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Apolitical demonstrationis an action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of apoliticalor other cause or people partaking in aprotestagainst a cause of concern; it often consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, orrally,in order to hear speakers. It is different frommass meeting.
Actions such as blockades andsit-insmay also be referred to as demonstrations. Demonstrations can benonviolentorviolent(usually referred to by participants as "militant"), or can begin as nonviolent and turn violent depending on the circumstances. Sometimesriot policeor other forms oflaw enforcementbecome involved. In some cases, this may be in order to try to prevent the protest from taking place at all.[citation needed]In other cases, it may be to prevent clashes between rival groups, or to prevent a demonstration from spreading and turning into ariot.
History
editThe term has been in use since the mid-19th century, as was the term "monstermeeting",which was coined initially with reference to the huge assemblies of protesters inspired byDaniel O'Connell(1775–1847) in Ireland.[1]Demonstrations are a form ofactivism,usually taking the form of a public gathering of people in a rally or walking in amarch.Thus, the opinion isdemonstratedto be significant by gathering in a crowd associated with that opinion.
Demonstrations can promote a viewpoint (either positive or negative) regarding a public issue, especially relating to a perceivedgrievanceorsocial injustice.A demonstration is usually considered more successful if more people participate. Research shows that anti-government demonstrations occur more frequently in affluent countries than in poor ones.[2]
HistorianEric Hobsbawmwrote of demonstrations:
Next to sex, the activity combining bodily experience and intense emotion to the highest degree is the participation in a mass demonstration at a time of great public exaltation. Unlike sex, which is essentially individual, it is by its nature collective… like sex it implies some physical action—marching, chanting slogans, singing—through which the merger of the individual in the mass, which is the essence of the collective experience, finds expression.[3]
Forms
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There are many types of demonstrations, including a variety of elements. These may include:
- Marches, in which aparadedemonstrate while moving along a set route.
- Rallies, in which people gather to listen to speakers or musicians.
- Picketing,in which people surround an area (normally an employer).
- Sit-ins,in which demonstrators occupy an area, sometimes for a stated period but sometimes indefinitely, until they feel their issue has been addressed, or they are otherwise convinced or forced to leave.
- Nudity,in which they protest naked – here the antagonist may give in before the demonstration happens to avoid embarrassment.
Demonstrations are sometimes spontaneous gatherings, but are also utilized as a tactical choice by movements. They often form part of a larger campaign ofnonviolent resistance,often also calledcivil resistance.Demonstrations are generally staged in public, but private demonstrations are certainly possible, especially if the demonstrators wish to influence the opinions of a small or very specific group of people. Demonstrations are usually physical gatherings, but virtual oronlinedemonstrations are certainly possible.
Topics of demonstrations often deal withpolitical,economic,andsocialissues. Particularly with controversial issues, sometimes groups of people opposed to the aims of a demonstration may themselves launch a counter-demonstration with the aim of opposing the demonstrators and presenting their view. Clashes between demonstrators and counter-demonstrators may turn violent.
Government-organized demonstrationsare demonstrations which are organized by a government. TheIslamic Republic of Iran,[4][5]thePeople's Republic of China,[6]Republic of Cuba,[7]theSoviet Union[8]andArgentina,[9]among other nations, have had government-organized demonstrations.
Times and locations
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Sometimes the date or location chosen for the demonstration is of historical or cultural significance, such as theanniversaryof some event that is relevant to the topic of the demonstration.
Locations are also frequently chosen because of some relevance to the issue at hand. For example, if a demonstration is targeted at issues relating to foreignnation,the demonstration may take place at a location associated with that nation, such as anembassyof the nation in question.
While fixed demonstrations may take place inpedestrian zones,larger marches usually take place on roads. It may happen with or without an official authorisation.
Nonviolence or violence
editProtest marches and demonstrations are a common nonviolent tactic. They are thus one tactic available to proponents of strategicnonviolence.However, the reasons for avoiding the use of violence may also derive, not from a general doctrine ofnonviolenceorpacifism,but from considerations relating to the particular situation that is faced, including its legal, cultural and power-political dimensions: this has been the case in many campaigns ofcivil resistance.[10]
A common tactic used by nonviolent campaigners is the "dilemma demonstration." Activist trainer Daniel Hunter describes this term as covering "actions that force the target to either let you do what you want, or be shown as unreasonable as they stop you from doing it".[11]A study by Srdja Popovic and Sophia McClennen won the 2020 Brown Democracy Medal for its examination of 44 examples of dilemma demonstrations and the ways in which they were used to achieve goals within civil resistance campaigns.[12]
Some demonstrations andprotestscan turn, at least partially, intoriotsor mobviolenceagainst objects such asautomobilesandbusinesses,bystanders and thepolice.[citation needed]Police and military authorities often usenon-lethal forceor less-lethal weapons, such astasers,rubber bullets,pepper spray,andtear gasagainst demonstrators in these situations.[citation needed]Sometimes violent situations are caused by the preemptive or offensive use of these weapons which can provoke, destabilize, or escalate a conflict.
