Should all types of protest be allowed?
Tom @ the BNC
04 January 2021
We can't wait to hear your thoughts on your new Issue about protest!
One of the questions from the first session is:
Should all types of protest be allowed?
What do you think and why?
Different types of protest can include...
You might want to give your opinion now, and then add another comment once you've learnt more about different protests and see how your thinking has changed!
Comments (79)
04 Jan 2021
I think not all types of protests should be allowed because not all protests are approprie
Good point ethical_cliff - what kind of protests do you think are *not* appropriate?
Violent protests like the black lives matter protest
Is it fair to class all of these protests as violent? And even if there was violence in any, do you think that's justified?
I think protests should be aloud but with no violence so its all safe.
I think that some protests should be allowed. Such as marching and boycott ( and a few others). I think this because they are not violent, on the other hand rioting should be illegal.
04 Jan 2021
Hi there I hope you had a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
I think that in my opinion the March Of. A protest should be banned in certain places because here are my opinions
1. You’re putting your own self in risk as we’ve seen in some countries that has been. lots of protest going on such as the BLM protest and more protest. I find these protests quite stupid in a way because there is no point. And going to march on the street and risking your life for it. Simply You could contact the stuff of the government or create a platform on any social media which doesn’t in tact with hurting anyone or violence.
Secondly, it could be very dangerous for you such protests which include violence racism and more things could be really bad with you because you could be really injured and no one would like to help you or we could even face worse things than that.
Thirdly, I know this might sound stupid but roads aren’t made for protest roads are made for cars and other vehicles to drive on types of protest like this could be very dangerous as to a card could come and run over people or someone could get really injured by any type of object or thing. This is why I didn’t protest should be banned in some countries and shouldn’t be banned in some countries. Sorry if I hurt anyone in any feelings.
Hope you agree with my opinions
Decisive_redcurrant
05 Jan 2021
I think that no type of protest should be banned.
I think this because if it is banned, it doesn't mean that people would stop doing it. Yes, some types of protest are worse than others, but only the people who make sensible choices will actually change the government's decisions. Only non-harmful protests have a chance of influencing the government.
Interesting point. Can you find any examples from history where violent protests have been successful? Do you think they were justified?
05 Jan 2021
No because riots can harm people because some people burn cars and some of the protest involves harming properties and painting on roads . If I was the president i would band riots and civil disobedience , I will keep the protest witch involve no harm and show respect
I hope u have a great new year😁😁😁❤️❤️
05 Jan 2021
No because riots is illegal because it’s setting things on fire and destroying things and people cold get hurt and could die from them you are all so destroying other peoples property and destroying police cars and civil disobedience is illegal because random graffiti is illegal
05 Jan 2021
Hi everyone my name is mirthful _rainforest and I will be sharing my opinion on this question.Please try to have an open mind while reading this and if there’s any questions about my post I’ll be sure to reply quickly.Anyways below is my response to this post.
With certain protests in the post I disagree with a few of them and think there’s a better way to solve it.The reason for this is because the of how violent it is, and yes I’m aware that sometimes you have to do something extreme to get everyone’s attention but we know violence is never the way to handle a situation.Now moving on with the other ways to protest those I approve and as long as they are taking safety measures to make sure their safe and that everyone around them are too.I know people have many opinions on protesting but even if you think it’s a waste of time or not worth,I just want to let you know that people put so much effort into these and are fighting for what they think is right and even if you don’t like the way they go about it please be respectful to them for building up the courage and confidence to go out there and fight for their justice.Now I’m sure by now all of you know that last year know about the George floyd protest that happened last year in 2020.Many people who didn’t do their research on the protest thought that it was dumb and unsafe.That they were the problem cases were rising but they were taking extra care with the protests.With wearing masks putting hand sanatizer.In conclusion I thought that they had every right to go out on the streets to protest and I think that it was very hard to protest virtually as many weren’t listening and they didn’t do it in a dangerous way.thank you for listening!
Great speaking shown here with clear reasons given for your opinion - well done! Your argument is missing the side where you say which protests you disagree with. Can you say more?
Thank you very much.So with whether I agree or disagree on if all protests should be allowed I disagree because I don’t believe in violence but I believe that sometimes you have to do it to get the peoples attention or who ever you are aiming the protest at.Because sometimes people will just ignore whatever your fighting for because they don’t care or aren’t aware and don’t want to get involved even though they should be aware.So that’s why some people use violence but I think it’s quite wrong but I understand why it happens.Thank you for listening and I hope you have a wonderful day!
