You’re Not Protesting Like Dr. King:
The core principle of the Civil Rights Movement was voluntary conversion, never any compulsion or arm-twisting. Its protests were mounted as an appeal to the conscience and goodwill of both the protest target and the wider public. Protesters, never the protest targets, endured every consequence their demonstrations brought: physical assault, destruction of their property, restriction of movement, and imprisonment by law enforcement. For them, protest was a demonstration of their commitment to the cause; it was never a punishment of the people or institutions that were the protest’s target.
The core principle of today’s movements seems to be involuntary coercion and intimidation. Too often, they want to force others to adopt their perspective and support their cause by threat or physical attack. They seek to shut down any program, activity, or speech they disagree with.
Simply put, today’s “protestors” do not know how to protest, which is why even when I agree I will not join them. Indeed, I am now more likely to condemn them than advocate for whatever their pet cause is, a cause they can typically not discuss the second or third order effects of.
American democracy cannot survive without the right to protest. Yet in the 21st century, 23 states have enacted at least 55 laws to limit how people can exercise their constitutional right to protest. Protesting in the way of Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights activists he led is the way to protect one of America’s greatest rights, the right to protest for rights. If a just protest is to succeed, its advocates must walk in Dr. King’s footsteps.
Absolutely true, but I’m not optimistic it will happen.