestinian flags are still protesting, even if they don’t know what they’re holding.
‘Protest’ existing solely in the realm of social media - like cancel culture - is not protest and lacks longterm ideology about liberation.
Protest should not be regulated by power. Protest movements themselves should ensure that they are intersectional and limit harm.
*August 8th update by a Circle member: the Circle is overjoyed to hear that the long-time, autocratic Bangladeshi premier Sheikh Hasina has fled. However, the Circle recognizes that there is much work to be done worldwide. Each revolution is a stepping stone to achieving global peace, rights, and freedoms for all. The ongoing violence and discrimination towards racial and religious minorities in Bangladesh is unacceptable.
“People have a right to protest peacefully, and states have a duty to respect, facilitate and protect this right. This means they shouldn’t interfere with protests, unless there is a legitimate threat to the safety and rights of others. ”
“There is an urgent need for stronger regulation to stop law enforcement from torturing protesters.
This means banning the tools of torture, controlling the trade in other equipment, and creating better laws to ensure standard police equipment is used in line with international standards on the use of force.”
“Tank Man would not let the military vehicles pass. He *succeeded.* Eventually, he was pulled out of the way of danger by onlookers. But the image of unarmed man versus tank quickly came to symbolise the struggle of the Tiananmen protesters - *peaceful protest met with military might*”
“It demonstrates one man’s extraordinary courage, standing up in front of a row of tanks, being prepared to sacrifice his own life for the sake of social justice”
“This prime minister is not the apologizing kind, regardless of what she does. Regardless of the allegations that she has rigged elections, regardless of the fact that corruption has been at an all-time high during her tenure, regardless of the fact that more than 100 students and other protesters have been murdered by her goons and the security forces, regardless of the fact she has deemed all those who oppose her views to be “razakars” (collaborators of the Pakistani occupation army in 1971).”
“Private TV channels view with the state-owned BTV and churn out government propaganda. As I watch members of the public complain on one, I am unable to forget all the average people I spoke to - the rickshaw drivers, and even fruit sellers with perishable goods - who expressed solidarity with the students. Their immediate suffering, though painful, is something they are willing to accept.
She has to go, they say.”
