Follow this timeline of Nelson Mandela, whose protest of South African apartheid spanned decades. View the photos and videos and listen to the audio for more context.
Category Archives: Voices of Protest
The Exhausting Work of Tallying America’s Largest Protest
Two university professors share their method of counting the number of people who attended the Women’s March on January 21 and suggest what that number might signify for the movement’s future success. You can find a link to their Google spreadsheet in the fourth paragraph.
Vietnam War Protests
Protests against the Vietnam War increased in size and scale from the mid-1960s to early 1970s. Learn why more people started to oppose the war.
Address at the Conclusion of the Selma to Montgomery March
Read or listen to one of the most important speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Aung San Suu Kyi Biography
For decades, activist Aung San Suu Kyi fought for democracy and human rights in her country of Burma, which is now called Myanmar. She spent 15 years under house arrest for her actions, but after an election in November 2015, she and her party now lead the government.
The Native American Protests in North Dakota Are About More Than an Oil Pipeline
Writer Jared Keller argues that the protests of Native Americans and environmentalists against an oil pipeline in North Dakota signify a shift from warnings about the future impact of climate change to more immediate and personal consequences.
A protest over education has turned into a movement in Mexico
A routine rally turned deadly when police opened fire on a group gathered to protest an education reform bill in southern Mexico.
Democrats end House sit-in protest over gun control
After a sit-in to protest the lack of a vote on gun control measures, Democratic representatives in Congress promised to return to the next legislative session with renewed determination. House Republicans called their actions a publicity stunt.
Brazil’s Students Occupy Schools In Rio De Janeiro To Protest Conditions Ahead Of Olympics
Students in Brazil have been protesting declining conditions of school facilities in the country, which recently saw the impeachment of its president over the state of its economy.
Ai Weiwei – from criminal to art-world superstar
In this interview, Chinese protest artist Ai Weiwei reflects on his past work and talks about his current endeavors and outlook.
Uprooted
Read about what motivates radical environmental activists.
How social media affects protest movements: It’s complicated
According to research by sociologist Zeynep Tufekci, the power of social media in protest movements is a double-edged sword.
Fast-food workers strike, seeking $15 wage, political muscle
In an attempt to raise the minimum wage, low-wage employees have staged protests in cities across the United States.
A Deep-Rooted History of Activism Stirs in College Football
Threatening to boycott games has been a historic method for athletes to attempt to influence change. Listen to this radio piece to learn more.
In Defense of Thoreau
Duke professor Jedediah Purdy makes a counter-argument to Kathryn Schulz’s “Pond Scum” essay in The New Yorker, which criticized Henry David Thoreau both as a writer and as a person.
Thomas Paine
Read about the life and influence of Thomas Paine, whose writing helped shape the United States.
Conversing With the World: The Poet in Society
Read about the role of protest and political poetry throughout American history.
Hong Kong’s ‘Umbrella’ protest: One year on, what has changed?
In the fall of 2014, thousands of protesters took part in the Umbrella Revolution to fight for more democratic representation in Hong Kong. Now, the movement is biding its time and trying to figure out its next move.
Jonathan Swift Biography
Jonathan Swift, the 18th-century Irish writer and satirist, worked in many professions and eventually became a man of some influence.
The Long History of Olympic Boycotts, Protests and Demonstrations
Throughout history, nations have boycotted and people have protested the Olympic Games for various political and social reasons.