As a known tool to prevent the infiltration byagents provocateurs,[13]the organizers of large or controversial assemblies may deploy and coordinatedemonstration marshals,also called stewards.[14][15]
Law by country
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International
editThe right to demonstrate peacefully is guaranteed by international conventions, in particular by the articles 21 and 22 of theInternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights(right of peaceful assemblyandright of association). Its implementation is monitored by theUnited Nations special rapporteuron the right of peaceful assembly and association. In 2019, its report expressed alarm at the restrictions on the freedom of peaceful assembly:[16]
The Special Rapporteur has expressed concern regarding laws adopted in many countries that impose harsh restrictions on assemblies, including provisions relating to blanket bans, geographical restrictions, mandatory notifications and authorizations. [...] The need for prior authorization in order to hold peaceful protests [is] contrary to international law [...].
Australia
editA report released by the Human Rights Law Centre in 2024 states that based on British common law, "Australian courts regard [the right to assembly] as a core part of a democratic system of government."However, there are a number of limitations placed on demonstrations and protest under state, territory and federal legislation, with forty-nine laws introduced regarding them since 2004.[17]
Brazil
editFreedom of assemblyinBrazilis granted by art. 5th, item XVI, of theConstitution of Brazil(1988).
Egypt
editRussia
editFreedom of assemblyin theRussian Federationis granted by Art. 31 of theConstitutionadopted in 1993:
Citizens of the Russian Federation shall have the right to gather peacefully, without weapons, and to hold meetings, rallies, demonstrations, marches andpickets.[18]
Demonstrations and protests are further regulated by the Federal Law of the Russian Federation No.54-FZ "On Meetings, Rallies, Demonstrations, Marches and Pickets".If the assembly in public is expected to involve more than one participant, its organisers are obliged to notify executive or local self-government authorities of the upcoming event few days in advance in writing. However, legislation does not foresee an authorisation procedure, hence the authorities have no right to prohibit an assembly or change its place unless it threatens the security of participants or is planned to take place near hazardous facilities, importantrailways,viaducts,pipelines,high voltage electric power lines,prisons,courts,presidential residences or in the border control zone. The right to gather can also be restricted in close proximity of cultural and historical monuments.
Singapore
editPublic demonstrations inSingaporeare not common, in part because cause-related events require a licence from the authorities. Such laws include the Public Entertainment and Meetings Act and the Public Order Act.
Ukraine
editUnited Kingdom
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Under theSerious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005and theTerrorism Act 2006,there are areas designated as 'protected sites' where people are not allowed to go. Previously, these were military bases and nuclear power stations, but the law changed in 2007 to include other, generally political areas, such asDowning Street,thePalace of Westminster,and the headquarters ofMI5andMI6.Previously,trespassersto these areas could not be arrested if they had not committed another crime and agreed to be escorted out, but this will change[when?]following amendments to the law.[19]
Human rightsgroups fear the powers could hinder peaceful protest.Nick Clegg,the thenLiberal Democrathome affairs spokesman, said: "I am not aware of vast troops of trespassers wanting to invade MI5 or MI6, still less running the gauntlet of security checks inWhitehalland Westminster to make a point. It's a sledgehammer to crack a nut. "Liberty,thecivil libertiespressure group, said the measure was "excessive".[20]
One of the biggest demonstration in the UK was the people vote march, on 19 October 2019, with around 1 million demonstrators related to theBrexit.
In 2021, theSupreme Court of the United Kingdomruled that blocking roads can be a lawful way to demonstrate.[21]
United States
editTheFirst Amendment of the United States Constitutionspecifically allows thefreedom of assemblyas part of a measure to facilitate the redress of such grievances. "Amendment I: Congress shall make no law... abridging... the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."[22]
A growing trend in theUnited Stateshas been the implementation of "free speech zones",or fenced-in areas which are often far-removed from the event which is being protested; critics of free-speech zones argue that they go against the First Amendment of theUnited States Constitutionby their very nature, and that they lessen the impact the demonstration might otherwise have had. In many areas it is required to get permission from the government to hold a demonstration.[23]
See also
edit- Civil resistance
- Crowd control
- Fare strike
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
- List of uprisings led by women
- Mass mobilization
- Nonviolent resistance
- Right to protest
- Petition
- List of rallies and protest marches in Washington, D.C.
