How to Resist Oppression – How the Oppressors Shape the Narrative
Disclaimer: I do not support or advocate for political violence. While this article critiques systemic oppression, my goal is to advocate for meaningful change through awareness, solidarity, and non-violent resistance.
Standing up to oppression feels like trying to put out a wildfire with a glass of water. Corrupt systems don’t just wield power—they’re specifically designed to make us feel powerless. Movements for justice all over the world face the same predictable responses: deflection, evasion, and brutal crackdowns. But none of this is random—it’s all part of the playbook. Let’s break down how the media and big institutions twist the narrative to protect the status quo—and what we can do about it.
The Media: Spinning the Narrative
The media is a huge player in shaping how we view power and oppression. Think about any resistance movement: if violence happens, it's often framed as “unprovoked” or “out of nowhere.” But why doesn’t anyone talk about what led to these circumstances? Of course, violence is tragic and should not be justified or celebrated, especially when innocent people are hurt. But pretending that resistance just happens without cause? That’s dishonest, and it helps keep people in the dark about what’s really going on.
Take, for example, the October 7th attacks in Israel. Global media swiftly condemned the violence of the attack. But what about Gaza, where people have been living under horrific conditions for decades at the hands of Israel’s oppressive policies, and are now facing relentless bombings, mass displacement, and widespread starvation as a form of collective punishment in what human rights organizations claim to be genocide? The media largely hasn’t focused on the decades of apartheid, illegal occupation, and systemic violence that led to this situation. Instead, those speaking out about these injustices are labeled “radical extremists” or “terrorist sympathizers.” Activists calling for Palestinian rights are constantly pressured to denounce Hamas, but hardly anyone is holding Israel accountable for its apartheid policies or unlawful military actions. It’s a blatant double standard that only reinforces these oppressive systems.
Another example: when the CEO of United Healthcare was assassinated, the media and political elites were shocked by the lack of public sympathy. This is a company notorious for denying a third of its claims (the highest among major insurers)—all to protect and boost its profits, while people across the U.S. are left bankrupt or without care. 68,000 Americans die every year due to avoidable causes tied to lack of healthcare. Given all of this, it’s understandable that the public response wasn’t exactly one of mourning. People didn’t just wake up one day and think murder was okay — of course, it’s not. The anger at the health insurance industry is a cry for change against a system that holds Americans hostage over something as basic as healthcare. But the media and the elites seem intent on ignoring that.
The media condemns the violence of resistance while turning a blind eye to the violence of systemic oppression.
This isn’t anything new. Figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela were labeled dangerous radicals in their time. Mandela stayed on the U.S. terrorist watchlist until 2008—even after serving as South Africa's president! King, who we now celebrate for his peaceful leadership, was treated as a national threat by the FBI while he was alive. Even India’s independence from British colonial rule, which is often seen as a notable example of non-violent resistance, had its share of violent uprisings and political assassinations. And yet, this is nothing compared to the horrific violence inflicted by the British colonial empire. These movements were disruptive because they had to be in order to create real change and have since been whitewashed to fit a more comfortable narrative.
Ultimately, there needs to be greater accountability for those who perpetuate oppression and not just those who resist it.
Institutions: Protecting Order, Not Justice
Institutions are a major player in maintaining oppression. People are outraged by systemic injustice, but the truth is, the system isn’t broken—it’s often working exactly as it was designed: to protect order, not people.
Take the case of Luigi Mangione, who’s accused of assassinating the United Healthcare CEO. He was charged with terrorism and is expected to face the harshest consequences if convicted. Meanwhile, Daniel Penny, who killed a homeless man on a New York subway, was acquitted of charges and even hailed as a hero by some political figures. This juxtaposition alludes to how the law aggressively protects those at the top while failing to deliver justice for regular, especially marginalized, people.
Even peaceful resistance faces heavy suppression. For example, student protests against the genocide in Gaza were met with arrests and vilification, despite protesters acting within their legal rights. Those who spoke up against Israel’s human rights abuses faced retaliation and job losses, including university students and celebrities like Melissa Barrera and Susan Sarandon. When peaceful action is punished, what other options are left for resistance?
The lack of accountability for those in power only makes things worse. Police officers, politicians, and corporate executives regularly escape justice, while ordinary people are criminalized for things like being homeless. Given this, it’s no surprise that the U.S. elected a man who previously tried to overthrow a free and fair election. And it’s telling that several Democratic leaders saw Bernie Sanders, someone who effectively challenges the corruption of the corporate billionaire class, as a bigger threat to the system than Donald Trump. This makes clear what the establishment aims to protect.
This is a systemic issue. We live in a reality where systemic violence is justified and often protected by the law. The justice system needs to uphold justice indiscriminately to maintain public trust, which it is ultimately failing to do.
Identity Politics, Tokenism, and Moral Policing
The system uses identity politics and tokenism to divide and distract us from the real issues, aiming to create a false sense of progress.
For example, the U.S. was the sole veto for multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions calling for a Gaza ceasefire, each time leveraging the identity of a Black ambassador to deflect criticism. This is tokenism that aims to shield oppressive policies. The political class often does the same thing—highlighting women and people of color in leadership roles to look progressive, all while maintaining harmful and regressive systems.
Resistance gets policed in the same way. When people speak out, they’re often told “not like this” or “do it the right way.” This shifts the scrutiny onto the oppressed while giving the oppressors a free pass. Platforms like Meta censor dissent, and there’s even talk of banning TikTok—one of the few places where mainstream narratives are challenged. Moral policing like this is just another tool to maintain control.
So, What Can We Do?
Fighting oppression isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible either and there are many non-violent but powerful tools we have at our disposal. Here’s where to start:
Recognize Their Tactics: Understand how the narratives are shaped to protect systemic oppression and distract us, so we can resist them.
Support Independent Media: Mainstream news outlets are often tied to the interests of corporations or governments. Independent journalism gives us alternative perspectives rooted in true investigative journalism.
Build Solidarity: The oppressors thrive on division. They sow divisions to keep us distracted and fighting amongst each other, but there’s strength in numbers. Find common ground with others and amplify voices that speak out against injustice.
Economic Resistance: Your money is valuable — use it wisely! Capitalist systems respond to economic pressure. Boycott unethical companies and support movements like Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS). Stand in solidarity with labor movements, like the historic labor strikes happening in the U.S. right now at Amazon, Starbucks, and others.
Speak Up: Collective action is powerful. When we stand together, we make it safer for others to speak up and harder for oppression to continue unchecked.
The world is waking up—and it’s time for us to come together. What role will you play in the fight for justice?