Kind regards,Mirthful_rainforest
06 Jan 2021
I believe in all protests except riots. However, if police brutality is used against protesters that are not breaking any laws I think it is fair for the protesters to defend themselves against any unfair police officers.
07 Jan 2021
I believe in all except strike because if the business workers get paid 100 a month then soon the wont have any money left for bills, food ect.
That's a very good point because if they have a family of five they would have to spend their money on food which would only last a week but they also have to pay bills so very good you metioned that because it ties in with the protests.
Thank you!
but they work hard and if they don't get paid enough they have show their employers that they want need more money. I also think your answer is reasonable I just personally don't understand it.
07 Jan 2021
I think not all protests should be allowed because some cause distrusption and just make things worse
Disruption can certainly make things worth sometimes. But can you think of anything that might be worth disrupting with a protest, or is it always wrong?
``I agree because some protests end badly with people getting hurt. This does not help people to see the real reason they are protesting
i agree as sum prortest cors riots
07 Jan 2021
eager_reflection here,
I'm going to discuss whether I agree with each type of protest.
1: Riot
I do not agree with this type of protest. This is because it can cause lots of unnecessary deaths and destruction of property. It can impact people's livelihoods. Violence is never a way to solve a problem. Some protesters in riots can go too far and do unnecessary damage. Also, if some join riots just to make trouble, they aren't really protesting for anything and therefore it is useless for them to stir trouble.
2: March
I think that this protest is a good way for people to express their views. This is because it is not violent but a very effective, peaceful to let people hear your calls. Large marches can create other protests around, such as the BLM protest.
3: Virtual Activism
I think that this is a alright way to protest, but is a good way to protest in a pandemic like now. Some people may spread fake news, though, and that can change the way other people think, and this, I think, is bad. Even one post someone makes can create a huge outburst of comments. Some even go viral across the world.
4: Strike
I think that this is a fair way of trying to protest. This is because it is usually the last resort of workers if they want to change their employers' views, as no worker wants to not work. They want to renegotiate a fairer terms for the contract of employment. Some strikes are successful and some not as it depends on the employer. On the other hand, it can impact our lives because if airline staff are on strike, you can't go on holiday until the strike is over.
5:Silent Protest
I think that this is a good protest. This is because it expresses your views but without speaking. Also, it can still have a huge impact on people. An example is if a football player kneels down on one knee before the game as part of the BLM protest.
6: Boycott
I think that this is a good way to protest. This is because protesters just strongly believe in something and that is why, out of principles, they do not participate in something. An example of this was the Bristol Bus Boycott in 1963. This was successful.
7: Civil disobedience
I do not think this is a good way to protest. This is because people would be doing something illegal and that is a bad thing to do. If they are making a nuisance of themselves, they aren't doing anyone any good, especially themselves.
In conclusion, I think that protests should be allowed only if they are peaceful.
Thanks for reading.
Very thoughtful, eager_reflection! I have given you a star for the way you have given reasons and done extra research to support your opinions. This is really important for speaking convincingly - so well done.
07 Jan 2021
I think not all protests should be allowed as with some of them such as the riot type of protest condones violence and suggest other people should use violence to get what they want. Take a look at the recent protest in the capital[if you don't know what is happening recently a lot of trump protestors stormed Washington DC ] of America 4 people died and dozens of police were badly injured which is not only terrible but disappointing given the time we are in and those hospital beds used for coronavirus patients are now being used for their reckless acts I understand that a protest is to express your concern and feelings of the economy but does that really mean that you should risk the lives and safety of others?
By fiery_impression
Thank you for sharing your opinion, fiery_impression! Lots of good reasons there. But who might not agree with you?
08 Jan 2021
In my opinion not all protests should be allowed those being riots and civil disobedience.
Riots and civil disobedience shouldn't be allowed owing to the fact that people frequently take advantage of these kinds of protests like looting and robbing shops. Another reason for riots/civil disobedience to come to an end is the violence and excessive or violence the police force and the authorities have to use against rioters/protesters to stop them from continuing. A lot of weapons are used to stop riots/protests like rubber bullets. Despite the name a single rubber bullet can maim (wound or injure (a person or animal) so that part of the body is permanently damaged) break bones (when fired at close range) and even kill.
thank you for reading my comment,
comfortable chemistry
What about in countries where protesting is illegal and even peaceful protests are met with force from the police? Should these protesters be allowed to fight back?
