Nonfiction About the History and Future of Protest and Other Resources Part 1

As you well know, we are living through a time rife with political upheaval, ripe for protest, and deeply in need of real social change. Genocide in Gaza, ongoing war in Ukraine, modern-day slavery in Congo, waves of antisemitism, the Trump administration's actions against immigrants, free speech, transgender and other Queer folks, the list goes on and on and on. It's hard to know how best to focus your efforts during times as tumultuous as these. In this series of resources, I've collected works of nonfiction about the history and future of protest as well as a few other resources about activism and current issues that you might find useful in your activism today.

Resources for Protest and Other Activism

• Protesters' Rights - ACLU
• Derechos de los Manifestantes - ACLU
• How to Plan a Peaceful Protest - PEN America
• How to Organise a Protest: Step-by-Step Guide for Activists - Activist Handbook
• Tips for Preparedness, Peaceful Protesting, and Safety - Human Rights Campaign
• A Guide to Protesting - American Friends Service Committe (Quaker Action for a Just World)

Image Description: A photo of a crowd of protesters from behind. They stand outside a city hall. One protester carries a sign that says, "Spread Love, Not Hate, United We Stand."

Credit: Connor McManus / Pexels

Ten Works of Nonfiction on the History or Future of Protest

• This is an Uprising: How Nonviolent Revolt is Shaping the Twenty-First Century by Mark Engler and Paul Engler
• Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic Of Nonviolent Conflict by Erica Chenoweth and Maria J. Stephan
• Dissent: The History of an American Idea by Ralph Young
• Grassroots: A Field Guide for Feminist Activism by Jennifer Baumgardner, Amy Richards, and Winona LaDuke
• When We Rise by Cleve Jones
• The End of Protest by Micah White
• All Our Relations: Native Struggles for Land and Life by Winona LaDuke
• March by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell
• When We Fight, We Win: Twenty-First-Century Social Movements and the Activists That Are Transforming Our World by Greg Jobin-Leeds
• Subterranean Fire by Sharon Smith

Sources

• 25 Books About the Power of Protest to Inspire You to March On (Bustle): 25 Necessary Books About The Power Of Protest, Because The Fight Has Just Begun
• An Essential Protest Reading (Bustle): 11 Books About Political Protests To Inspire Your Activism Throughout Trump's Presidency
• The Greatest Books of All Time on Protest (The Greatest Books): The Greatest Books of All Time on Protest
• 9 Books About Political Activism that Will Inspire You (What We Reading): 9 Books About Political Activism That Will Inspire You