What is "protest"

Protest \Pro*test"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Protested; p. pr. & vb. n. Protesting.] [F. protester, L. protestari, pro before + testari to be a witness, testis a witness. See Testify.]

1. To affirm in a public or formal manner; to bear witness; to declare solemnly; to avow.

   He protest that his measures are pacific.
   --Landor.

   The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
   --Shak.

2. To make a solemn declaration (often a written one) expressive of opposition; -- with against; as, he protest against your votes.
   --Denham.

   The conscience has power . . . to protest againts the exorbitancies of the passions.
   --Shak.

   Syn: To affirm; asseverate; assert; aver; attest; testify; declare; profess. See Affirm.

Protest \Pro"test\, n. [Cf. F. prot[^e]t, It. protesto. See Protest, v.]

1. A solemn declaration of opinion, commonly a formal objection against some act; especially, a formal and solemn declaration, in writing, of dissent from the proceedings of a legislative body; as, the protest of lords in Parliament.

2. (Law)

   1. A solemn declaration in writing, in due form, made by a notary public, usually under his notarial seal, on behalf of the holder of a bill or note, protesting against all parties liable for any loss or damage by the nonacceptance or nonpayment of the bill, or by the nonpayment of the note, as the case may be.

   2. A declaration made by the master of a vessel before a notary, consul, or other authorized officer, upon his arrival in port after a disaster, stating the particulars of it, and showing that any damage or loss sustained was not owing to the fault of the vessel, her officers or crew, but to the perils of the sea, etc., ads the case may be, and protesting against them.

   3. A declaration made by a party, before or while paying a tax, duty, or the like, demanded of him, which he deems illegal, denying the justice of the demand, and asserting his rights and claims, in order to show that the payment was not voluntary.
      --Story.
      --Kent.

Protest \Pro*test"\, v. t.

1. To make a solemn declaration or affirmation of; to proclaim; to display; as, to protest one's loyalty.

   I will protest your cowardice.
   --Shak.

2. To call as a witness in affirming or denying, or to prove an affirmation; to appeal to.

   Fiercely [they] opposed My journey strange, with clamorous uproar Protesting fate supreme.
   --Milton.

   To protest a bill or To protest a note (Law), to make a solemn written declaration, in due form, on behalf of the holder, against all parties liable for any loss or damage to be sustained by the nonacceptance or the nonpayment of the bill or note, as the case may be. This should be made by a notary public, whose seal it is the usual practice to affix.
   --Kent.
   --Story.

c.1400, "avowal, pledge, solemn declaration," from Old French protest (Modern French prôtet), from preotester, and directly from Latin protestari "declare publicly, testify, protest," from pro- "forth, before" (see pro-) + testari "testify," from testis "witness" (see testament).\n

\nMeaning "statement of disapproval" first recorded 1751; adjectival sense of "expressing of dissent from, or rejection of, prevailing mores" is from 1953, in reference to U.S. civil rights movement. First record of protest march is from 1959.

mid-15c., "to declare or state formally or solemnly," from Old French protester, from Latin protestari "declare publicly, testify, protest" (see protest (n.)). Original sense preserved in to protest one's innocence. Related: Protested; protesting.

n. 1 A formal objection, especially one by a group. 2 A collective gesture of disapproval: a demonstration. vb. 1 (label en intransitive) To make a strong objection. 2 (label en transitive) To affirm (something). 3 (label en transitive chiefly North America) To object to. 4 To call as a witness in affirming or denying, or to prove an affirmation; to appeal to. 5 (label en legal transitive) to make a solemn written declaration, in due form, on behalf of the holder, against all parties liable for any loss or damage to be sustained by non-acceptance or non-payment of (a bill or note). This should be made by a notary public, whose seal it is the usual practice to affix.

1. n. a formal and solemn declaration of objection; "they finished the game under protest to the league president"; "the senator rose to register his protest"; "the many protestations did not stay the execution" [syn: protestation]

2. the act of protesting; a public (often organized) manifestation of dissent [syn: objection, dissent]

3. the act of making a strong public expression of disagreement and disapproval; "he shouted his protests at the umpire"; "a shower of protest was heard from the rear of the hall"

4. v. utter words of protest

5. express opposition through action or words; "dissent to the laws of the country" [syn: resist, dissent]

6. affirm or avow formally or solemnly; "The suspect protested his innocence"

Protest is an EP by The Dears, released in limited quantities in 2002. It was later re-released in a mass market version with different artwork in 2004. The EP was also included as a bonus disc in the Australian release of No Cities Left.

Protest is a Croatian film directed by Fadil Hadžić. It was released in 1967.

Protest is the second solo album by Bunny Wailer, originally released in 1977 in Jamaica on Solomonic Records and internationally on Island Records.

A protest (also called a remonstrance, remonstration or demonstration) is an expression of bearing witness on behalf of an express cause by words or actions with regard to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations. Protesters may organize a protest as a way of publicly making their opinions heard in an attempt to influence public opinion or government policy, or they may undertake direct action in an attempt to directly enact desired changes themselves. Where protests are part of a systematic and peaceful campaign to achieve a particular objective, and involve the use of pressure as well as persuasion, they go beyond mere protest and may be better described as cases of civil resistance or nonviolent resistance.

Various forms of self-expression and protest are sometimes restricted by governmental policy (such as the requirement of protest permits), economic circumstances, religious orthodoxy, social structures, or media monopoly. One state reaction to protests is the use of riot police. Observers have noted an increased militarization of protest policing, with police deploying armored vehicles and snipers against the protesters. When such restrictions occur, protests may assume the form of open civil disobedience, more subtle forms of resistance against the restrictions, or may spill over into other areas such as culture and emigration.

A protest can itself sometimes be the subject of a counter-protest. In such a case, counter-protesters demonstrate their support for the person, policy, action, etc. that is the subject of the original protest. In some cases, these protesters can violently clash.

A protest is an expression of objection, by words or by actions, to particular events, policies or situations.

Protest or protester may also refer to:

• Demonstration (protest), aka street protest
• Protest (EP), a 2002 EP by The Dears
• Protest (film), a 1967 Croatian film
• Protest (play), a 20th-century Czech play
• Protest (album), a 1977 album by Bunny Wailer
• Sea protest, that which protects a charterer or shipowner from claims of damage caused by the perils of the sea
• Protesters against the 1649 Scottish Act of Classes
• Tax protester
• Protest The Hero