People should be allowed to defend themselves and it's not right to not be able to share your opinion even with just peaceful protesting!
Is there anything that you think people should not be able to protest for, shining_queen?
well maybe something racist e.g. against the black lives matter protest
09 Jan 2021
In my point of view, I think that Riot and civil disobedience should not be allowed. I will explain my reasons for each of them down below.
RIOT:
Riot protest should not be allowed because it can often cause needless injuries, and sometimes even death. Because riots are always uncontrolled anyone who joins the riot can do anything and everything they want, some just join a riot to break stuff just for fun, e.g. a few days ago, swarms of protesters that were Trump’s supporters were doing a riot in America and were damaging everything in sight just because trump lost the election, one of them even sat in the Senate President’s chair.
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE:
Civil disobedience should be allowed sometimes, mainly because you break the law and upset the society by doing illegal stuff, this can harm and put people in severe danger which is why it’s against the law.
Sometimes civil disobedience is ok, but only if it’s for the right reason e.g. what if someone got arrested for something they didn’t do and the only way they can prove they’re innocent is by breaking the law.
OTHER PROTESTS:
Other protests such as virtual activism, march, strike, boycott and silent protests are fine because they are a peaceful, non-violent way of expressing your opinion to people. What's important is to stand up for yourself and show that you want to get your voice heard.
A range of ideas given here, discreet_drum. How do we know what is a good reason to show civil disobedience?
12 Jan 2021
Peaceful protests are a great way of protesting but some time the police shoot people for protesting.
what protest would you say is peaceful? why would you say they are peacful?
What do you think about this, persistent_wolverine?
14 Jan 2021
Protests should be banned in some places because it can be very dangerous and buildings can be destroyed.
14 Jan 2021
Some protests should not be aloud like trump supporters storming the US capitol. But calm protest for blm or the NHS they should be aloud and racism is a very big cause for protests but it also can result in death.
14 Jan 2021
I don't think all protests should be allowed because some protests end bad, with people and communities getting hurt, for sticking up for themselves. I think if they are friendly protests and planned, these are ok.
14 Jan 2021
personally, i think it depends on what you are protesting for. if you are protesting to make a genuine change, that will be good for all if the outcome is met, then yes they can be a good idea. However if you are going to protest for something that will cause riots, backlash and contreversy then i would say no. Protests are supposed to be a way to get your point across ( a debate in a way) to make good change., not for people to be harmed in the process.
A balanced opinion, enlightened_atom! Can a protest that causes damage to a building or property ever be justified?
yes it could cause damage to a building as they do what they want when protest
14 Jan 2021
I think people should be able to protest as long as it is in a peaceful way with no violence.
how many people would you say should protest?
10-15
14 Jan 2021
Prostests should be banned because they can cause illiegal damage to properties and other things
Do all protests do this, good_buffalo?
14 Jan 2021
I dont think all protests should be allowed such as riots because in some cases it could result in death.
14 Jan 2021
I believe that should be aloud but only if they are peaceful, if the protests aren't peaceful then people could get hurt, people could get arrested, people could get killed, building could get damaged
14 Jan 2021
I don't think all protest should be allowed because not all protest are appropriate
14 Jan 2021
I think protests should be allowed as its supports peoples' beliefs and freedom of speech.
but people have different beliefs which can cause arguments and fighting which could lead to riots, destruction and death. Some people just want to be controversial.
14 Jan 2021
I believe protests should be allowed because they allow people express their opinion, however I think protests need to be safely organised as many people die or get injured during protests.
I think that's a very wise suggestion, skillful_engine. How can protests be organised safely? What steps need to be taken?
14 Jan 2021
I think all protests should be allowed but only if they are peaceful and have responsible and good meaning. So that no gets injured.
what do you think is a fair reason to protest warmhearted_squirrel's?
Great question!
14 Jan 2021
I think that some protests are fine because people are expressing how they feel about something. I dont think there should be riots, and I dont think there should be fighting. I think it should be done in the right way.
Everyone has a right to an opionion on things but it needs to be done nicely.
14 Jan 2021
I think the only type of protest that should not be allowed is the riot since sometimes it can get out of hand and people get hurt.
14 Jan 2021
I think that not all protest should be allowed because in some protests people get injured or even killed. Sometimes they can lead to peoples properties being damaged and and take things from these properties. I think the only protests that should go ahead are ones that do not involve people being hurt or properties being damaged or destroyed.
