Perceived Ineffectiveness

After almost any protest, i's easy for people to declare their effort was pointless. However, there are effects, for individuals and society.

If nothing else knowing that you are not alone, and that millions of people all over the world are also outraged by what's going on, does a lot for people experiencing oppression. It helps them realize it's possible to build networks, and as people build experience, activist networks develop new abilities.

It can also help remind people about the true nature of people in other countries, that even when a majority is whipped into a militant frenzy, there's always millions of others who protest violence. That in all nations, in all times, large swaths of people wanted nothing more than to live in peace. Statements like that don't just chance people's lives, they change the entire world.