Protest expresses relatively overt reaction to events or situations: sometimes in favour, more often opposed. Protestors 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.
Causes
Wherever governmental policy, economic circumstances, religious orthodoxy, social structures, or media monopoly restrict self-expression in theory, in practice or in appearance, grumbles or interior opposition may spill over into other areas such as culture, the streets or emigration.
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.
