William Lewis
When we look at the contemporary street demonstrations across the country and look at the ones from the past, we find some similarities.
We can begin with the street demonstrations of the 1930s during the Great Depression. They were mainly labor groups that marched in the streets. During that time their interests were mostly economic issues, such as wage increases and medical insurance.
One aspect of this period during the 1930s was that there was almost no violence.
In the 1960s, street demonstrations began with political issues such as freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, but by the end of the 1960s the anti-war movement had taken over everything else in protest, as participants campaigned constantly against the Vietnam War.The students had a violent part in these demonstrations.
The most violent display occurred at the Democratic convention in 1968 in Chicago. There were numerous student uprisings and situations, however, where students took over college campuses.
Today, many college administrations and faculty members are encouraging students to oppose the present federal administration.
Today the issues are social from the standpoint that the students’ opposition is mainly against the federal policy of immigration and building a security wall on the southwest border of our country with Mexico.
In addition, there is widespread opposition to President Donald Trump, from a personal standpoint.
Violence has occurred in the present, but police are more trained in handling street demonstrations than they were in earlier periods of time. Street demonstrations, no matter how peaceful, can have an effect on government. They can slow down government progress.
A society that has continuous disruption whether it is violent or peaceful cannot endure permanently.
In our country to maintain our republic, political differences can be challenged by democratic means during elections. Constant endless disruptions of society weakens our government and way of life.
A society must agree to a type of government and abide by it. Our country has come a long way since the first national convention and has grown under our present form of government.
A long way into the future our country, which is great, will become greater if we can all work together for our common good.
