Doubting the loftiness of protest invites elite scorn more than any other skepticism about a constitutional right. Organized protest is a form of speech, and, like speech, it is rightly protected by the First Amendment. Well-intentioned protest organizers know this better than anybody; they often struggle to keep the crowds from becoming dangerous mobs. The core message of mass protest is “strength in numbers,” a primordial feeling that can often lead to a kind of illiberal power-drunkenness. Performative protest feels good for those drunk on their own, unearned sense of importance.

Source: New York Times May 01, 2024 23:27 UTC