Why Participating in a Protest is Important to Freedom

With everything posted online these days, it’s possible to accidentally be spotted in a photo or video at any event you attend. There are repercussions from this expository form of activism that scare people away from speaking out — but it’s important not to retreat. 

Recently, the Cuban people have flooded the streets to protest for their freedom. Unlike in America, the repercussions for doing so can result in imprisonment or worse. Cuba’s Marxist political system has left people hungry, jobless and with very little power for the past 62 years. The collapse of the economy, lack of food and medicine and the government’s handling of the pandemic have pushed people to the brink. 

When oppression reigns anywhere, it affects the rest of the world — and should push those living in freedom to stand for those who are vulnerable. H Even if that means risking your own public persona. It’s part of maintaining character, doing the right thing and participating in the democracy we are lucky enough to be a part of. 

Mike Gonazeles, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation and former international reporter, points out that Cuba’s government especially “is one of the main destabilizing forces in the West,” propping up the dictatorships of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro and Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega. 

As young, able-bodied Americans, we can and should stand for the Cuban people — and all oppressed people — when we have the ability to do so. Here are five reasons participating in a protest on behalf of Cuba or another freedom-laced cause you believe in, is worth it. 

1. It makes headlines. Journalists are always looking for the story and a protest will nearly always make the news. It’s a loud and simple way to grab attention and make a point. One photojournalist’s shot of a well-made sign can make the front page and tell the story you believe matters most.

2. It creates bonds. Angrily tweeting solo from one’s home computer will rarely make friends and allies. When you are physically out in the street or on the sidewalk hugging shoulders with fellow activists, the energy is contagious. Such bonds create networks, information exchange and multiply that already fuels your presence.

3. It emboldens the Democratic process. Civic activism via protest or march is a beautiful and peaceful way to express yourself. By continuing to participate in protests, you help keep our own freedom-based society thriving.

4. Social media creates an amplifying effect. With live video, social media and non-stop access to whatever individuals may choose to film & publicize, we are no longer reliant on the filtered traditional media to inform us. In fact, one of the notable things about the Cuban protests right now is that they are actually able to get their message out via social media videos — at least before the government began shutting down some of those modes of communication. As Americans, we have every opportunity to promote the things we protest in a way that captures the attention of hundreds, thousands or more with social media.

5. Electoral results will be affected. If you don’t think protests have an effect on elections, think again. The right messaging on an issue or candidate close to Election Day can change the trajectory of history. In a case like supporting our friends in Cuba, it can ultimately lead to more leaders committed to global freedom — those who will make decisions that punish bad international leaders, empower individuals and help cultivate more freedom worldwide. 

Wherever freedom lacks, the people speak. In a place like Cuba, they can’t do it alone. They need powerful allies like the United States. But it’s more than that. Whether it comes to Big Tech censorship, regulatory government overreach, lack of educational school choice — or something else that suppresses freedom — we have a responsibility to courageously stand against it. It’s not just about the United States, but the entire world, which looks to us as a beacon for freedom and liberty.

If America fails to combat communist ideology, hope for the world dissipates. Rather than retreat to our corners in fear of public retribution, it’s important for young people today to understand their belief in freedom and stand up for it. 

Cancel culture is slowly killing a healthy democracy. This must end. Participating in a protest, or other form of activism, in a respectful, thoughtful way can be a peaceful way to maintain freedom both here and abroad. The Cuban people, and others, are looking to us not to waver on this. 

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