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Protest

2003 GMO USDA protest
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2003 GMO USDA protest

Protest expresses relatively overt reaction to events or situations: sometimes in favour, more often opposed. Protesters may organize a protest as a way of publicly and forcefully making their opinions heard in an attempt to influence public opinion or government policy, or may undertake direct action to attempt to directly enact desired changes themselves.

Contents

Causes

Self-expression can, in theory, in practice or in appearance, be restricted by governmental policy, economic circumstances, religious orthodoxy, social structures, or media monopoly. When such restrictions happen, grumbles or interior opposition may spill over into other areas such as culture, the streets or emigration.

March 15, 2003, peace protest in Montreal
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March 15, 2003, peace protest in Montreal

Historical Examples

Unaddressed protest may grow and foster dissent, activism, riots, insurgency, revolts, and political and/or social revolution, as in:


Forms of Protest

Canonical forms of protest include:

See also

Note: In American English the verb "protest" often acts transitively: The students protested the policy. Elsewhere we still find intransitive usage: The students protested against the policy; or: The students protested in favour of the policy.

Protests over the Rules in the German Wikipedia

Last updated: 05-12-2005 23:48:59
Last updated: 05-13-2005 07:56:04