Protesting in the time of COVID-19

# Protesting in the time of COVID-19 Some people say that BlackLivesMatter (BLM) protesters are selfish because they feel that *"it would be safer for everyone to wait till after the pandemic to protest"* If protests are large gatherings, and large gatherings increase the risk of spreading COVID-19, then some concern is valid. However, leaping from this concern to conclude that protesters are *selfish* raises a lot of questions. Firstly, it suggests that there are at least two different interpretations of the reasoning given for selfishness: - Reason 1: It would be safer for *everyone to wait* till after the pandemic to protest. - Reason 2: It would be *safer for everyone* to wait till after the pandemic to protest. If we accept the first reason, then we should also delay all large gatherings as long as possible. [We're not](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jun/13/benefits-outweigh-risks-of-easing-australia-covid-19-restrictions-but-who-stands-to-gain-the-most?CMP=twt_gu). Instead, disapproval expressed towards BLM protests far outstrips the concern expressed over large gatherings of people for leisure, [even in situations when physical distancing requirements were clearly not met](https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/coronavirus/2020/05/10/coronavirus-shopping-crowds/). It seems other large gathering are reasonable, but *protests* can wait. To be precise -- BLM protesters should wait. Even during the height of the pandemic, it was apparently [perfectly fine for people gathering to protest the 5G network roll-out](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jun/13/for-scott-morrison-one-protesters-free-expression-is-anothers-dangerous-activity). If we accept the second reason, we assume that protesters are putting everyone at risk *unnecessarily*. The problem with this assumption is clearer if we flip the statement and ask a question: **If it is safer for everyone to wait till after the pandemic before attending large gatherings, why are people protesting?"** Personally, I trust that those organising the BLM protest have reasons that sufficiently outweigh the risk gatherings pose during the pandemic. As do many others, including the [President of the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control](https://theconversation.com/can-you-socially-distance-at-a-black-lives-matter-rally-in-australia-and-new-zealand-how-to-protest-in-a-coronavirus-pandemic-139875). However, if you're still not so sure, consider the following: - Safer for everyone implies, at the very least, that no one is asked to risk their life for the comfort of others. - The risks COVID-19 present are disproportionately distributed, with Indigenous communities considered particularly vulnerable, especially given that their risks from COVID-19 are compounded by long-standing [social and public health consequences of racism](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jun/12/black-lives-matter-australia-protest-will-blm-protests-spark-second-covid-19-coronavirus-wave-health-experts). - Protesting the disproportionate incarceration of Aboriginals and deaths in custody is not new. Meanwhile, since being recognised by a 1991 Royal Commission things have [only gotten worse](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/24/indigenous-incarceration-rate-doubles-since-royal-commission-report-finds). Despite this, the government [failed to adequately deal with the risks of COVID-19 within prisons](https://www.sbs.com.au/news/hundreds-of-experts-sign-open-letter-calling-for-release-of-prisoners-to-avoid-coronavirus-deaths). - [Protests do help change the world](https://thecorrespondent.com/245/no-matter-what-you-think-of-protesters-you-have-them-to-thank-for-societys-progress/292868884000-a9602327) – both the accumulation of [small peaceful protests](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190513-it-only-takes-35-of-people-to-change-the-world) as well as the [larger civil unrest](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/06/to-enact-change-world-we-must-protest/) that emerges when masses gather to resist unjust rules. We have a [long history of protesting injustice](https://www.hrlc.org.au/opinion/2019/3/18/australia-has-a-long-history-of-protests-our-rights-should-be-better-protected) and should [all be worried](https://documents.uow.edu.au/~bmartin/pubs/94psa.html) when governments try to [restrict protests](https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/12/09/enduring-power-protest). - To ensure a society is safer for everyone, any gathering during the pandemic should include a harm minimisation approach -- something that the [organisers and supporters did](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-08/black-lives-matter-protest-heightens-coronavirus-fears/12331680) before, during, and after the BLM protests. While I'm yet to see it, I genuinely hope those attending other large events are being [encouraged to self-isolate for 14 days](https://www.vaccho.org.au/news-media/mr/health-precautions-remain-important-after-peaceful-protest/). - Protesting is one of the only recourses left for Aboriginal people who have good reasons to fear an early death given the racism built into our systems of governance. - Realisations of parallels with the American situation [where we're more willing to see the impacts of racism](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jun/10/essential-poll-most-australians-believe-there-is-institutional-racism-in-the-us-but-not-australia), means that *now* is the first chance enough of us White folk are willing to help demand the system change. - At the time of writing, while 103 people have died from COVID in Australia it's been [three weeks since the last death](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-17/coronavirus-cases-data-reveals-how-covid-19-spreads-in-australia/12060704?nw=0) and restrictions are easing rapidly. - Meanwhile, in 1991 the reported rate of deaths in custody was 1 every 11 days - we've had another [437 preventable deaths](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jun/09/black-lives-matter-protesters-referred-to-our-count-of-432-aboriginal-deaths-in-custody-its-now-437) with few reasons to hope an improvement in risk of death Aboriginal people face in our so-called justice system. I could go on, but the point is that there are more than enough reasons to justify protesting despite valid concerns over lengthening the pandemic. --- *Context for public post:* - There are clearly others saying that BLM protesters are selfish/self-indulgent/irresponsible who seem less concerned about COVID-19 (and are often spreading misinformation). This is a bigger problem I’ve not even attempted to engage with here. - I wrote this for myself initially, as a way to order my thoughts after someone I care for deeply described the BLM protesters are selfish and we was willing to talk to me about why they felt that and to listen to my reasons for disagreeing with them. I value conversations like this and I realised how difficult it is was to communicate both my appreciation for their concerns about COVID-19 and my reasons for feeling frustrated by this view of protesters as selfish (as much of it is based on information that they had not been aware of). I've made this public in case my self-reflections are of any use to others. Share and re-mix as you please. - I've turned off the comments as I don't currently have capacity to moderate (or deal with the the trolls that public posts often reveal). As always, I can be contacted directly for those interested in genuine conversations. --- ###### tags: `opinions` `resource-sets` Date created: 13 June 2020 Version: Public Created for: Personal networks Attribution: created by [E. T. Smith](https://hackmd.io/@Teq/Bio) on unceded lands of the [Wurundjeri people](https://www.wurundjeri.com.au/). <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" style="border-width:0" src="https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-sa/4.0/88x31.png" /></a> [CC BY-NC-SA](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)