> Protests have never once seemed effective my entire life, honestly

Then time to crack open those dusty history books and start reading mate :) Most of the civil rights we have in modern life comes from either protests or protests evolving into riots or protests evolving into riots evolving into civil wars, one way or another. But it always starts with protests.

You might still be young and haven't yet experienced it, but you're bound to at one point or another, even if you yourself might not be out on the streets protesting and agreeing with the movement(s) when that happen.

American? I felt and feel the same - but mostly about Americans.

These folks get it done, and embarrass us as a society: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Protests_in_South_Kor...

Especially the most recent strike.