Any protest action is a form of social change which refers to a change in the behavior, mindset or action plans of a sector or large sectors of society. In large numbers, people express their sentiments in public, thereby causing a rethinking of the issues that are being raised.
This protest action could result in a positive or negative consequence depending on the handling of the situation by the organizers, the State and the targeted individuals or groups of the protesters. During martial law, forms of protest action persisted, although they were banned. I remember that we would clap our hands in unison with the beat corresponding to every syllable of "Marcos, Hitler, diktator, tuta," referring to his being a puppet to US President Reagan, his number one "protector" and who suffered from Alzheimer's disease later on. By the way, until now, I don't hear any of the US officials of that regime apologizing for having supported a dictator and truncating the development of democracy in our country.
Thus, the protest rally tomorrow, should be as peaceful as possible, with the demonstrators required to police their ranks lest a saboteur invades them and brings about a negative picture of protest action.
Now why are protest actions healthy and positive? They are because they are the people's way of verbalizing and publicly showing their force in terms of asserting their rights in a democratic society. Nobody should ever curtail any people's right to conduct protest action.
When formal institutions fail the people's expectations, and become tools of power manipulation, then the last resort is public indignation.
So help us God.
-Emma S. Orozco
Sandhill Cranes Flying in Front of Full Moon, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Reserve Artist: Ellen Anon
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