Ever find yourself annoyed, angry, or afraid when you see news about protests? Ever find yourself excited or curious about what it means to take part in protests and other forms of collective action for social change?

Through this presentation, Cynthia Mendes explores what protest is—and what it is not—drawing lessons from the Black freedom struggle and Civil Rights Movement, the anti-war movement, and the Capitol Crawl for disability rights to examine the core tenets of effective protest. Through historical and contemporary examples, the presentation examines protest as a struggle over power, risk, disruption, and accountability, inviting participants to consider when collective action meaningfully challenges power... and when it does not. (and why)