Claire Wong ’25, News Editor

Police and protestors face off during an on-campus demonstration.

(Photo courtesy of The Washington Post)

Over the summer, several news stories made national headlines, but none were as prominent as the widespread protests that took place around the world. Among the most significant were demonstrations in support of peace amidst the war in Gaza, as thousands of college students from over 100 universities gathered on their campuses to call for an end to the violence. The demonstrations did not fade as summer rolled in; instead, they spread from university grounds to the streets of major cities, like New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C., where protestors chanted for justice and advocated for human rights. This wave of protests about the Israel-Hamas war has reignited debates about the United States’ foreign policy and the responsibility of global powers. 

The Israel-Hamas war was far from the only issue that brought people to the streets this summer. In the months leading up to the Paris Olympics, millions of Parisians voiced their anger toward the French government’s spending on preparations for the Games — particularly the costly ($1.5 billion) clean-up of the Seine River. While Parisians have advocated for clean up of this historic waterway for years, many citizens view the clean up prior to the Paris Games as a short-term solution. They argue that the river’s clean-up is merely a temporary fix for the two-month event, after which the government will likely neglect its upkeep —  prioritizing political appearances and international prestige over the long-term environmental well-being of their city. Some Parisians even created a #IPoopInTheSeine movement, where they dumped their waste in the water to slow down the progress of the clean up as a means of retaliating against the governments’ sanitation attempts. 

Simultaneously, in several of France’s neighboring countries, another topic of protest arose: tourism. While foreigners often fuel local economies, residents of popular vacation spots such as Barcelona, Amsterdam and Venice have grown weary of the downsides associated with mass tourism. This summer saw locals call for greater regulation on the number of visitors allowed to prevent further overcrowding, pollution, and cultural erosion, as prices for local citizens have spiked due to increased travelers. These frustrations have sparked conversation about how major cities can balance economic growth with the preservation of culture and the environment. 

The environment remained a central headline throughout the summer as climate change protests continued to dominate the global stage. Climate activists expressed their mounting frustration with what they perceive to be government inaction. Despite decades of discussion and calls for action, 2024 has seen some of the hottest temperatures on record, causing the reality of rising temperatures, melting ice caps, and increasing natural disasters to place activists on high alert. Demonstrations sprouted from London to Sydney, making it clear that inaction is no longer tolerable to the younger generations who are leading the charge. 

At the end of the day, protests are a powerful and fundamental way for all individuals to voice their beliefs, frustrations, and demands for change. As we head into the school year and protests around college campuses and the world inevitably arise, it is crucial to keep an open mind and navigate each issue with empathy. Such a mindset is even more salient this year in particular: after several months of political turmoil, which has been the root cause of many of these protests, we will witness a presidential election in the United States that can result in high tensions and a divided country. 

If you would like to engage in further meaningful and respectful discourse, Dr. Atwell and Mr. McCall’s ‘Lunch and Learns’ will begin in October. These events, which will discuss national and global issues that impact our community, are meant to help students develop empathy, active listening skills, and critical thinking, and will take place every Red-day Monday at 11:25 during the second half of lunch.