1. People realise that they are not alone
One way in which the establishment maintains its power is by creating a dominant discourse from which dissidents' views are excluded. If people think differently, they may feel isolated, marginalised and powerless. Public demonstrations and marches empower people by showing them that there are thousands of people who think the same things.
2. By protesting, we alter the agenda and start a debate
Those in power may try to ignore us, but if there are enough protesters then they will feel the need to come up with reasons why all of the protesters are wrong. That is when the debate begins and argument becomes possible.
3. In an electoral democracy, protest provides an essential voice for minority groups
The classic theorists of representational government recognised that universal suffrage and majority voting threaten to impose the 'tyranny of the majority' and override the rights of minorities. Protests are a vital corrective to majority rule.
4. Sometimes we win!
If there are enough protesters, the policies of those in power may become unworkable.
5. Sometimes we win but it takes a generation or more
At the time it may feel that it's going nowhere; that those in power are stuck in a certain mindset and cannot change their thinking. But then a new generation may come along, unencumbered by past thinking, and see that the views of the protesters were just common sense.
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