IT’S TIME TO SPEAK UP

by *DREAM*

On July 3, 2020, the AntiTerrorism Act was signed into law by President Duterte. Although its main goal is to take precautions against terrorism, it was clear to the masses that the law will be used as a justification to crack down on political dissent. Demonstrations across the country ensued, and the government’s response?

Arresting the protesters.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, African-American George Floyd was choked to death by a police officer simply for handling a counterfeit bill. It was only after weeks of people flooding the streets and chanting “Black Lives Matter” did the officer finally get charged with murder. However, demands for systemic change, such as defunding law enforcement or abolishing police unions, have yet to be addressed.

Although these two are unrelated incidents, they do have one thing in common: a problem in power structures. Protests do not happen simply because the government makes a mistake and decides not to fix it—in actuality, social movements arise from years of oppression caused by complex systems that refuse to change. So how does one begin to dismantle such structures and move towards a better world?

There are two common strategies that have been used by movements in an attempt to criticize institutions: evolutionary and revolutionary change. Evolutionary change, although incremental, is the most common form of protest. Liberal parties running for Congress or Senators trying to pass leftist policies are examples of attempts to reform the system. Although it has been effective in certain instances, there are two main problems with it. Firstly, laws take a long time to pass. They go through extensive processes which could take months, or even years, further prolonging the suffering of the people the law wants to help. Moreover, compromise from other parties is necessary so that they would be willing to vote for the law. This may mean diminishing the true goals of the law in order to cater to the majority.

So why is utilizing revolutionary change—which includes protests, or even revolts—a better alternative? Although this method has been considered violent, the past has proved its efficacy. When individuals are actively calling out the government for its failures, that is where they are more likely to act in order to preserve their image. When the majority feel largely inconvenienced by loud protests, that is where they are more likely to listen to the struggles of the marginalized.

The revolutionary strategy is the only option for rapid reform to occur without having to water down the goals of movements. If we truly want change, we cannot be afraid of those in power. It is time to be angry. It is time to speak up.