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Vladimir Lenin speaking at a rally

A demonstration is an historically and geographically common form of nonviolent action by groups of people. The term "demonstration" was coined in the United States during the civil rights movement of the 1950s-1970s and refers to the public display of the common opinion of a group of people. Demonstrations are a form of activism, usually taking the form of a public gathering of people in a rally or walking in a march. At times, more interventionist actions such as blockades and sit-ins have been referred to as demonstrations. Thus, the opinion is demonstrated to be significant by gathering in a crowd associated with that opinion. Image File history File links Gnome-globe. ... A man holds up a street puppet designed to resemble George W. Bush at a demonstration against the World Bank and International Monetary Fund on April 16, 2005 in Washington, D.C.. American Civil Rights March on Washington, leaders marching from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial, August 28... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 160 × 120 pixelsFull resolution (160 × 120 pixel, file size: 422 KB, MIME type: image/gif) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Vladimir Lenin Demonstration (people) ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 160 × 120 pixelsFull resolution (160 × 120 pixel, file size: 422 KB, MIME type: image/gif) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Vladimir Lenin Demonstration (people) ... “Lenin” redirects here. ... Nonviolence (or non-violence) is a set of assumptions about morality, power and conflict that leads its proponents to reject the use of violence in efforts to attain social or political goals. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Activism, in a general sense, can be described as intentional action to bring about social or political change. ...

Demonstrations can be used to show a viewpoint (either positive or negative) regarding a public issue, especially relating to a perceived grievance or social injustice. A demonstration is usually considered more successful if more people participate. Topics of demonstrations often deal with political, economic, and social issues. A grievance is a formal statement of complaint, generally against an authority figure. ... Social injustice is a concept relating to the perceived unfairness or injustice of a society in its divisions of rewards and burdens. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      Politics is defined as a group of people who are influenced to change laws and other such things to make the world a better place the process by which groups of people make decisions. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Young people interacting within an ethnically diverse society. ...

A man carries a sign at the September 24, 2005 anti-war protest, a demonstration in Washington, D.C.

A student flag waver at the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 in China.

American Civil Rights March on Washington, leaders marching from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial, August 28, 1963.

Thousands of supporters of the Workers' Party of Singapore turn up at a political rally.

Farmers on tractors making their point to the Ontario government.

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 800 KB) A banner compares George Bush, Dick Cheney, the war in Iraq, and Hurricane Katrina, as proof that Intelligent Design is a fallacy. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 800 KB) A banner compares George Bush, Dick Cheney, the war in Iraq, and Hurricane Katrina, as proof that Intelligent Design is a fallacy. ... September 24, 2005 saw protests against the invasion and occupation of Iraq take place across the world. ... Nickname: Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Location of Washington, D.C., in relation to the states Maryland and Virginia Coordinates: , Country United States Federal District District of Columbia Government  - Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D)  - City Council Chairperson: Vincent C. Gray (D) Ward 1: Jim Graham (D) Ward 2: Jack... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 538 pixelsFull resolution (850 × 572 pixel, file size: 82 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) May 1989, Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China Photograph by Robert Croma of London, UK. http://www. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 538 pixelsFull resolution (850 × 572 pixel, file size: 82 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) May 1989, Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China Photograph by Robert Croma of London, UK. http://www. ... The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 were a series of demonstrations led by students, intellectuals, and labour activists in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) between April 15, 1989 and June 4, 1989. ... Image File history File links 1963_march_on_washington. ... Image File history File links 1963_march_on_washington. ... Martin Luther King is perhaps most famous for his I Have a Dream speech, given in front of the Lincoln Memorial during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom This article is about the civil rights movement following the Brown v. ... The Washington Monument at dusk For other Washington Monuments, see Washington Monuments (world). ... The monument, which is on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is a United States Presidential Memorial built to honor 16th President Abraham Lincoln. ... August 28 is the 240th day of the year (241st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2343x1024, 587 KB) Summary Campaingning for votes - Workers Party Rally for Aljunied GRC Thousands of supporters turn out at the last Workers party rally for Aljunied GRC, hoping to get more votes in the next days elections. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2343x1024, 587 KB) Summary Campaingning for votes - Workers Party Rally for Aljunied GRC Thousands of supporters turn out at the last Workers party rally for Aljunied GRC, hoping to get more votes in the next days elections. ... Workers Party logo The Workers Party of Singapore (abbrev: WP; Chinese: 新加坡工人党) is one of the largest opposition parties in Singapore, with 1 of the 84 elected seats in the current session of Parliament of Singapore. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 885 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 885 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman - Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 106 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area [1] Ranked...

