Work strikes, hunger strikes, self-immolation, boycotts, and other nonviolent methods of resistance are incredibly powerful. However, most people don’t participate in any form of protest. But… protest is our right as American citizens, right? In our increasingly polarizing culture, it’s becoming a more and more controversial point of inaction. What causes so many people to sit on the sidelines, then? And, quite frankly, do we even have the right to judge?

A work strike, but what if I live paycheck to paycheck? A hunger strike, but what if I’m barely putting food on the table as is? Self-immolation, but what if I have people who rely on me? Boycotts, but what if that’s the only brand I can afford? While protesting is a right (that is increasingly weakening, unfortunately), not everyone gets to access it. People don’t participate simply because they’re lazy. People don’t participate because they can’t afford to.

And that’s the point, isn’t it? To maintain American capitalism, to prevent this seemingly untouchable system of human exploitation, your citizens must remain exploited. If they have the time, the energy, and the money to live comfortably, let alone organize, that’s a problem. So, the corporations work in tandem with the politicians to make sure the pillars of capitalism remain in place. Affordable healthcare? If too many people are well, they can take to the streets. Labor laws? But that gives them a taste of fairness… let’s just slowly weaken them through the judicial system. Freedom of assembly? What does that even mean? They’re free to assemble… as long as they’re permitted to. Even if they are, send the militarized police force in anyway.

So if most of us are struggling to make ends meet as is and have to jump through so many hoops to even organize in the first place… who gets to protest? The Constitution says all of us. But in practice..?

Anyone?

…

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