Whether helping bring down Jose Mourinho, marching against their club owners or pushing back against plans to commercialize football, fans have a long history of using their passion for sports as a tool for nonviolent protest. These fan protest stories remind us that fan activism isn’t a passing fad, but an integral part of the fight for social change.
Black fans, for example, used their passion for sports as a weapon in the Civil Rights Movement, boycotting professional sports teams that segregated seating and pressuring city leaders to integrate stadiums. They maintained their protests through the Black press, relying on writers like Jim Hall, Marcel Hopson and Marion Jackson to keep readers up to date on boycott information. They also employed other tactics, including pickets and directing their protests toward the owners of the franchises rather than the players themselves.
The timbre of protests differed, too. For example, while Star Wars has been a common pop culture reference for American protesters, for young people in countries where anime is incredibly popular (such as China), One Piece may hold more sway because of its universal appeal and its depiction of the struggle against an evil empire.
When writing about someone who participates in a protest, it’s important to focus on their personal characteristics, such as their hobbies and family, to help readers connect with them and promote positive attitudes toward underrepresented groups. This is especially true when reporting on sports-related protests, as the use of personal narrative can reinforce the message that all fans are equal and should be treated with respect.