protester
March with signs
A protester is someone who publicly objects to something—a policy, action, or condition they find unjust.
Protesters gather at demonstrations, carry signs, chant slogans, and sometimes block traffic or occupy spaces.
The word is neutral: Protesters lined the streets outside the courthouse.
Also spelled protestor.
One who protests publicly
- campaignerOne who advocates publicly
- advocatePublic cause supporter
- dissidentOpposer of established systems
- agitatorOne who foments discord
picketer · marcher · organizer · crusader · reformer · boycotter · striker · petitioner
Rhythmic group walk
- picketPointed fence stake
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- sit-inProtest by remaining seated
- boycottOrganized economic protest
strike · occupation · vigil · blockade · rally · petition · civil disobedience · walkout
Notice on a board
- bannerDisplayed strip with message
- megaphonePortable voice amplifier
- signMark conveying information
- sloganMemorable promotional phrase
chant · bullhorn · effigy · armband · pamphlet · flyer · whistle · candle
Forced separation by group
- integrationCombining into a whole
- desegregationEnding enforced group separation
- voting rightsEntitlement to elect officials
- Jim CrowRacial separation laws
sit-in · freedom rider · lunch counter · bus boycott · civil disobedience · nonviolent resistance · voter registration · apartheid
Open resistance to authority
- dissentDisagreement with authority
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
- rebellionDefiance of established power
obstruction · standoff · confrontation · arrest · police line · tear gas · water cannon · kettling
Denial of fair treatment
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
austerity · war · pollution · displacement · rights violation · censorship · brutality · discrimination
demonstrator
One who protests publicly
- campaignerOne who advocates publicly
- advocatePublic cause supporter
- dissidentOpposer of established systems
agitator · picketer · marcher · organizer · crusader · reformer · boycotter · striker · petitioner · environmentalist
march
Rhythmic group walk
- picketPointed fence stake
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- sit-inProtest by remaining seated
boycott · strike · occupation · vigil · blockade · rally · petition · civil disobedience · walkout · die-in
placard
Notice on a board
slogan · chant · bullhorn · effigy · armband · pamphlet · flyer · whistle · candle · mask
segregation
Forced separation by group
- integrationCombining into a whole
- desegregationEnding enforced group separation
- voting rightsEntitlement to elect officials
Jim Crow · sit-in · freedom rider · lunch counter · bus boycott · civil disobedience · nonviolent resistance · voter registration · apartheid · suffrage
defiance
Open resistance to authority
- dissentDisagreement with authority
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
rebellion · obstruction · standoff · confrontation · arrest · police line · tear gas · water cannon · kettling · crackdown
injustice
Denial of fair treatment
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- exploitationSelfish use of others
corruption · austerity · war · pollution · displacement · rights violation · censorship · brutality · discrimination · imperialism
- activistsactivist, Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights activists, campaigner, demonstrator
- talkerstalker, chatterbox, motormouth, motor-mouth, loudmouth
- dissentersdissenter, dissenters, dissidents, dissident, nonconformists
- dissidentsdissident, dissidents, dissenter, rebel, Sakharov
- political peopleactivist, advocate, politician, voter, partisan
- reformersreformers, reformer, social reformers, social reformer, political reformer
protesterconformist
One following accepted norms
yes-man · traditionalist · establishmentarian · loyalist · supporter
protesterbystander
One who observes nearby
onlooker · spectator · observer · silent majority · fence-sitter
- labor protestOrganized worker demonstration
- peaceful protestNonviolent collective expression of dissent
- protest chantsCollective cries at rallies
- protest singer
- protest songsMusic voicing political dissent
- under protestWith stated objection
protest, protests, protesting, protested, protestation, protestor, protesters, protestors, protestations