Protest is an essential part of democratic societies, where power ultimately rests with the people. It serves as a mechanism for citizens to express their dissatisfaction with poor political policies and demand accountability from their governments. The right to protest is enshrined in many constitutions and international declarations, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 20), recognizing peaceful assembly as a fundamental human right. Effective protest not only amplifies the voices of marginalized communities but also drives social change, ensuring governments remain responsive to the people they serve.

In any political system, governments may adopt policies that negatively affect the economy, social welfare, or individual freedoms. When elected leaders fail to act in the public's best interests, citizens have a right—if not an obligation—to hold them accountable. Voting is one method of expressing dissent, but elections alone are insufficient in addressing urgent grievances. Protests fill this gap by allowing people to challenge mismanagement, corruption, or repression between election cycles. Through peaceful demonstrations, boycotts, and petitions, citizens engage in political discourse, pressuring leaders to reconsider their positions.

Correcting Poor Governance and Policy Failures: History offers numerous examples where public protest has corrected political missteps. The Civil Rights Movement in the U.S., anti-apartheid protests in South Africa, and the Arab Spring illustrate how citizens can reshape policies or dismantle oppressive regimes through collective action. Even in modern democracies, protests against austerity measures, police brutality, environmental neglect, and inadequate healthcare have compelled governments to take corrective action.

Protests are particularly crucial for communities that may lack representation within traditional political frameworks. When policies exclude, oppress, or ignore certain populations, protest becomes the most direct and impactful means of influencing decision-making. Grassroots activism, for example, has been instrumental in bringing climate change and gender equality to the forefront of political agendas worldwide.

Protest as a Measure of Accountability: Allowing people to express their dissent through protest strengthens accountability by reinforcing the principle that governments are answerable to their citizens. Silence or repression, on the other hand, can exacerbate frustrations, sowing deeper distrust between governments and the governed. When leaders are unwilling to listen to public outcry, their policies often become disconnected from the realities on the ground, leading to greater political instability. By contrast, governments that respond constructively to protests often experience enhanced legitimacy and trust from their citizens.

The Challenge of Balancing Protest and Order: While protests are a vital democratic tool, they must remain peaceful to avoid undermining their legitimacy. Governments, for their part, should protect the right to protest and refrain from using excessive force to suppress demonstrations. A functioning democracy balances the right to protest with public safety, ensuring that freedom of expression does not devolve into violence.

Nonetheless, labeling every disruptive action as unlawful undermines democratic principles. Authorities must distinguish between peaceful dissent and genuine threats to public order. Criminalizing or restricting protests often signals the erosion of democracy, as it leaves citizens without a means to challenge injustice.

The People Have the Right to Protest: A Pillar of Democracy: Protest is one of the most essential tools available to citizens for expressing dissent, advocating for change, and holding governments and institutions accountable. Throughout history, public demonstrations have shaped political, social, and economic landscapes, empowering ordinary people to demand justice, equality, and the protection of human rights. The right to protest is enshrined in democratic principles and international human rights frameworks, but its practice is not without challenges. 

The Legal and Moral Foundations of Protest: The right to protest is grounded in fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, assembly, and association. These rights are recognized by major international agreements such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Article 19 of the UDHR, for example, guarantees the right to freedom of opinion and expression, while Article 21 affirms the right to peaceful assembly.

In democratic societies, protest is an indispensable mechanism that ensures accountability. Governments derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed, and protests allow citizens to challenge decisions that deviate from public interest. Protest embodies the principle that power resides with the people, and the ability to criticize, resist, or oppose authority is a core aspect of political freedom.

The Role of Protests in Shaping History: Many significant social and political transformations have been the result of collective protest. The civil rights movement in the United States, the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, India’s non-violent independence movement, and more recently, global climate strikes are vivid examples of how organized dissent has changed history.

Protests have also advanced human rights by highlighting systemic issues such as racial inequality, gender discrimination, police brutality, and environmental degradation. They provide marginalized communities with a platform to raise their voices and challenge oppression, even when mainstream political structures fail to represent their interests.

Challenges and State Responses to Protests: While protests are a democratic right, they often face restrictions. Governments around the world impose limits on assemblies by enacting laws that curtail demonstrations under the pretext of maintaining public order or national security. In many cases, excessive policing, surveillance, and censorship undermine the ability of citizens to exercise their rights freely.

Recent years have seen the rise of authoritarian measures against protests, including the use of force, arrests, and legal actions aimed at silencing dissent. For instance, movements such as End Police Brutality, End Bad Governance in Nigeria, Black Lives Matter, Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests, and anti-austerity protests in Europe have encountered brutal crackdowns. These state responses highlight the tension between public authorities and citizens striving for accountability and change.