Is There a "Right" Way to Protest?

In his documentation of recent Hawaiian history, Waves of Resistance, Walker explained the circumstances which surrounded the Hui O He’e Nalu “surfing sit-in” protests of the late 1970s. The Hui O He’e Nalu, whom Walker described as a “predominantly Native Hawaiian North Shore [surf] organization,” were disappointed by the increased number of professional surf competitions on the North Shore. These competitions contributed little to the local economy while occupying much of the beach and the surf -- a culturally significant area to the Native Hawaiians. As a result, the Hui members looked for a way to effectively communicate their perspective to the competition organizers. They decided on “surfing sit-ins” which Walker defined as when “members would paddle into the competition zone, sit on their surfboards, and then ride the forbidden waves” (Walker, 2). While these protests were intended to proceed in a peaceful manner, Hawaiian Hui member Moot Ah Quin explained that violence occasionally broke out when competition organizers asked protesters to leave (Walker, 147). As a result of the rare violent incidents, the mainly peaceful protests and the entire North Shore native resistance movement were portrayed by haole-controlled media as aggressive, hostile; Hui were even described as “terrorists.”

Hui surfers at Waimea Bay in the late 1970’s (Walker, 138)

While reading the passage from Walker about the surfing sit-ins, I couldn’t help but notice a similar pattern in the experiences of the Hawaiian protesters in the late 1970s and those of Biloxi’s peaceful protesters in the 1960s. Beginning when Dr. Mason moved with his family to Biloxi, Mississippi in 1955, he was troubled by the fact that he and his family could not enjoy the public beaches in the area because of their race, “My little son could not legally swim in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico that lapped the shore just a few blocks from our home” (Mason, 50). Mason eventually challenged the legality of the segregated public beaches with “wade-ins” which he modestly described as when he, “led nine black people to take their first steps onto the ‘white-only’ public beach in Biloxi, Mississippi” (Mason, 49). The coast newspaper, the Daily Herald, saw the wade-ins as more influential, defining them as “the first significant test of Mississippi segregation laws” (Mason, 57). Beginning after the first wade-ins, Mason and other non-violent protestors endured “a tidal wave of threats, violence, and reprisals from mad-dog segregationists” (Mason, 1). The threats toward Mason himself, during and following his leadership of peaceful protests included multiple threats upon his professional career and even his life.  

Historical reference sign at Biloxi, Mississippi beach signifying the wade-ins lead by Dr.Mason (Historical Marker Project)

During the wade-ins on April 24, 1960, Dr.Mason surveyed the three protest zones. On his second pass he witnessed violent reactions from “snarling white folks...with bricks, baseball bats, pipes, sticks, and chains and attacked our unarmed black protesters” (Mason, 68). (Photo: The Sun Herald)

More recently, in 2016, peaceful protests led by Black Lives Matter in response to multiple incidents of police brutality toward people of color, were received in an angry manner by those unwilling to acknowledge their participation in the perpetuation of an oppressive system. Following the lead of Black Lives Matter, NFL quarterback, Colin Kaepernick decided to use his platform as a well-known athlete to “protest what he deems are wrongdoings against African Americans and minorities in the United States,” by kneeling during the National Anthem at widely televised professional football games (Wyche). Kaepernick was met with criticism by many who interpreted his protest as disrespectful to the U.S. armed forces, including retired Adm. Bill McRaven. McRaven stated that those protesting, “should recognize that by sitting in protest to the flag they are disrespecting everyone who sacrificed to make this country what it is today” (Larter).

Colin Kaepernick on one knee during National Anthem (Doloff).

If the Hawaiian Hui members, who attempted to peacefully paddle their surfboards into professional surf competitions to protest the hijacking of their culturally significant beaches, were deemed “terrorists,” what is the “right” way to protest?  

If those who recognized the wrongs of segregated beaches in Biloxi, Mississippi, and participated in wade-ins were met with unjust economic punishment, threats, and violent retaliation, what is the “right” way to protest?  

If Colin Kaepernick and others who joined his peaceful National Anthem protest, are considered “un-american,” what is the “right” way to protest?

Is there a way to protest oppressive systems without receiving anger from those who see otherwise? Is there a “right” way to protest?

I haven’t found one yet.

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Historical Marker Project: http://www.historicalmarkerproject.com/markers/HM1AO5_civil-rights-wade-ins_Biloxi-MS.html

The Sun Herald: http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article145247704.html

Doloff: http://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/10/25/colin-kaepernick-doesnt-get-why-his-national-anthem-protests-would-hurt-nfl-ratings/

Wyche: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000691077/article/colin-kaepernick-explains-why-he-sat-during-national-anthem

Larter: https://www.navytimes.com/articles/legendary-seal-leader-national-anthem-protests-disrespect-the-military