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Demonstration And Protests

In the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen worldwide demonstrations which started after a black man was murdered by a white policeman in the USA. These protests have been the biggest in more than 50 years.

Here are some useful phrases and collocations to describe the protests.

Stand

stand up for = protect something / someone
“stand up for your rights”

take a stand against = act against something
“Many people are taking a stand against racism.”

stand up against = take a stand against
“stand up against racial injustice”

stand shoulder to shoulder = support someone
“stand shoulder to shoulder with the black community”

Fight

fight = try to destroy
“They’re fighting prejudice / bigotry / discrimination.”

fight for = try to get something
“Protesters are fighting for racial equality / gender equality.”

fight against = fight (also noun)
“People are fighting against injustice.”
“The fight against injustice has been going on for many years.”

Take

take action = do something
“People across the USA have taken action against police brutality.”

take to the streets = demonstrate
“Groups of people have taken to the streets to demand an end to racism.”

take a / the knee = to kneel on one knee (often during the national anthem) as a form of protest
“Some black American athletes took the knee to protest against racism.”

Protest

protest against = demonstrate against
“People are protesting against police brutality.”

peaceful protest = a protest without violence
“There have been peaceful protests in many cities.”

a protester = someone who protests
“More than a thousand protesters marched through London.”

Slogans

Black Lives Matter = This is also the name of a movement to raise awareness of inequality and racism

Enough is Enough = To say we have experienced enough of a bad thing and that it must now stop

Silence is Violence = To mean that if you don’t stand up against something (if you remain silent) you are also guilty of racism

Together We Stand = To say that we are fighting together to get change


When you learn collocations (like “take action”) and phrasal verbs (like “stand up for”) you can speak English more fluently and naturally. When you join the English Fluency Club, you get immediate access to more than 650 fluency phrases, collocations and phrasal verbs.

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