Forms

There are many types of demonstrations, including a variety of elements. These may include:

• Marches, in which a parade of people proceeds from one location to another.
• Rallies, in which people gather to listen to speakers or musicians.
• Picketing, in which people surround an area.
• Sit-ins, in which demonstrators occupy an area, sometimes for a stated period of time and sometimes indefinitely, until they feel their issue has been addressed, or they are otherwise convinced or forced to leave.

Demonstrations are sometimes spontaneous gatherings, but are also utilized as a tactical choice by movements. They are one tactic available to proponents of strategic nonviolence. Demonstrations are generally staged in public, but private demonstrations are certainly possible, especially if the demonstrators wish to influence the opinions of a small or very specific group of people. Demonstrations are usually physical gatherings, but virtual or online demonstrations are certainly possible. United States Marines on parade. ... Employees of the BBC form a picket line during a strike in May 2005. ... A sit-in or sit-down is a form of direct action that involves one or more persons nonviolently occupying an area for protest, often promote political, social, or economic change. ... Nonviolence (or non-violence) can be both a political strategy or moral philosophy that rejects the use of violence in efforts to attain social or political change. ... Online means being connected to the Internet or another similar electronic network, like a bulletin board system. ...

Sometimes, particularly with controversial issues, groups of people opposed to the aims of a demonstration may themselves launch a counter-demonstration with the aim of opposing the demonstrators and presenting their view. Clashes between demonstrators and counter-demonstrators may turn violent.

Times and locations

Sometimes the date or location chosen for the demonstration is of historical or cultural significance, such as the anniversary of some event that is relevant to the topic of the demonstration. An anniversary (from the Latin anniversarius, from the words for year and to turn, meaning (re)turning yearly; known in English since c. ...

Locations are also frequently chosen because of some relevance to the issue at hand. For example, if a demonstration is targeted at issues relating to foreign nation, the demonstration may take place at a location associated with that nation, such as an embassy of the nation in question. One of the most influential doctrines in history is that all humans are divided into groups called nations. ... A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one nation state present in another nation state to represent the sending state in the receiving State. ...

Nonviolence or violence

Protest marches and demonstrations are seen to be a common nonviolent tactic. Some demonstrations and protests however can turn, at least partially, into riots or mob violence against objects such as automobiles and businesses, bystanders and the police. Police and military authorities often use non-lethal force or less-lethal weapons, such as tasers, rubber bullets, pepper spray, and tear gas against demonstrators in these situations. Sometimes violent situations are caused by the preemptive or offensive use of these weapons which can provoke, destabilize, or escalate a conflict. Nonviolence (or non-violence) is a set of assumptions about morality, power and conflict that leads its proponents to reject the use of violence in efforts to attain social or political goals. ... 2003 GMO USDA protest Protest expresses relatively overt reaction to events or situations: sometimes in favour, more often opposed. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Karl Benzs Velo (vélo means bicycle in French) model (1894) - entered into the first automobile race 2005 MINI Cooper S. An automobile (also motor car or simply car) is a wheeled passenger vehicle that carries its own motor. ... Wall Street, Manhattan is the location of the New York Stock Exchange and is often used as a symbol for the world of business. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... An electroshock gun, also referred to as a stun gun, is a weapon used for subduing a person by firing something which administers electric shock, disrupting superficial muscle functions. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Non-lethal round. ... Pepper spray (also known as OC spray (from Oleoresin Capsicum), OC gas, capsicum spray, or oleoresin capsicum) is a lachrymatory agent (a chemical compound that irritates the eyes to cause tears, pain, and even temporary blindness) that is used in riot control, crowd control and personal self-defense, including defense... A riot control agent is a type of lachrymatory agent (or lacrimatory agent). ...

