National Protest Day

Group of individuals holding colorful signs with peaceful messages, diverse fashion styles and urban city backdrop.. — National protest day illustration

Think the internet has just made up days willy-nilly? Well, you’re not far off, friend! Today we talk about one such curious day that has stormed our digital corridors, much like a good old-fashioned protest - National Protest Day! Grab a digital placard and let's march into the history of this day!

When is Protest Day?

It's national protest day on the 21st August.

A Stroll Down Protest Lane

A fascination for standing up against injustices led to the first digital rumblings about National Protest Day online. Our data, crunched and munched by our diligent web crawlers, has detected about 16,819 mentions of this surprisingly punchy day on the internet. Now, if only those mentions turned into folks turning up at actual protests, eh?

Making Some Digital Noise

The most mentions we spotted were on August 21, 2020. Perhaps it was the weather, maybe it's the fact that everyone was probably fed up being at home with nothing but TCP/IP for company, but it seemed like the perfect day to, well, protest something! Find an issue, find a cause, and there you have it, a day of protest in the comfort of your own home.

Who Needs a Calendar

Amazingly, National Protest Day seems to float around the calendar like a leaf on a wind! Some might say it's a protest against being tied down to a specific date, which would be completely on-brand! It's like the leap year of national days, showing up when you least expect it and keeping those digital calendars on their toes.

A Day of History

This day is a fantastic reminder of the power people collectively hold. It's just a way of celebrating the idea of raising voices in unison. Let's be as loud as the dial-up connection!

History behind the term 'Protest'

1381

Emergence of the term 'protest'

The term 'protest' originated in the year 1381 during the Peasants' Revolt in England. During this revolt, a document called the 'Letter of Protestation' was issued by the rebels to express their grievances and demands. This marked the first recorded use of the term 'protest' as a form of expressing objection or dissent against authority.

1529

Protestant Reformation and the spread of the term

In the year 1529, the term 'protest' gained significant prominence during the Protestant Reformation. German princes and representatives who opposed the policies of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V voiced their dissent at the Diet of Speyer. These dissenting princes came to be known as 'protestants,' and their actions popularized the term 'protest' as a form of religious and political dissent across Europe.

1648

Westphalian Peace and the recognition of 'protestants'

In 1648, the Peace of Westphalia, which ended the devastating Thirty Years' War, brought significant recognition to the term 'protestants.' The treaty acknowledged the legitimacy of several Protestant denominations, recognizing their right to practice their faith freely. This recognition solidified the term 'protestant' and helped establish it as a widely accepted term for followers of the Protestant faith.

1775

American Revolution and political protests

During the American Revolution, which began in 1775, the concept of 'protest' took on a new meaning as a form of political resistance against British colonial rule. Influenced by Enlightenment ideals of individual rights and freedom, American colonists organized various protests against British policies, such as the Stamp Act protests, Boston Tea Party, and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. These acts of protest played a crucial role in shaping the American Revolution and the eventual establishment of the United States.

20th Century

Expansion of protest movements worldwide

During the 20th century, the term 'protest' witnessed a significant expansion as various social and political movements emerged worldwide. Civil rights movements, anti-war protests, women's rights movements, labor strikes, and environmental movements brought the concept of protest to the forefront of society. Prominent examples include the Civil Rights Movement in the United States led by Martin Luther King Jr., the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, and the global student protests of the late 1960s. These movements showcased the power of collective action and the impact of protest in challenging existing social and political structures.

Did you know?

Did you know, Albert Einstein once said, 'Nothing will end war unless the peoples themselves refuse to go to war.' Just as Einstein protested in his way, so can we on our National Protest Day!