Protesters often use powerful nonverbal messaging to demonstrate their unity, defiance, and commitment to a cause - using silent gestures that can become symbols of a movements.
This post will focus on several of these iconic non-verbal displays.
Raised Fists: A Universal Symbol of Defiance
Perhaps the most iconic gesture in protests is the raised fist, signifying resistance and strength. From the anti-fascist movements in Europe to the Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics and beyond, the raised fist has become a gesture of unity. It was Tommie Smith and John Carlos that made headlines in 1968 by raising their fists on the podium to protest racial discrimination. At Hitler’s 1936 Berlin Olympics, Jesse Owens had set the precedent, raising his fist in defiance against the Nazi regime and its racial ideology.
In more recent years, the raised fist has become synonymous with the Black Lives Matter movement, symbolising the ongoing fight against systemic racism and injustice. Across different protests, including feminist and LGBTQ+ movements, this gesture continues to represent collective defiance against oppression.
What makes a raised fist powerful?
The raised fist is a simple, easily recognisable gesture that can be understood by people across cultures and languages. It’s both assertive and confrontational and is associated with strong emotions, including anger, frustration, and a demand for immediate justice and action. The closed hand embodies the spirit of rebellion and the desire to challenge the status quo, conveying strength and determination. Unlike gestures of submission (such as open upright palms), the raised fist is aggressive, symbolising a defiance and a readiness to challenge. The height achieved is also a dominance display amplifying this sense of boldness and assertiveness.
Kneeling: From Deference to Defiance
Unlike the raised fist, kneeling appears to be a submissive gesture. Lowering oneself physically in front of another person is a way of acknowledging a power differential. Whether bowing to royalty or kneeling in religious reverence, the gesture symbolises recognition of the other person’s authority, superiority, or higher status. By making oneself physically lower, the individual is typically signalling submission or deference.
Traditionally a sign of submission or respect, kneeling has evolved into a gesture of defiance and solidarity. Colin Kaepernick, an NFL player, famously popularised kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice in 2016. This act of rebellion was not just a symbol of resistance; it was also a profound expression of mourning for the victims of systemic violence.
What makes kneeling an effective gesture?
Kneeling’s significance lies in its dual nature. On one hand, it shows vulnerability, deference, and mourning. On the other hand, it has become a powerful protest against oppression, especially in the fight for racial justice. Taking the knee during protests evolved from a submissive gesture into one that signifies humility in the face of injustice, while also calling for change.
Taking the knee merges traditional meanings of respect and vulnerability with defiance against systemic oppression.
Marching: Strength in Numbers
Marching is one of the most common forms of protest, where body language shows strength in unity and number. The act of moving in solidarity with others speaks volumes about the urgency of the cause and create a sense of momentum. Marching through key locations, such as government buildings, city centres, or symbolic landmarks, amplifies the protest’s impact. It puts pressure on political leaders or institutions while ensuring that the message reaches as wide an audience as possible.
Why is marching effective?
Walking together in large groups is a matching behaviour that serves as a visual representation of collective power and opinion moving together as one.
Sit-Ins: Silent Resistance
A sit-in protest involves individuals sitting or lying down in a designated location, often obstructing access, drawing attention to a cause. The Greensboro sit-ins of 1960 were a defining moment in the Civil Rights Movement, when African American students sat at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter and refused to leave. Their calm and composed demeanour in the face of hostility highlighted the strength of non-violent resistance.
Why do sit-ins work?
Protesters often display passive body language, remaining calm and unreactive to opposition. This creates a stark contrast between the peaceful protesters and the aggression they may face, emphasising the moral strength of their cause. Sit-ins can also disrupt others’ behaviour/plans, causing a reaction. There is an element to standing (sitting) one’s ground and not being ‘moved’.
Die-Ins: Visualising the Cost of Inaction
Another powerful form of non-verbal protest this is where participants lie down, often symbolising lives lost to violence or neglect. These protests make a strong visual statement by simulating death, often in public spaces. During the AIDS crisis, the ACT UP organisation used die-ins to highlight government inaction, while Black Lives Matter protesters have staged similar demonstrations to protest police brutality.
Why are die-ins are effective?
These actions convey the gravity of the issue at hand, with body language symbolising loss.
The stillness and vulnerability of the participants is strikingly visually and stands in stark contrast to the violence they are protesting, underscoring the need for change.
“Hands Up, Don’t Shoot”: A Plea for Peace
The “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” gesture became prominent during the 2014 Ferguson protests following the police shooting of Michael Brown. By raising their hands in surrender, protesters symbolised a plea for non-violence and emphasised the disproportionate response of law enforcement. The gesture has since been adopted in various movements to highlight issues of police brutality and the need for systemic reform.
Why does this work so well?
The open palms gesture displays nothing to hide.
The gesture is visually and widely recognisable as non-threatening.
Linking Arms and Body Blocking: Physical Acts of Resistance
Demonstrators often link arms or form human chains as a form of physical resistance. This body language symbolises unity and determination, as protesters physically prevent authorities from breaking up their groups. This tactic was widely used during the Civil Rights Movement in America and continues to be employed in modern-day protests, especially in climate change and social justice movements.
Why is a human-chain effective?
A visual demonstration of unity, the human-chain also offers a real and symbolic ability to block spaces. The physical act of linking arms reinforces the idea that each individual is committed to the same cause.
It creates a strong visual image of interconnectedness, where everyone is equally important to the overall effort.
Silent Marches: The Power of Silence
Sometimes, the most impactful protests are those conducted in silence. Silent marches, like those seen during the Women’s March in 2017, convey a powerful message without the need for words. The quiet determination of the protesters highlights the seriousness of the cause and the unity of those involved.
The Role of Symbolic Body Language
Non-verbal communication in protests often extends beyond gestures to include symbolic actions. Protesters may hold signs or banners, wear specific clothing, or display colours that represent their cause. For example, during environmental protests, demonstrators often incorporate green into their clothing or signs to symbolise their fight for the planet.
Body language in protests plays a critical role in amplifying the message of resistance. Whether through gestures like raised fists or passive postures during sit-ins, these physical acts are essential in conveying the protesters’ emotions, intentions, and demands. These visual cues have the power to draw attention, sway public opinion, and inspire change.
References
D’Angelo, R. (2017). The Black Power Fist as a Symbol of Resistance and Solidarity. Symbolic Interaction, 40(1), 77-99.
Hoberman, J. (1997). Darwin's Athletes: How Sport Has Damaged Black America and Preserved the Myth of Race. Mariner Books.
Jackson, C. (2018). Protest Movements: How Body Language Shapes Political Activism. Sociological Review, 66(3), 405-422.
Keenan, W. (2019). Kaepernick, Kneeling, and the Politics of Protest: The Role of Body Language in Civil Disobedience. Sports and Society Journal, 12(2), 114-135.
Mills, A. (2016). Silent Resistance: The Power of Non-verbal Protest. Civil Rights Journal, 21(4), 233-249.
Taylor, J. (2020). The Role of the Raised Fist in the Black Lives Matter Movement. Cultural Politics, 16(2), 154-168.
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