This archive report was first published on 8 June 2020.
As protests against racial and economic injustices continue to spread across the globe, reaching over 150 cities worldwide, many are wondering if this movement will be more lasting than previous ones.
According to activists and scholars who have studied the rise and fall of other social movements, the widespread outrage over systemic injustices may be a key factor in the durability of this movement.
“There was a wash, rinse, repeat cycle, a standard script,” said Jody David Armour, a law professor at the University of Southern California who studies racial justice. “Convene a commission, hold some hearings, have community members vent and testify, and here come some policymakers saying, ‘Here’s a fix.’ ”
Armour's comments reflect the frustration many feel with the lack of meaningful change that has resulted from previous protests and movements.
Nekima Levy Armstrong, a civil rights lawyer and organizer in Minneapolis, has dedicated her life to the cause of racial justice. She quit her job as an associate professor of law at the University of St. Thomas in 2016 to focus on protesting and has even run for mayor.
“My entire life has changed since taking to the streets,” she said.
Armstrong's passion and dedication to the cause are just two examples of the many individuals who are driving this movement forward.
On Wednesday, shortly after charges were announced in the George Floyd case, Armstrong rallied over 500 people in Minneapolis, calling for continued action and vigilance.
“We have to continue to be vigilant. We can’t rest,” she told the crowd, her voice rising. She added: “We got to keep marching. Keep demonstrating. Keep speaking the truth. Keep protesting.”
