Also good for inviting people to, who could be likeminded if they were to witness solidarity in person. I was always sympathetic to some causes but had that liberal nothing-will-ever-change view. Then sometime invited me to a protest. Seeing people come out to stand up for what's right made me rethink that view.
It's like when people say don't vote for a third party because it's a waste. Well, of course it's a waste if you agree with me but you won't vote for them because I won't and I won't because you're convincing me not to. If it works, it only works if we both do it. We only have to decide to do it.
Going to protests, you see the people who are willing to make change with you, even if the protest alone won't secure the victory. Once it becomes clear that such people exist, and how noisy they can be, an array of political choices suddenly opens itself up. Protests are a visible wedge of the possibility of radical politics.
More personally, I find they're a good place to find likeminded people
Also good for inviting people to, who could be likeminded if they were to witness solidarity in person. I was always sympathetic to some causes but had that liberal nothing-will-ever-change view. Then sometime invited me to a protest. Seeing people come out to stand up for what's right made me rethink that view.
It's like when people say don't vote for a third party because it's a waste. Well, of course it's a waste if you agree with me but you won't vote for them because I won't and I won't because you're convincing me not to. If it works, it only works if we both do it. We only have to decide to do it.
Going to protests, you see the people who are willing to make change with you, even if the protest alone won't secure the victory. Once it becomes clear that such people exist, and how noisy they can be, an array of political choices suddenly opens itself up. Protests are a visible wedge of the possibility of radical politics.