Protesting is one of the most powerful tools of expression that we have and the use of peaceful protest can have the power to influence severe political and social change. Everyone has the right to express their opinions whether they are controversial, well adapted or whatever else but it is one of our fundamental rights and people should not have to fear violence for exercising their rights. With the recent marches and protests surrounding the BLM movement, we have seen countless examples of a peaceful protest that turns aggressive and violent when police and those with opposing views are firing rubber and actual bullets into the crowd and tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd and silent their voices. Not only is this oppression toward the black community and the people marching for their rights, but it shows that their concerns are not being heard and valued like the voices of white people such as when they stormed the capitol building with guns and weapons and committed acts of violence against our country and democracy. While people may argue the fact that some of the protests turned into instances of looting or riots, I would bring to attention that many of the people causing actual destruction were not part of the protest and were outsiders making it seem as if the protest was violent. Also I would ask people who criticize the less peaceful protests and argue that police and others are justified in their acts of violence against the peaceful protestors, what would your response be if people of your community were being murdered on the streets for nothing but their skin tone, were being discriminated against and hate crimed for looking different, and were still being treated with such prejudice and inequality after Decades and Decades of injustice. Peaceful protesting is always the first option and should be exercised, but after a certain point, the calm and silent protests aren't being heard by the people who need to hear them, so louder voices and actions are needed.