14 Jan 2021
I think some protests should be allowed like peaceful protests and some not like riots and civil disobedience.
14 Jan 2021
Yes because if the public doesn’t agree with a choice that the government have made then they say “this is not fair so change your choices” the only protesting that isn’t good is where people get violent and that means other get hurt.
14 Jan 2021
i dont think riots should be allowed because they are violent but sometimes they might be ok if the conditions are so bad and the government is corrupt. If a riot happens it is usually because the other types of protest haven't worked. it is usually the last resort. marching is much better and the others apart civil disobiennce are ok.
14 Jan 2021
I think that most protests should be aloud but some people take it to far and then people get injured and sometimes even killed because of unpeaceful protests .
14 Jan 2021
I think peaceful protests on all subjects should be allowed, even if they are about difficult things. When protests get extreme, with violence and bad behaviour it worries me.
14 Jan 2021
I think protests should be allowed so people can express their feelings.
15 Jan 2021
I think some of the type of protest should be allowed . The protests that include violence or doing illegal activites , such as Riots and Civil Disobedience should be prohibited . On the other hand the protest that are organised safely should be allowed , therefore people can share and express the feelings, so we still remain a democratic country.
What if a government isn't listening to protesters when they are protesting legally?
15 Jan 2021
In my thought Protesting peacefully is fine but in most cases protesting for something many people disagree with can cause arguments into fights which makes danger and injured people and maybe dead but rioting is different as it's bad because they damage others property
18 Jan 2021
Peaceful protests shouldn't be banned because people should be able to stand up for what they believe in and have a voice but when people cause trouble with violence and damage property, it is wrong. People get hurt and even die in these protests, these are the ones that need to be banned.
19 Jan 2021
No like the Black Lives Matter is causing riots
20 Jan 2021
I think that some types of protest should be allowed
I think that a riot should not be allowed because it is very violent and risky. People who are not protesters can get hurt as well and their equipment destroyed.
I think marches are a good way to protest. No one will get hurt because people are just walking in groups holding signs and chanting. No violent behaviour. However, I think that there should be some restrictions. For example, marches should not be held on roads because people can be injured by vehicles.
I think virtual activism is an amazing way to protest. Firstly, no one can get hurt. Secondly, the message is there for everyone to see all time so no one has to continuously say anything. Lastly, a lot of people around the world can see it, not just the people that are nearby.
I think that a strike is not a bad idea but it is not completely good. People need to work to earn money so if suddenly a group of workers stop doing their jobs, all jobs will go on hold. However, it is not dangerous and it would probably only last a little while so workers would have enough money to last them until the end of the protest. This method is very effective.
A silent protest is a good way to protest. It is not harmful because you are just sitting somewhere unusual or refusing to do something but this is still a very powerful method.
A boycott is a good way to protest. You are not effecting others lives. You are simply refusing to use something because of what it's made of. However, this effort can go a long way. Other people will see what you are doing and will probably follow because now, they know what the company uses.
I think that civil disobedience should be banned. Doing something illegal or damaging something is a very bad way to protest. This way you're putting other people's lives in danger. You will most likely go to jail and people would just feel less persuaded because of you harmful behaviour.
I think the best way to protest is virtual activism. I think riots and civil disobedience should be banned. I think a marches and strikes should have restrictions.
22 Jan 2021
I think that Riot and Civil Disobedience protests should be banned.
I think this because Civil Disobedience protests are illegal and where you damage something that is not yours therefore you are probably going to end up in jail or in very serious trouble.
I think that that Riot protests should also be banned because it is violent and sometimes out of control and people can get hurt.
It is most likely that no one will listen to you and try to make a change if you do the protest in a violent sort of way either so there is no point in doing protests like this.
25 Jan 2021
Hi BNC,
To answer that question, I will tell you the pros and cons of all of the different types of 'protesting' then but my overall view at the end.
One of the pros for riots would be that it would really get your voices heard, as you would be all over the news as a lot of people smashing windows would give more publicity than a peaceful protest (although there are a few variables including: the amount of people protesting and the people who are there ). A con for riots would be that although there would be more publicity, it wouldn't necessarily be good publicity. A perfect example would be the recent capital riots in the states. They went into a full out riot and now they have been having so much bad publicity that the whole thing that they were protesting about, has been undermined and the whole protest was completely pointless because of that.
