What would the world look like if we couldn’t express outrage against the systems we disagree with or support the changes we seek? In Protest! Respect It Defend It Use It, lifelong activists Annie Leonard and André Carothers celebrate what collective action can achieve, and invite each of us to make a difference.
About the Book
Rivers that don’t catch fire. The freedom to marry whom we love. Clean air. Even weekends off. Peaceful protest—protected in the US, as in many countries, as a cornerstone of participatory democracy—helped bring about each of these victories. Free speech, dissent, and public mobilization are essential tools for advancing so many causes, including environmental protection, workers’ rights, human rights, self-determination, and climate, social, and racial justice.
Yet even as protest has delivered lasting progress—perhaps because of it—the right to speak freely and organize is increasingly under threat. Crackdowns are no longer confined to authoritarian regimes; anti-protest sentiment is spreading across established democracies. Activists are being vilified, targeted, even criminalized. In the US, anti-protest laws have been enacted in 49 states. Meritless legal actions used to silence dissent— are on the rise. New legal concepts like “negligent protest” are being used to hold organizers liable for damages, while violent actions by anti-democratic forces are reframed or excused.
Protest! Respect It Defend It Use It offers a powerful look at the role peaceful activism has played in advancing the public good—and shines a light on the urgent need to protect this democratic right. Featuring more than 40 iconic campaigns from around the world, the book combines photos, artifacts, and memorable quotes to create a vivid testament to the power of public dissent. Guest essays from Jane Fonda, Tennessee Representative Justin Pearson, Dolores Huerta, Nemonte Nenquimo, and others reveal how protest shaped their own commitment to driving change. Through storytelling and first-hand reflection, readers are invited to witness, reflect, and engage in peaceful activism—right here, right now.
About the Speakers
Annie Leonard is a lifelong activist who has protested globally. She led Greenpeace US as Executive Director (2014–2023), created The Story of Stuff, co-launched the Jane Fonda Climate PAC, and campaigned against hazardous waste trade. Annie frequently speaks and writes on environmental and democracy issues, including pollution, waste, consumerism, and climate change. She has appeared widely in the media, testified before Congress, and received honors such as an honorary degree from Vermont Law School and inclusion in Time magazine’s Heroes of the Environment.
André Carothers is an activist, writer, and organizer who has been involved in campaigns and protests on issues of climate change, human rights, environmental protection, and nuclear disarmament for over four decades. He worked for Greenpeace US for 13 years, including serving on the board of directors. He is the co-founder of the Rockwood Leadership Institute, a training organization for activists, and works as an organizational development consultant and coach for leaders in the social change sector. He has served as an adviser and board member of numerous organizations and publications, including Mother Jones, International Rivers, the Center for Environmental Health, the Center for Investigative Reporting, the Furthur Foundation, Rainforest Action Network, and The Story of Stuff.
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