History of Protests

Deep Rooted racial struggles

Across the country ?

"* protesters are demanding justice after the death of george floyd at the hands of minneapolis police.

Protests are a part of u.s culture.

?

"*a way of influencing public opinion and government policy.

But how have protests changed over the course of time?

Kimt news 3's isabella basco went looking to the experts for answers.

Isabella?

George and katie ?

"* protests date as far back to the 18th century ?

"* at least in this country.

In the year 2020 ?

"* people are still protesting on the steps of places like the government center.

How effective are protests through the course of our history?

I found out.

Nat: "no justice!

No peace!"

Political science expert rayce hardy says we can trace protests as far back as the boston tea party.

He says, though, change is happening faster now than ever before.

He points to the slow advancement that followed the 1913 women's suffrage parade as an example.

"that was in 1913 and we didn't even get the 19th amendment until 1920."

But, george floyd's death has sparked a sea change in only a few days.

"george floyd has become a global phenomenon.

50 years ago, it would have probably been a few pockets in the us and that would have been about i t but in a matter of minutes, the whole globe was aware of the situation."

Phil wheeler was 14 when the march on washington happened.

He believes in many ways we've stepped forward... but in other ways.... we haven't.

"white americans recognize i think partly because cell phone footage, the videos people take of this, we cannot trust the police to report violent encounters accurately all the time."

Hardy believes the battle to end racial injustice is necessary.

"we started this country on one phrase: we the people.

We have to keep expanding the members of that sect who are the people."

Wheeler believes change is inevitable.

"my mother for example wrote a letter to the school board protesting interestingly enough ?

"* hardy says the boston tea party had both elements of protests and riots ?

"* much like what we saw in minneapolis a couple of weeks ago.

On this soil ?

"* we've seen protests and riots coming together from 1773 to 2020.

Live in rochester ib kimt news 3.

Thanks isabella.

Some changes already happening at the government level: today gov.

Andrew cuomo signed a package of bills aimed at combating police misconduct to make officers more accountable.