Most places celebrate Pride Month in a. May b. June c. July
In 1969, a. activists held the Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day March b. police raided the Stonewall Inn, leading to riots c. patrons of the Stonewall Inn first started using the word “pride”
Activist L. Craig Schoonmaker chose the term “gay pride” because a. he thought it would make the cause more appealing b. he wanted the protests to be celebrations c. he believed people could have pride even if they had no power
Discussion/essay questions
Why do people protest? Do you think it is an effective way to bring social change?
Should all protests be peaceful? Why or why not?
Transcript
Many countries recognize June as Pride Month. Pride Month honours the struggles and achievements of LGBTQ+ people throughout history. Every year, people go to festivals and parades to celebrate LGBTQ+ identity. However, Pride has not always been a celebration. It began as a protest in June 1969, after police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City. Hundreds of people rioted against police treatment of the patrons. The next year, activists in New York held the Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day March on the anniversary of the riots. This began a tradition of LGBTQ+ rights protests in June. The term “gay pride” comes from activist L. Craig Schoonmaker. He chose it because he believed people could still have pride even if they had no power. LGBTQ+ activists around the world still fight for rights and safety today.
In the 1960s, a serious environmental concern was a. the ozone hole b. air and water pollution c. ocean acidification
Gaylord Nelson was a. a Wisconsin senator b. an environmental journalist c. a student anti-war activist
Most of the Earth Day demonstrations took place at a. government offices b. factories c. university campuses
Discussion/essay questions
What are environmental protections like where you live? Are there changes you would like to see?
Indigenous cultures around the world have respected and protected nature for a long time. Why do you think it took so long for many national governments to recognize environmental impacts?
Transcript
Before the 1960s, many people knew very little about environmental damage. There were few regulations, and companies could contaminate natural areas without facing consequences. By the end of the decade, air and water pollution were becoming serious problems. An American senator from Wisconsin named Gaylord Nelson wanted to implement policies to protect the environment. Inspired by the effectiveness of anti-war protests at the time, Nelson decided to organize a day of educational demonstrations at university campuses to start a conversation about the environment. On April 22nd, 1970, millions of people attended demonstrations. Earth Day was held on April 22nd every year after that. The growing interest in the environment caused several policy changes in the US and around the world.
Imagine the Russian Revolution never took place. How would this change the course of history?
Transcript
The Russian Revolution was a period of time when the working class of Russia rebelled against the government. This revolution began in 1917, when Russia was still involved in World War I. The war had caused famine and poverty throughout the country. The people of Russia suffered poor working conditions, long hours, and low pay. In early 1917, the workers decided to go on strike. They were standing up against Russia’s ruler, Tsar Nicholas II. A political party known as the Bolsheviks, led by a man named Vladimir Lenin, was gaining support from the working class. The Bolsheviks believed that communism was the only solution to poverty in Russia. After the protests became too much to handle, Nicholas II was forced to step down from the throne. The Bolsheviks gained power soon after that, and Russia became a communist country.
Although the civil rights movement ended a long time ago, racism did not. In recent years, a new movement called Black Lives Matter has gained international support. This movement aims to end racism and abuse of power within the police system. What are some of the major similarities and differences between this movement and the movement of the 1960s?
Transcript
John Lewis was an American activist and politician. He was born in 1940 in Troy, Alabama. When Lewis was growing up, segregation was still common in Southern states. As a teenager, Lewis was inspired by the speeches of activist Martin Luther King, Jr. While he was a student in college, Lewis became involved in the American civil rights movement, which aimed to gain equal rights and opportunities for Black people. He even helped to organize the March on Washington, one of the most important events of the entire movement. Lewis continued to advocate for the rights of Black Americans long after the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964. He decided to run for office in the 1980s to help marginalized communities. Lewis was elected to Congress in 1986, and he served until his death in 2020.
