One of the major protests against police brutality took place on September 21, 2021, in Boston. The focal point of the event was the police beating death of Tyre Nichols, a Black man who died while in police custody. Justice for Tyre Nichols and police accountability were what the demonstrators demanded. Several activist groups and civil rights organizations, including the Massachusetts chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Black Lives Matter, Boston, organized the march. The gathering served as a forum for the community to express its concerns and demand action on the problem of police brutality and the requirement for systemic change within the police department.
Social justice was used to frame the issue. Civil rights organizations and activist groups planned the demonstration, and participants held signs and chanted phrases pleading for Tyre Nichols’ justice and calling for police accountability. In recent years, the social justice movement has placed a significant emphasis on the issue of police brutality against Black people, especially in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests that erupted across the country in 2020. This framing was reflected in the protest’s language, which included phrases like “Justice for Tyre” and “No Justice, No Peace” (CBS Boston, 2023). These expressions are frequently used in the social justice movement to call for systemic change, to address racial inequality, and to demand accountability for instances of police brutality against Black people. It is also important to keep in mind that racial inequality and police brutality are complicated issues that are frequently linked to other social justice issues such as homelessness, poverty, and education. Although the protest’s main focus was on police brutality, some participants and organizers might have also seen the problem from a wider social justice perspective.
The protest is employed to pressure decision-makers and government representatives to take action on social justice-related issues. In Boston March against police brutality, activist groups were used to increase public awareness of the problem of police brutality. The strategy was to influence elected officials and decision-makers to take action against the issue. The protestors carried signs and banners and spoke to the media in order to bring attention to the problem. From a personal perspective, this strategy was effective as this protest was seen to be trending on social media and news media.
Participants in a protest or demonstration can use a few strategies to become more effective. First, to prevent a run-in with the law and to make sure they can exercise their rights safely, they should first be aware of their legal rights. Second, well-organized planning is necessary for successful protests. Routing, messaging, and engagement strategies with the general public and policymakers are all part of this. Third, social media has the potential to be a potent tool for publicizing the protest and building support for the cause. Fourth, interacting with regional media outlets can aid in making sure that the message is heard by more people. Fifth, nonviolent protests frequently succeed in their objectives better than violent ones, so participants should always maintain composure and peace. Finally, participants should maintain attention to the issue at hand and refrain from deviating from other subjects or distractions. Participants can improve their effectiveness in promoting social justice issues by paying attention to these pointers.
Reference
CBS Boston. (2023). Demonstrators march in Boston protesting police beating death of Tyre Nichols [Video]. YouTube. Web.