Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
Activism in the United States - statistics & facts
Activism, the act of campaigning for change, whether social, political, economic, corporate, or environmental, has shaped American society from the start. Many of the most significant moments in the history of the United States are attributed to activism, from the abolition of slavery to achieving women鈥檚 right to vote. In modern times, such movements still significantly shape the U.S. landscape, with over 6,400 protests and riots taking place nationwide between January 2023 and August 2024 鈥 the majority of which were pro-Palestine or anti-Israel demonstrations in response to the ongoing war in Gaza. Many of these protests have taken place on college campuses, as student activists set up rallies, sit-ins, fasts, and encampments in opposition of their school having any affiliation with Israel. Widespread activist movements in this day and age also tend to yield results; at several well-known U.S. universities, including Brown University and Northwestern University, campus protesters agreed to clear their encampments in exchange for their school severing ties with companies linked to Israel.
