Mass Protests
Presenter: Howard Gibson and Terri Palmer
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Mass protests have sometimes been effective at changing public opinion or governmental policy, including in Ontario (for instance, in modifying some aspects of rent control changes). They were most recently extremely visible in Hungary and Iran. Historically, the most effective mass protests, such as the civil rights protests in the US South in the 1960s, were accompanied by other actions, especially economic forms of protest like boycotts and strikes. Others, such as the recent No Kings protests in the US, seem to have done little good.
Assume that freedom of speech is an absolute right. What right do protestors have to shut down traffic and inconvenience commuters, shoppers, and people otherwise going about their business? Is a few hours okay? How about a few weeks? What do we do if people are physically intimidated by the protest? Can protestors follow AOC supporters home and shout slogans and wave signs at them?
Conversely, how useful are mass protests that don't inconvenience other people? Do most voters even notice protests that are contained within time and space (say, ones that happen only outside business hours and only in an area that doesn't affect much shopping and business)?
Examples
Pro-Palestinian activists demonstrate on streets in Jewish neighbourhoods in Toronto. Jews have been followed home by demonstrators.
Anti-abortion activists aggressively demonstrate in front of abortion clinics.
Student demonstrators occupy university administration facilities, shutting down classes.
Anti-vaccine demonstrators shut down Ottawa for several weeks.
Hungarian protestors rally in Budapest shortly before the end of Viktor Orbán's rule.
Iranian students protest at universities and in civic centres.
Civil rights protestors hold sit-ins and practice non-violent civil disobedience in the US South in the 1960s.
Humanist questions
1. Are mass protests a useful and meaningful form of political discussion?
2. Do mass protests cause people who disagree with us to change their minds?
3. What right do protestors have to inconvenience people or physically intimidate them?
4. Is inconvenience or intimidation a useful strategy? Conversely, is an attempt notto inconvenience anyone a useful strategy?
5. What makes an effective protest? Is it civil disobedience, sit-ins, protests, mass strikes, targeted strikes, boycotts, or something else?
6. What makes a protest or associated actions ineffective as a way of changing public opinion or governmental policy?
7. What makes a protest work or fail? Is it the number of people, the organization behind the protest, the messaging, the coordination with other activities, or something else?
Please join the Zoom Meeting here: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/971381033