Peaceful Protests and Violent Riots
The killing of an American citizen by the name of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, caused global outrage. The situation was exacerbated by the Coronavirus pandemic that is currently ravaging the entire world and has created a complete halt on every activity. The killing, therefore, broadcast to the whole world as it was caught on camera, took place at a time people were frustrated and adversely affected by the pandemic. The killing sparked protests against police brutality all over the world, but none more so than the United States, where the murder occurred. The demonstrations were, however, marred by riots, looting, and altercation with the police. The study, therefore, explores the difference between a riot or protest and a rebellion. This discourse shall be guided by the Rule of law, which states, “The First Amendment grants the right to ask people for money and to assemble peaceably, but no such gathering may advance criminal objectives such as gang activity.”
The activity of protesting, rioting, and civil disobedience are well documented as having been used to advance social causes throughout the centuries. Most recently, the protests, riots, and unrests of the 1950s through to 1970s remain a potent symbol of the power of protest. However, not all protests are entirely peaceful, and they are indeed often associated with looting and destruction of property. It, therefore, becomes crucial and a hard task to clearly distinguish the different forms of protesting, including those that evolve to become violent. The First Amendment gives the right to “peaceably assemble,” which means that peaceful protests are recognized as a right under the country’s bill of rights. However, the Rule of law categorically prohibits acts of violence of assembling for illegal purposes.
A large number of phrases or names given to different occurrences during and independent of protests limits the understanding and purpose of demonstrations. The term protest may be used to generally refer to the act of expressing disapproval towards something or state of affairs. Protests can either be violent or peaceful, depending on several factors, such as the purpose and the actors. Civil disobedience is also another form of protesting something by refusing to work or carry out regular activities that help in the smooth running of a state or country. This was demonstrated during the 1960s protests where drivers and other federal and state workers refused to work to express disapproval on the state of affairs. The opinion piece presented by WTTW in Chicago gives the ideas and opinions of two residents and activists in the protests, Jahmal Cole and Reuben Jonathan Miller.
Their ideas are different in subtle ways, and the opinion is quite enlightening, especially on the conversation on the distinction between peaceful protests and violent riots. According to Jahmal, he is definite about violent riots, not being in line with the purpose of the demonstration. He adds that he does not uphold and does not support any form of violent protests. On the other hand, Miller states that the distinction between these terms cannot be looked at independently. These terms and their connotations are interconnected, such that it is not clear to say this is a riot, and this is a rebellion. According to him, the conditions giving rise to the protests in the US need to be explored to impact lasting change.
The article is informative on the state of the protests in the country. I supported the protests since they are about creating systemic change that has divided the country for 400 hundred years. Recalling protests advocated by Mahatma Gandhi, peaceful protests can be a powerful tool to get heard. Additionally, actions such as civil disobedience are also powerful since it demonstrates to the authorities that it is not business as usual. Protests that do not cause injuries property damage and arson are essential in ensuring that the message and the purpose of the protest are not filtered down by the chaos and criminal activity.
References
Gunderson, E. (2020). Riot or Rebellion: Why Peaceful Protests Can Become Violent. June 1, 2020. Retrieved from https://news.wttw.com/2020/06/01/riot-or-rebellion-why-peaceful-protests-can-become-violent.