As protests are popularized and encouraged, debates have risen regarding whether children should be in attendance and what consequences or benefits come from their participation. 

Protesting has various benefits. The first of many is that protesting provides a sense of community to those fighting against a particular injustice. It serves as an awakening for equality and liberty, for all to join hands and agree on one accord. Not only that, but protesting serves as an educational source for those who are not aware of the injustices going on around them. Namely, the protests calling for a ceasefire in Gaza have been widespread physically but also shared through social media platforms such as TikTok. With word spreading, people have made multiple efforts to boycott popular brands in support of Israel, like Starbucks and McDonald’s, to show their support for Palestinians. 

However, protesting is not always peaceful. It might look like panicked faces running in unknown directions, screaming for lost loved ones in a crowd or dodging weaponry like guns or tear gas. Though it is undeniable that the loudest protests have the biggest impact, it is important to think about how children would react in such a setting. 

Children should not be directly involved in protests until they are educated about the risks and possible outcomes. A child should be able to understand and conceptualize their responsibilities while simultaneously being trustworthy enough to make decisions for the benefit of themselves and those around them. The government should formulate an exact age for children to join protests because it may help parents decide when their children should step into the scene.

Instead of pushing children directly into protests, it might be a little easier to talk to them about the things that are happening around them. Just because they may not be able to physically walk through a protest does not mean that you should completely hide protests from them. If they were to find out about protests in a way that does not promote safety, when they participate they will not be prepared for the dangers. Allow them to get acquainted and excited about protests without making them feel like they are completely forbidden from ever joining such a prominent circle. 

Even if children are not a part of the social or cultural group that may be protesting, teach them about the situations that go on in the bubble outside of their own. Allow them to be leaders and creatives that become solutions. Even if people are no longer physically protesting an injustice, such as #MeToo or #BLM, tell them about the history of those movements and how they set the tone for others. 

Overall, children might not be ready to be active in protests but deserve the right to know about them and the reasoning behind them. That way, when they are ready, they will make a noise loud enough to break the barriers of injustice that we cannot seem to escape. 

Photo by: Bayram Er via Pexels