Protests Flashcards
2018 US March for Our Lives: Gun Rights Protests
Triggered by the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting that killed 17 students and injured 17 more, anti-gun violence group Never Again MSD was established by survivors of the shooting. They initiated March for Our Lives, where student organisers urged Trump to toughen gun ownership regulations: stricter background checks on gun owners and for raise of the federal ownership age to 21.
More than 1.2 million attended, making it one of the largest protests in US history.
Cause of discontent: Despite countless mass shootings, little action was taken by US govt to tighten gun ownership regulations. Their passivity is largely due to the strong lobbying power of the National Rifle Association (reflects influence that lobbies and interest groups have over legislators in US).
While lobbying is commonly perceived to be an act of unfair influence on govt, impt to note that it is a legal practice performed by organisations to pressure govt into adopting certain policies (in exchange for funding for example). Lobbying represents an essential part of participatory democracy and allows govt to sort out conflicting interests
Despite the initial lack of governmental response, Never Again MSD was eventually able to effect change in March 2018, where Florida passed the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, putting in place stricter background checks and banning modifications that made massacres possible in the first place.
2018 Families Belong Together
Families Belong Together was a series of protest marches against the Trump administration’s policies of separating families that crossed into the US illegally or to seek asylum, detaining them in separate facilities often with poor living conditions. When Trump entered office, he also put into place reforms to repeal the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy which originally allowed children of illegal immigrants to continue residing in US given certain conditions.
Shock reverberated through the country as footage of families forcibly separated went viral on social media, igniting outrage on the part of human rights groups and immigration advocates. Such cruel and inhumane policies put younger immigrants at greater risks of emotional and physical trauma due to the stress. Even those who originally sided with Trump in harsher immigration laws were unable to stomach the leaked footage of children locked in cages and dying in custody.
More than 600 marches were held across the country in over 700 towns, both in conservative areas and those more welcoming of immigrants, with mainstream support for #FamiliesBelongTogether and a secondary #ClassroomsNotCages trending.
2 months after it began, Trump signed an executive order ending the policy.
2018- present
Yellow Vests protests
(aka Gilet Jaune)
Mounting dissatisfaction towards Emmanuel Macron prompted the organisation of popular protests regarding the high cost of living, further contributed by the French government’s policy of raising fuel taxes which had a disproportionate burden on the working class.
The yellow vest which bus drivers had to wear was used as a political symbol to represent the working class and their interests.
Eventually, the protests bore fruits, pushing the incumbent government towards a re-introduction of the wealth tax and increase in minimum wage.
Additionally, Macron suggested a reformation of the nation’s retirement policy to create a universal system to replace the current 42 disparate systems that exist.
Such moves prompted both transportation and electric workers to launch yet another widespread strike in protest, crippling transportation services, discouraging tourism and disrupting regular life for many citizens.
VS Singapore where protests are taboo bc it is believed they can bring society to a standstill, while in France they support their compatriots’ right to strike even as entire cities suffered gridlock
While agreeing to the demands would have instantly placated the masses and enabled peace to be restored, Macron stood his ground and did not take rash actions to accede to the populist demands of the people because it would have led to unsustainable govt expenditure → rising public debts and fiscal irresponsibility
IN recent years, the world has seen a surge in populist govts and policies. But leaders with foresight and sense of duty will be wise to push through reforms that may not be popular, for the good of the people in the long run. Truly fulfilling responsibility and not just pandering
