PROTEST

A look at how activism has changed the world.

Activists Leonard and Carothers’ book, published by the politically engaged retailer Patagonia, is, they write, an invitation “to defend the right to protest as a foundation of civil society” and “to step forward and experience for yourself the formidable power of protest.” The book chronicles more than 40 protests throughout history, beginning in 1738 with Quaker abolitionist Benjamin Lay’s pioneering and theatrical tactics to demonstrate against slavery. The authors write about some of history’s most recognizable protests: the Boston Tea Party, Mahatma Gandhi’s Salt March, and Colin Kaepernick taking a knee during the playing of the national anthem. But more interesting are the demonstrations that readers might not have heard about, including San Francisco’s 504 Sit-In—a 1977 watershed moment for the disability rights movement—and the 1991 installation of a giant condom on U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms’ house to protest the North Carolina Republican’s virulently homophobic positions. Interspersed are essays from activists, including Jane Fonda, Dolores Huerta, and Rebecca Solnit; particularly moving is one by Indigenous activist Nemonte Nenquimo, who writes, “The dominant civilization today values the oil and gold underneath our forest more than our knowledge, our stories and songs, more than our connection to the land and community, more than us as a people.” An afterword by former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich brings the message home to the modern day: “Resistance is more important now than ever….Tyrants cannot succeed where people refuse to submit to them.” The book is beautifully illustrated with photographs from protests around the world, and Leonard and Carothers do a great job explaining why each action they write about deserves to be remembered and replicated. This would be a perfect introduction to protesting for budding activists, but those who have been involved with social justice movements will find much to love, as well.

An excellent introduction to the power of public dissent.