Demonstrations and U.S. law

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution specifically allows peaceful demonstrations and the freedom of assembly as part of a measure to facilitate the redress of such grievances. "Amendment I: Congress shall make no law ... abridging ... the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." [1] The first ten Amendments to the U.S. Constitution make up the Bill of Rights. ... Group of women holding placards with political activist slogans: know your courts - study your politicians, Liberty in law, Law makers must not be law breakers, and character in candidates photo 1920 Freedom of assembly is the freedom to associate with, or organize any groups, gatherings, clubs, or organizations that one...

A growing trend in the United States has been the implementation of "free speech zones," or fenced-in areas which are often far-removed from the event which is being protested; critics of free-speech zones argue that they go against the First Amendment of the United States Constitution by their very nature, and that they lessen the impact the demonstration might otherwise have had. The free speech zone at the 2004 Democratic National Convention Free speech zones (also known as First Amendment Zones and Free speech cages) are areas set aside in public places for political activists to exercise their right of free speech in the United States. ... A Venue is the location of an event, usually a meeting. ... The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. ...

United Kingdom

Under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 and the Terrorism Act 2006, there are areas designated as 'protected sites' where people are not allowed to go. Previously, these were military bases and nuclear power stations, but the law is changing to include other, generally political areas, such as Downing Street, the Palace of Westminster, and the headquarters of MI5 and MI6. Previously, trespassers to these areas could not be arrested if they have not committed another crime and agreed to be escorted out, but this will change following amendments to the law.^[1] The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (SOCPA) (2005 c. ... Charles Clarke as former Home Secretary held primary responsibility for the Terrorism Bill The Terrorism Act is a UK Act made law on March 30, 2006, after being introduced on October 12, 2005. ... Downing Street Downing Street gates Downing Street is the street in London which contains the buildings that have been, for over two hundred years, the official residences of two of the most senior British cabinet ministers, the First Lord of the Treasury, an office held by the Prime Minister of... “Houses of Parliament” redirects here. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), more commonly known as MI6 (originally Military Intelligence Section 6), or the Secret Service, is the United Kingdom external security agency. ... In the law of torts, property, and criminal law a trespasser is a person who is trespassing on a property, that is, without the permission of the owner. ...

Human rights groups fear the powers could hinder peaceful protest. Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said: "I am not aware of vast troops of trespassers wanting to invade MI5 or MI6, still less running the gauntlet of security checks in Whitehall and Westminster to make a point. It's a sledgehammer to crack a nut." Liberty, the civil liberties pressure group, said the measure was "excessive".^[2] Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ... Nicholas Clegg Nicholas William Peter Clegg, known as Nick Clegg, (born 7 January 1967) is the British Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hallam and Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesman. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Whitehall, London, looking south towards the Houses of Parliament. ... Liberty is a pressure group based in the United Kingdom. ... Civil liberties is the name given to freedoms that protect the individual from government. ...

See also

• Protest
• Crowd control
• Stuckist demonstrations
• Government-organized demonstration

Demonstrators march in the street while protesting the World Bank and International Monetary Fund on April 16, 2005. ... French mobile gendarmes doing riot control. ... Stuckist artists dressed as clowns demonstrate against the Turner Prize, Tate Britain, in 2000 Stuckist demonstrations since 2000 have been a key part of the Stuckist art groups activities and have succeeded in giving them a high profile both in Britain and abroad. ... Government-organized demonstrations or state demonstrations are demonstrations whereat government employees march and protest on behalf and at the behest of the government in civilian clothes. ...

References

1. ^ Morris, Steven, "New powers against trespassers at key sites", The Guardian, 24 March 2007. Retrieved on 23 June 2007.
2. ^ Brown, Colin, "No-go Britain: Royal Family and ministers protected from protesters by new laws", The Independent, 4 June 2007. Retrieved on 23 June 2007.

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External links

• Essay on ICTs and their use in protests
• Pictorial of the 2004 Arts-In-Defense-Of-Dissent Rally in Washington Square Park, San Francisco