By now you’ve heard about the Black Lives Matter movement and the associated protests. Maybe you’ve even attended one of these marches yourself. It’s so extremely disheartening that these protests are even necessary. We have made huge strides in the past 100 years, but bigotry still lingers. The movement has seen some success: the amount of awareness that has been spread is incredible and it even seems as if systematic reform is going to be made. The fact that people, just by getting out in the street, can make change happen gives me hope.
This is a win to be sure, but it does not mean that racism is going to disappear. It does not mean that homophobia or sexism or climate change are going to disappear. Maybe part of the problem is that there are so many things to protest against, and we are protesting them separately one at a time. It’s a reactionary model: something outrageous happens, people get angry, they protest, the government appeases them in one way or another, and the cycle repeats. Isn’t it about time that protesters worked together? I mean, I would like to believe that the same people that want to protect the rights of Black people would also want to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ folks, Indigenous people, women…
Protesters should unite under one banner and stand against injustices of all kinds. Easier said than done, I know. And certainly, I won’t be the one to unite them. But if protesters were to combine their efforts, they would have more numbers. They would be taken more seriously. And their demands would be broader; heavier. These BLM protests have had some success, but what about the climate strikes? We haven’t seen any progress there. What about Hong Kong, whose months of protests seem to have been for nothing as China tightens its grip?
Protests with a focused objective have proven to be good at spreading awareness but have failed to put any significant pressure on our governments. I would call for a coalition of causes held together by a thirst for righteousness standing in the face of injustice. To be honest, I don’t think people are angry enough for something so momentous. It would be the beginnings of a global revolution, and we just don’t have the guts or the unity for something like that. Still, let a dreamer dream.