On the Crazy Thing about Protest

2-4-2026

On the Crazy Thing About Protest: “Protest” is defined as: “a statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something”. By its very nature, the act of protesting is designed to confront someone of an opposing view. Protest can take many forms but no matter how many blow-up unicorns or frogs are in the crowd, it is purpose is to be contentious. To oppose. To change the course of events.

In in our nation today, certain people in power insist there’s some kind of mythical form of “protest” that can be done without ruffling their feathers or causing public discord. These same people want to claim the right to violent, even murderous, protest for themselves, while crushing any much less aggressive protest by their opposition. Despots throughout human history have pursued this same immunity from criticism and opposition. But here in America, we still have a Constitutional right to protest. Specifically, to protest actions of our government.

Just in case some of my readers skipped their American History classes, I want to remind them of a few “protests” that led up to the founding of our nation. A simple Google Search will provide the following:

- The Boston Tea Party (1773): (Members of the Sons of Liberty destroyed 342 chests of tea in Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act). - Stamp Act Riots (1765): (Widespread violent riots occurred across colonies; protesters in Boston destroyed the Lieutenant Governor’s property, while other officials were forced to resign). - Tarring and Feathering: (A common, violent form of intimidation used against British customs officials and loyalists). – Boycotts-Non-Importation Agreements: (Colonists refused to buy British goods to pressure Parliament to repeal taxes). - Boston Massacre (1770): (A violent confrontation where British soldiers fired into a protesting crowd). - Liberty Riot (1768): (A riot in Boston caused by the seizure of John Hancock’s sloop Liberty by customs officials). - Committees of Correspondence: (Groups organized to spread propaganda and coordinate resistance actions across colonies).

The same people who planned, executed and/or were impacted by these “protests”, wrote our American Constitution. When our Founders enacted our individual freedoms, they weren’t envisioning docile citizens who would allow the government to brutalize and murder them, when they spoke out.

Another truth about protest is that if it is to effect change, it must threaten the status quo. There has been a long history of what trying different protest tactics to do this. Gandhi and MLK Jr believed in a non-violent approach. The colonists, the abolitionist John Brown, the coal miners at the Battle of Blair Mountain, Malcolm X and others felt protest and resistance to power needed to be more pro-active. The American Revolution had both peaceful and aggressive protest. So, did the labor movement, the civil rights movement and the gay rights movement. In one way or another, effective protest has to create enough discomfort and destabilization to make the objects of the protest rethink their path. As my dad used to counsel, “if it didn’t take a fight, it probably wasn’t worth much anyway”!

The choice between “peaceful” protest and escalation into more aggressive tactics is ALWAYS determined by those in power. Peaceful protest is a circuit breaker to social turmoil, if the power structure responds and accommodates change. Where the power structure doubles down on what are viewed as regressive actions and policies, the level of protest will rise. The British Crown sent its “redcoats” to control the colonies. Minnesota was peacefully going about its business until the federal government sent thousands of ICE goons there. Instead of the intended show of dominance, the ICE provocation generated all manner of reaction from marches to protective human shields. A surprised Administration now has to choose to insist on its rejected polices or change. This is exactly what the Founders envisioned when they insisted on our Bill of Rights. The Constitution was constructed to give citizens ultimate control over our government.

From 1964 to 1969 the nation was wracked with civil rights protests. I personally was caught up in one at my middle school, as waves of angry protesters swept through our school property enraged and not willing to take it anymore. Few would admit it, but it took white fear and the threat of a social fracture to change enough attitudes to usher in a new era of equity in our nation. In part, the acceptance of MLK Jr’s cohesive approach to race relations was adopted because it was preferable to black militant’s more confrontational approach. Many have forgotten, or never experienced, those times and believe we can reintroduce inequities into our society. They have not accurately weighed the consequences.

The current Administration has garnered admiration from those who believe compromise is weakness and strength is achieved through imposed dominance. Just the opposite of the foundations of the American Republic. A Republic that is designed for the peaceful negotiations of our social contract with each other. What the minority. that seeks to subjugate the rest of us, is just starting to relearn, is that there are different kinds of power. And people can be extremely innovative in resistance to intimidation and state control.

For those who want to “purify” the people in our country, it is a huge surprise that all kinds of citizens are coming to the defense of our immigrant population. More perplexing to them is the willingness of the resistors to stand against brawn and bullets. In spite of the Administration’s efforts to paint the protesters as paid criminals who are impeding the rightful actions of the government, public opinion has turned in favor of the protesters. Including the more aggressive response by protesters to the thuggery and lawlessness of government agents. Where all our elected leaders failed to work out a solution to our immigration policy failures, the people of Minnesota are paving the way! All of a sudden, the Administration is negotiating constraints on ICE and ground rules for its immigration efforts. A stunning rebuke of the idea that those in power can do anything they want.

While much needs to be done, and the Administration has shown an unprecedented willingness to thumb its nose at our Constitution and individual liberties, what is happening should be a great moment for true American patriots. This is a test see if those in power have the stomach to drive our nation into civil war, to achieve their aims. But if the reactions to the killings of Ms. Good and Mr. Pretti seem to have given them cause to pause. We may be seeing the neutering of their bluster and brutality. If so, those powdered wig guys back in 1776 might just have gotten it right. But stopping bad ideas is just the first step to starting back in a better direction. That being said, let’s take a moment to praise protest in all its forms, thank the people of Minnesota and those across the nation who have backed their play. A moment to feel some pride in our ability to beat the bullies and haters with the power of principled people.

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