Photo by medium as muse
The act of protest is a legitimate way to convey discontent and express strong objection. While protesters have the right to protest against Islamaphobia and racism or anything else for that matter, why not advocate for rather than against something.
During the Civil Rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and fellow supporters aimed to abolish racial discrimination and guarantee equal rights. Advocates were certainly against racism, oppression, and so forth, but advocating civil rights was central. Dialogue with individuals and organizations who were hesitant to move forward with these demands was imperative, as those seeking constitutional reform had to engage with elected officials who had the legal power to grant it.
Are you more likely to talk with an individual or group that is against you or something different? If I am against you because of what you stand for or believe, and you are against me because of what I stand for or believe, dialogue is halted. But even if you are against me, and I for something different, a space to move forward remains open.
Those who protest and those who protest against may never fully understand each other, but they have at least three things in common; they share different experiences, points of view, and want others (the public) to be aware of their concerns. But where to go from here…
