Protests are a deeply ingrained element of American history, predating the nation's founding. The Boston Tea Party, occurring three years before the U.S. declared independence, exemplifies early American resistance.
"Protest is the heartbeat of a functioning democracy. America was born not only from a rejection of monarchy, but from the vision of a democracy of, by, and for the people," Ezra Levin, co-founder and co-executive director of Indivisible, told HuffPost. He noted that protests have mobilized millions of demonstrators in recent times, including those opposing then-President Donald Trump's second term.
Trump's administration sought to reframe historical narratives, with an executive order in March 2025 aiming to remove information from national parks, monuments, and museums that portrayed the U.S. as "inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed." This move was part of a broader conservative effort to counter policies and theories perceived as "woke" and critical race theory, aiming to downplay or rewrite what is considered the country's problematic past.
During his presidency, Trump frequently criticized protestors, at one point in 2016 expressing a desire to punch a demonstrator. He also referred to protestors opposing immigration enforcement raids as "animals," "insurrectionists," and "a foreign enemy." These actions and rhetoric stood in contrast to Americans' First Amendment right to free speech and protest, and the historical significance of protest over the past 250 years.
"Any moment where we have advanced as a country, where we’ve deepened democracy, where we have unwound white supremacy and advanced equality, there have been massive protest movements that were grassroots, coming from the public and pushing politicians forward to push America to live up to its full promises," Nicole Carty, executive director of Get Free, stated. She emphasized the role of reckoning with history and undoing legacies of inequality, citing the abolitionist and civil rights movements as examples that led to growth in democracy, equality, and economic prosperity.
Organizations like Get Free have sponsored protests, with events like the "All of US" protests planned. "There’s really a concerted effort coming from the federal government to make this anniversary tell a very specific story about American history that sets up a future where really only wealthy white men have civil rights," Carty commented. Anthony Vidal Torres, communications director of Get Free, described these protests as an "opportunity for the public to channel their defiance and their desires for reckoning, repair, and equality over erasure."
Historical Roots of American Protest
American protests are intrinsically linked to the nation's history. Early instances of rebellion against oppression include the numerous uprisings against slavery that began soon after Africans were first brought to the colonies in 1619. These movements culminated in events such as Nat Turner’s Rebellion in 1831, the Harpers Ferry Raid in 1859, and the Combahee River raid in 1863, which freed hundreds of enslaved people.
The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s saw widespread demonstrations advocating for desegregation and an end to racial discrimination. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered during the 1963 March on Washington, remains a pivotal moment.
Indigenous activism is also a critical part of American history. The 1969 occupation of Alcatraz Island by the Indians of All Tribes (IOAT) aimed to reclaim ancestral lands, symbolizing the dispossession of Indigenous peoples.
The fight for LGBTQ+ rights has roots in events like the Stonewall uprising in New York City, which began on June 28, 1969, as a response to police brutality.
Women's rights activism, including the struggle for suffrage, has also been a significant force. The 1913 Woman Suffrage Procession in Washington, D.C., preceded the codification of women's right to vote with the 19th Amendment in 1920.
Student activism has played a crucial role in pivotal moments, such as the protests against the Vietnam War. The events at Kent State University in May 1970, where the National Guard killed four students, and at Jackson State University, where police killed two students, highlight the violent responses to campus dissent.
Protest has also taken extreme forms, including hunger strikes and self-immolation, used to draw attention to issues like climate change, prison conditions, and international conflicts. Peace activist Alice Herz's self-immolation in 1965 to protest the Vietnam War and Aaron Bushnell's in 2024 to protest the war in Gaza are notable examples.
Political Alignments and Protest
Protest has been a tool for various political factions. The far-right has also utilized protest, with events like the 2017 "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Trump described the Jan. 6 events as a "day of love" and referred to his supporters as "peaceful" and "great."
The Trump administration also sought to restrict protests in Lafayette Square near the White House, a historically significant site for demonstrations.
Protests against the Trump administration's immigration policies were widespread, notably in Minneapolis following the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good during encounters with immigration agents.
"Now, at a moment when basic constitutional rights are increasingly under attack, protecting and exercising those freedoms is as important as it was in 1776," Levin of Indivisible stated. "The spirit behind the No Kings movement isn’t new. It’s woven into the DNA of this country. It lives in every generation of Americans who have refused to accept unchecked power and instead organized to make our democracy stronger."
He concluded, "Democracy is a verb, and 250 years later, it still requires all of us to participate."