CONTEMPORARY MOVEMENTS

CONTEMPORARY MOVEMENTS

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YELLOW VESTS

This populist, economic justice movement in France seeks tax reforms, protests rising fuel prices, and opposes French President Emmanuel Macron.

MARCH FOR SCIENCE

A series of marches, rallies, and teach-ins on Earth Day 2017 held in Washington, D.C., and 600 cities across the world.

DACA PROTESTS

Protest in New York City, outside of Trump Tower, in response to the rescission of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), on September 6, 2017. Similar protests were held across the nation. 

BLACK LIVES MATTER

Demonstration in St. Paul, MN, the day after Philando Castile was shot to death by a St. Anthony Police officer during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, MN, on July 7, 2016. Protestors shut down a major highway. 

MARCH FOR OUR LIVES

In response to the mass shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 and injured 17 others, a student-led demonstration was held in Washington, D.C., to prevent gun violence. Similar rallies were held across the nation, drawing an estimated 1.2 to and 2 million people in the US, making it one of the largest protests in American history.

EXTINCTION REBELLION

A group originating in the United Kingdom, which uses civil disobedience and other forms of non-violent action to protest biodiversity loss, climate change, and ecological collapse.

STANDING ROCK / #NODAPL

On January 20, 2017, about 3,000 people marched through Minneapolis to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), which threatened the region’s clean water supply and ancient burial grounds.

QUEER LIBERATION MARCH

Protesters marched for LGBTQIA rights in New York City on June 30, 2019, the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. The march started with 8,000 people and grew to over 40,000.

BETHLEHEM PROTEST GRAFITTI

Graffiti artist Banksy used guerilla street art to draw attention to the grim reality of the security wall separating Israel and Palestine. His work, The Walled-Off Hotel, generated international attention. 

ARAB SPRING

A wave of anti-government protests and social media activations spread across several countries in North Africa and the Middle East from 2010 through 2012, resulting in regime change in  Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, and Kuwait. The movement forced economic and political concessions and the release of political prisoners in other countries.

2017 WOMEN’S MARCH

The Women’s March in Washington, D.C. drew 200,000 people in January 2017. More than 400 similar events across the nation and world would draw an estimated 7 million participants. 

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