Written By David Gomez
Life can be very cyclical at times. Our stories echo across generations, donning different faces, occurring in different places, with varying attire and distinct motivations — yet the driving impulse remains the same: youth striving for change and social betterment. I vividly recall my years at university in Peru, when student federations from various institutions actively joined protests and cultural demonstrations against corrupt governance or abuses of power, whichever government happened to be in place at the time.
As you well know, I come from a beautiful, historically ancient country — one that has nonetheless been marred by a high level of corruption and violence, even to this day. When I was a young journalism student, I too joined public demonstrations alongside many peers, all of us deeply frustrated by the widespread misuse of public funds and the sense that the “common good” was being betrayed. Peaceful protest has always held an important place in pressing governments to reverse decisions that do not serve the people. And a major driving force in those demonstrations has consistently been the younger generation.
Young people have always participated in the civic life of our countries, at least since the last century. What’s notable — and what strikes me personally — is that there has not always been a rigid ideological banner tightly held by one side or the other. Whether from the right or the left, what motivates many young protesters is the preservation of democracy and a kind of near-idealistic justice. In Peru, and in many other countries, this generation has been called Generation Z. They form a huge cohort seeking improvement in their economic, social, cultural and political circumstances. And there is something enviable in that desire to change one’s country, to restore the promise of progress.
Time passes, and the energy of youth inevitably transforms. What we once felt fifteen or twenty years ago may not carry the same fire today. Yet the spirit remains. Even more so when extremism is creeping into many countries at a terrifying speed.
Let’s focus on why protest is so vital in a democracy. A functioning democratic system does not merely tolerate dissent — it must cultivate it. When citizens feel unheard, when public institutions appear unresponsive or corrupt, peaceful demonstration becomes a voice of the people. Protest is, in my view, a civic duty and a sign of health in a society, not a sign of weakness. It says: we care. We demand accountability. We refuse passivity. When young people take to the streets, they are not simply exercising frustration, they are practising citizenship. They are claiming a stake in how their future will unfold.
And the recent protests in the United States — under the banner of the “No Kings” movement — serve as a vivid illustration. On October 18, millions took to the streets in cities across all fifty U.S. states, rejecting what they perceived as authoritarian overreach under Donald Trump’s administration. These demonstrators — a mix of ages, backgrounds and beliefs — conveyed a message: our democracy matters, our voices matter, and we will act when we feel power is being concentrated and rights are being eroded.
What strikes me is how the values I saw in Peru — youth refusing to accept injustice, organising collectively, believing in something better — are mirrored in other societies, even ones very different from my own. Whether in Latin America or North America, that generational impulse remains real.
For Generation Z — that large group of young people born in the digital age — protest takes on new dimensions. They are less defined by old political categories, more by values around equity, environment, democracy, and authenticity. They tap social media and cross-national networks. When they protest, they often do so not simply against a policy, but for a set of principles: transparency, inclusion, trust.
Of course, protest alone does not guarantee change. It must be paired with strategy, follow-through, political engagement, and institutional reform. Still, protest remains a powerful spark. It draws attention, alters public discourse, and forces those in power to respond.
Looking back on my own experience — the marches in Peru, the university halls filled with debate, the fervour of youth — I feel both nostalgia and hope. Nostalgia for those intense, shared moments. Hope because I see that current young generations elsewhere still carry the flame. They still believe in better. They still believe their voices matter.
So yes — life can be cyclical. But perhaps that is the beautiful part. Because each cycle offers a chance: a chance for renewal, for improvement, for a re-commitment to democratic values. And as long as the youth keep stepping into the arena, keep raising their voices, democracy stays alive.