One of the pros for marches would be that because that it is peaceful and nobody gets hurt nothing could or would undermine the credibility of the thing that they came out to protest for in the first place. By this I mean this is that when you go out in large numbers and just march down and around some important places, nothing bad or incriminating could be said about the protest. A con would be sometimes a march just isn't powerful enough to get anybody in power to feel threatened enough to look into the matter and try and resolve the issue. For instance, if you were to go down to parliament and throw rocks into/onto the gate, they would almost certainly notice and they would get lots of press coverage and publicity, but if you just went down there and walked past (even if there was a large crowd of protesters) nothing radical would have happened making the people of power to not take much notice of them.
One of the pros for virtual activism (and this is quite major especially at this time in history) is that you would not be close together and not social distancing. For instance, when I went to the Cecil Rhodes protest in Oxford, we were all huddled together and next to each over, meaning that we could have been spreading the coronavirus. This would bring some knock on effects including the fact that as we were all being very wary and didn't want to do anything irrational or silly that could potentially be dangerous, we were not fully committed to protesting so doing it online makes everything so much less dangerous. A con would be (like the con for marches) that it makes it so much less obvious thus making less people of power see it and making it less of a great way to protest.
One of the pros for strikes would be that because of a magnitude of the impact that a strike would do to both the economy and the business(es) whose workers are striking, the government or whoever the protester is trying to talk to would try and be quick to try and resolve this issue. As you would fairly obviously be able to see, this would mean that it is a highly successful type of activism and protesting. A con for strikes would be -rather ironically- the monumental impact that would happen to the business and economy (although -as I said it the 'pros' section of this paragraph- it would mean that the matter would be addressed and resolved swiftly). I say this because, yes it would be a successful form of protesting, I still want to think about the damage that would be done to the economy and businesses and because it would cause so much of a disruption, I don't think that it is really, a decant way of protesting. So yes, it is a great way to protest but it isn't really fare to everybody else.
Before I start, I do just want to mention that this will be a smaller paragraph. One of the pros for silent protests are that it would mean that everybody is happy. Nobody is getting destructed and the protesters can get there message across peacefully. The con would be that it doesn't really stand out. If I want a high ranking government minister, I wouldn't lose a moments sleep over a group of people sitting somewhere unusual. In conclusion, yes it has a pro, but the con out ways it massively and I would not recommend using this form of protesting.
One of the pros for boycotting would be that it works well over a space of time. We can see this in the Montgomery bus boycott, were when Rosa Parks refused to get out of her seat for a white man and was arrested, all of the black community in Montgomery didn't go on any buses in till they changed there policy for all races and give it a sense of equality. Back to the pro, we know it works, and although the Montgomery Bus Boycott (MBB) took a year, we know it would work. A con would be that it would make everything harder for the people actually doing the boycott as (I will draw you back to the MBB) all the black people couldn't use buses making everything (although it was for a good cause) harder. Because of this, I don't think that it is a good form of protesting plainly for the protesters sake.
Lastly, one of the pros for civil disobedience, (much like what I said about marches) is that it would bring absolutely loads of publicity to the cause and help anybody who is important and who needs to hear about this protest for anything important to happen hear about the protest. A con for civil disobedience would be that you could potentially get arrested or even worse: Tear gases, mase or shot with rubber bullets. As you could probably guess, this would COMPLETLY undermine you cause and deem your whole protest useless.
Here is my overall view based on the information I have given above. I think the two types of protesting that should be abolished, should be both Civil Disobedience and Riots due to many different factors that I have listed above.
Thank you for reading BNC, I hope you enjoyed reading it as it took me a good 2 1/2 to 3 hours to write. Thanks,
-careful_science
This is a fantastic comment and worth all of the hard work you have put into it! It's great to see such thoughtful evaluation, and especially good that you have supported your points with examples - including your own experience of attending a march! I would like to question your point about silent activism. You say you don't think a government would be too concerned about someone sitting somewhere unusual. How could the example of Greta Thunberg, and the movement she helped to start, challenge your point?
Well Olivia, that has made my think about my answer on silent protesting but I would still stick with my answer due the fact that I would argue that Greta's protests were marches and than what really kick started her movement was her talks in the UN and other places.
30 Apr 2021
10-15
30 Apr 2021
Lets talk about how I think they should build back greener by replacing fossil fuels with more healthy way to make a machine.
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