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Jun 8, 2020 · Learn about the history and impact of nine people-powered movements that fought for human rights and social justice. From Black Lives Matter to marriage equality, these movements show the power of collective action.
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- Occupy Wall Street. It began in Zuccotti Park on September 17, 2011, and quickly spread to hundreds of cities. Within a few weeks, police had pushed protesters out of local parks.
- The Fight for $15. The idea of a $15 minimum wage was a pipe dream in 2010 but now is mainstream. A Brookings Institution report released in November 2019 found that more than 53 million people, or 44 percent of all workers ages 18 to 64, earn low hourly wages.
- Black Lives Matter. It started as a hashtag in 2013, led by three black women activists in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer, George Zimmerman.
- Women’s March and #MeToo. The largest protest in U.S. history (four million-plus people in cities across the country) occurred the day after Trump’s inauguration (January 21, 2017), re-energizing the women’s movement.
Sep 3, 2023 · A social movement is any movement that uses the collective effort of a group of people to achieve a common political/social goal. For example, the civil rights movement in the United States aimed to end discrimination against African Americans and create an equal society.
Dec 29, 2019 · The decade has seen some powerful movements — people organizing around shared causes to create change. Just as the civil rights movement fought back against racist segregation ...
- Crystal Paul
- Andrew Firmin
- Global: Black Lives Matter. The police murder of George Floyd in May 2020 resonated around the world, forcing people to the streets to demand real change to respect Black lives and Black rights.
- Chile: A Radical Constitution in Prospect. A few days ago, people in Chile overwhelmingly voted for progressive, young, and feminist candidates in the assembly to write Chile’s new constitution.
- Argentina: Abortion Legalized. A mammoth fight for rights came to fruition in Argentina in December when abortion was legalized. A generation of young women made this their defining struggle, and alongside political advocacy, mass demonstrations showed the popularity of support for change, with people clad in the movement’s signature green colors.
- India: Farmers Fight Back. India’s authoritarian government is rarely willing to listen. But it did not predict the backlash from small farmers when it unilaterally imposed major changes on farm laws stretching back decades.
Social movements are behind the most powerful changes around the world. From voting rights, to political upheavals and the fight for racial equality – social movements can change mindsets, enact laws and shift policies. But only if they succeed.
Throughout history, movements that promote change have been driven by passionate leaders. Whether it was women’s suffrage, the civil rights movement, the gay rights movement, or resistance against apartheid, strength and dedication marked the efforts of these leaders.