- List of incidents of civil unrest in the United States
References
edit- ^Oxford English Dictionary
- ^Shishkina, Alisa; Bilyuga, Stanislav; Korotayev, Andrey (2017)."GDP Per Capita and Protest Activity: A Quantitative Reanalysis".Cross-Cultural Research.52(4): 106939711773232.ISSN1069-3971.
- ^ Eric Hobsbawm (2003).Interesting Times: A Twentieth-Century Life.Random House Digital, Inc. p. 73.ISBN9780307426413.
- ^Analysis: Iran Sends Terror-Group Supporters To Arafat's Funeral ProcessionArchived2004-11-14 at theWayback Machine"...state-organized rallies..."
- ^"Why Washington and Tehran are headed for a showdown"Archived2020-10-28 at theWayback MachineThe Hedge Fund Journal16 April 2006.
- ^Global News, No. GL99-072Archived2021-04-23 at theWayback MachineChina News Digest,3 June 1989.
- ^Cubans ponder life without FidelArchived2007-03-12 at theWayback MachineThe Washington Times2 August 2006.
- ^"Democracy in the Former Soviet Union: 1991–2004"ArchivedSeptember 27, 2007, at theWayback MachinePower and Interest News Report28 December 2004
- ^Nicolás Pizzi (2012-07-29)."Militancia todo terreno: Sacan a presos de la cárcel para actos del kirchnerismo"[All-terrain militants: Prisoners are taken out of jail to take part in Kirchnerist demonstrations] (in Spanish). Clarín.RetrievedJuly 29,2012.
- ^Adam RobertsandTimothy Garton Ash(eds.),Civil Resistance and Power Politics: The Experience of Non-violent Action from Gandhi to the Present,Oxford University Press, 2009, especially at pp. 14–20.[1]Includes chapters by specialists on the various movements
- ^Hunter, Daniel (2024-07-29)."Strengthen a Campaign with Dilemma Demonstrations".The Commons Social Change Library.Retrieved2024-09-19.
- ^VanHise, James L. (2021-09-21)."Dilemma Actions: The Power of Putting your Opponent in a Bind".The Commons Social Chnage Library.Retrieved2024-09-19.
- ^Stratfor (2004)Radical, Anarchist Groups Pose Their Own ThreatArchived2012-03-07 at theWayback Machinepublished byStratfor,June 4, 2004 quote:
Another common tactic is to infiltrate legitimate demonstrations in the attempt to stir widespread violence and rioting, seen most recently in a spring anti-Iraq war gathering in Vancouver, Canada. This has become so commonplace that sources within activist organizations have told STRATFOR they police their own demonstrations to prevent infiltration by fringe groups.
- ^Belyaeva et al. (2007)Guidelines on Freedom of Peaceful AssemblyArchived2021-03-23 at theWayback Machine,published by OSCE'sOffice for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.AlternativeversionArchived2010-06-25 at theWayback Machine,Sections § 7–8, 156–162
- ^Bryan, DominicThe Anthropology of Ritual: Monitoring and Stewarding Demonstrations in Northern IrelandArchived2016-03-03 at theWayback Machine,Anthropology in Action,Volume 13, Numbers 1–2, January 2006, pp.22–31(10)
- ^"Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association (Clément Nyaletsossi Voulé)".undocs.org.11 September 2019. p. 13.Retrieved16 November2020.
- ^Mejia-Canales, David; Human Rights Law Centre (2024-08-26)."Protest in Peril: Our Shrinking Democracy".The Commons Social Change Library.Retrieved2024-09-19.
- ^"Chapter 2 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation".Archived fromthe originalon 2010-03-04.Retrieved2012-07-17.
- ^Morris, Steven, "New powers against trespassers at key sitesArchived2021-03-31 at theWayback Machine",The Guardian,24 March 2007. Retrieved on 23 June 2007.
- ^Brown, Colin, "No-go Britain: Royal Family and ministers protected from protesters by new lawsArchived2007-06-06 at theWayback Machine",The Independent,4 June 2007. Retrieved on 23 June 2007.
- ^Lizzie Dearden (25 June 2021)."Supreme Court backs protesters and rules blocking roads can be 'lawful' way to demonstrate".The Independent.Retrieved28 June2021.
- ^"America's Founding Documents".30 October 2015.
- ^Kellie Pantekoek, Esq. (12 October 2023).'Protest Laws by State'.FindLaw.
External links
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- Special Rapporteur of the United Nations on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
- 10 Principles for the proper management of assemblies (by Special Rapporteurs of the United Nations)
- "Controlling Public Protest: First Amendment Implications",article about restrictions that may be imposed on public protests, in theFBI Law Enforcement Bulletin(1994)
