Whether in a democratic or authoritarian setting, public demonstrations of dissent are one of the most powerful tools people have to express their feelings about social and political issues. From speaking out against wars to demanding political rights, the history of public protest goes back centuries. For example, in Ancient Rome the plebeians would regularly protest their living conditions and rights by going on what was effectively a general strike known as a secessio plebis. For the largest protests, however, we need to look to modern history where various movements, some of them global, have turned out people in their millions. Here we take a look at some of the biggest examples, although some of the largest have actually been very recent, such as the farmers’ protest in India in 2021, the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 and Women’s March in 2017. We’ve decided to look back a little further for our selection.
TIANANMEN SQUARE
Chinese students stood up against the
