Pro
By MC Thrush / Staff Reporter
Whether it be the Civil Rights Movement or modern day political issues such as police brutality and ICE’s recent presence in cities, peaceful protests have served as a way for people of all ages to have their voices heard.
Typically, when discussing peaceful protests, Martin Luther King Jr.’s actions are the first examples that come to mind. King was one of the most influential political activists of the Civil Rights Movement, as his organization of and involvement in sit-ins, marches and boycotts brought great attention to issues of racial discrimination. His activism also directly led to monumental legislation and court decisions, including the desegregation of public transit and schools.
Peaceful protests were similarly effective in the Women’s Suffrage Movement. Women advocated for voting rights through marches, speeches and petitions, led by activists such as Susan B. Anthony, Ida B. Wells and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. These protests led to legislative change in the passing of the 19th Amendment, showing a clear tie between peaceful protests and meaningful change.
Another example of peaceful protests’ success is the Capitol Crawl of 1990, when disabled citizens crawled up the steps of the Capitol building to illustrate the lack of accessibility in the United States. This act of protest was an undoubtedly pivotal moment in the Disability Rights Movement; in that same year, the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, displaying yet another positive correlation between peaceful protests and legislative change.
Until the age of 18, Americans have no direct influence on the government. Peaceful protests not only give underage citizens the opportunity to gain influence in public policy but also allow them to generate media attention for their cause. Peaceful protests are the most effective way to involve people in a political movement, as people of all ages and demographics are free to engage without behaving violently or illegally.
Con
By Brett Ziegler / Staff Reporter
Freedom of assembly is one of the most celebrated rights in the United States. Peaceful protests offer people a meaningful way to voice their opinions and frustrations. More often than not, though, these movements fail to produce the tangible legislation and systemic change their organizers are fighting for.
While gathering together as a group of individuals to fight for a specific cause is a fundamental right and holds real value, these efforts alone rarely move the needle on policy or lead to actual change. Voting and lobbying are what actually influence lawmakers, not protests. At the end of the day, holding a sign carries significantly less weight than casting a vote, writing a check or directly reaching out to local government officials.
While activists have peacefully protested ICE’s agenda for years, they have historically failed to incite substantial change. After the tragic deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti to ICE agents in Minnesota, increased media attention forced more policymakers to address ICE. This culminated in the removal of senior border patrol agent Gregory Bovino, who utilized aggressive tactics that instigated violence from both sides. The peaceful protests against ICE weren’t effective in creating actual change until they became violent and were no longer peaceful.
The Civil Rights Movement is frequently cited as proof that peaceful protests do in fact work, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s marches were undeniably effective in bringing about change. However, it’s important to recall those marches were also effective because of economic pressure, legal challenges in court and political organizing. If tangible change is the goal, then combining peaceful protests with direct action such as lobbying, lawsuits and voter registration drives is crucial.
Getting people to notice a problem and actually solving it are two entirely different things, and peaceful protests alone will never bridge that gap. True progress demands more than a march; it requires a plan and extensive effort that extends far beyond the streets.
Published and digitized March 2026.
