The Year of Protest

With the chanting “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” spreading from Ferguson to the rest of the world, students in Hong Kong standing for democracy with umbrellas, and a movie revolution inspiring a real life one in Taiwan, 2014 has been the year of the protest.

LGBT rights were center stage during protests of the 2014 Winter Olympics held in Sochi, Russia at the beginning of the year. President Putin had passed laws banning “homosexual propaganda” which were protested by Russians and visiting athletes alike.

Protests continued in Gaza strop as numbers of unarmed Palestinians continue to be killed by the Israel army in the ongoing fight to have their own land. This year saw growing support from people around the world as rallies were held in London, France, Chicago, New York and many other cities.

University procedures surrounding rape and sexual assault were brought into question as a senior, Emma Sulkowicz, at Columbia University brought her mattress to class and led to mattresses being dragged out on campuses across the nation in protest of how American university handle sexual assault cases.

The blockbuster third installment in the Hunger Games series was banned in Thailand out of fear of it encouraging revolution. This did not stop the three finger salute from the movie from being a symbol of the movement. The students that are a part of the movement hope to change the government to a democracy.

With the FIFA World Cup in Brazil this past year there were protests at the matches about how the government of Brazil treats its people, particularly the natives and poor.

There continue to be protests in Mexico City following the kidnapping of over 43 Mexican students by the police working for a drug cartel. Graves continue to found outside Iguala where the students were from.

Dubbed the “Umbrella Revolution” students in Hong Kong shut down highways a movement for democracy despite the violence and tear gassing they have faced from the police. The movement was shut down by the police earlier today after two months in the streets, but the protesters say they will return.

Racism in the police sparked protests across the United States and the globe after the deaths Mike Brown, Erin Garner and other black men who were killed while unarmed by white people officers. The movement was started in 2012 with the killing of Trayvon Martin and remains prominent as multiple black men have been killed by the police in the past few months.

Clearly the world has many problems, but people are wiling to do what it takes to create a world in which they want. The remarkable thing about the protests of this year is the solidarity of people from all places and walks of life. Social Media has been able to connect groups, share tips and let the world know what is happening even if the mainstream media isn’t. So here is to the people fighting for their rights in 2014 and hopefully a better year in 2015.