--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I decided to protest in 2016 because I…" description: "\"I decided to protest in 2016 because I was feeling helpless and somebody needed to do something.\" — Kenny Stills" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/kenny-stills-8037_feeling_i-decided-to-protest-in-2016-because-i-w_3194256.jpg" --- # I decided to protest in 2016 because I was feeling… ![“I decided to protest in 2016 because I was feeling helpless and somebody needed to do something.” quote by Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/kenny-stills-8037_feeling_i-decided-to-protest-in-2016-because-i-w_3194256.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/kenny-stills-8037_feeling_i-decided-to-protest-in-2016-because-i-w_3194256.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/kenny-stills-8037_feeling_i-decided-to-protest-in-2016-because-i-w_3194256.jpg) > “I decided to protest in 2016 because I was feeling helpless and somebody needed to do something.” [Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal action taken when feeling powerless, driven by a need to effect change. **In simple terms:** Protested because of helplessness and desire to act. Key Takeaway Channel helplessness into purposeful action. Themes activism personal agency social responsibility Mood determined hopeful Type social personal When to use this quote - community organizing - social media campaigns - local volunteering Key Concepts civic engagement mental health empowerment Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to act when powerless? - How can personal activism lead to broader impact? A Different Perspective Protest may not address underlying systemic issues alone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feeling Helpless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-helpless/) [Protest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protest/) ## Related quotes > [Helplessness is such a rotten feeling. There's nothing you can do about it. Being helpless is like being paralyzed. It's sickness. The cure calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-barris/helplessness-is-such-a-rotten-feeling-there-s-nothing-you-can-do/) [Chuck Barris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-barris/) > [Are you feeling helpless when you think about the dark roads of the future? Then read the biographies of the great men! Learn their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/are-you-feeling-helpless-when-you-think-about-the-dark-roads-of-the/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [48 ways to say that I'm feeling helpless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seether/48-ways-to-say-that-i-m-feeling-helpless/) [Seether](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seether/) > [The suffering of a loved one was in many ways worse than one's one suffering because it left one feeling so very helpless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/the-suffering-of-a-loved-one-was-in-many-ways-worse-than-one-s-one/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [I think that being vulnerable is about feeling helpless, or powerless... it's about allowing myself to be in a place where I could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie-calvano/i-think-that-being-vulnerable-is-about-feeling-helpless-or-powerless/) [Sadie Calvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie-calvano/) > [we know that our world is corrupt and diseased but we're tired of being cynical and feeling helpless. What the hell, tilt at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-heimel/we-know-that-our-world-is-corrupt-and-diseased-but-we-re-tired-of/) [Cynthia Heimel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-heimel/) > [Do not mistake feeling helpless for being hopeless. Those trained to do their jobs, are doing them. They will bring an end to this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-mistake-feeling-helpless-for-being-hopeless-those-trained-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A reprisal of this magnitude... has never been carried out before. I paced back and forth in my room perplexed and completely depressed, feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moshe-sharett/a-reprisal-of-this-magnitude-has-never-been-carried-out-before-i/) [Moshe Sharett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moshe-sharett/) > [The mind wants to forget because it weighs so much on the heart and soul. I am tired of crying and feeling so helpless.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/the-mind-wants-to-forget-because-it-weighs-so-much-on-the-heart-and/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [If you are feeling helpless, help someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/if-you-are-feeling-helpless-help-someone/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [“If you're feeling helpless, help someone. ” ― Aung San Suu Kyi (from Freedom from Fear)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/if-you-re-feeling-helpless-help-someone-aung-san-suu-kyi-from-freedom/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [Always assuming someone else will step up to the plate to help, will leave a lot of people feeling helpless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-assuming-someone-else-will-step-up-to-the-plate-to-help-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When tragedy strikes, feeling helpless is understandable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/when-tragedy-strikes-feeling-helpless-is-understandable/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [Im more attracted to a stronger man rather than a feminine man. Someone who would just throw me down and take control. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-electra/im-more-attracted-to-a-stronger-man-rather-than-a-feminine-man/) [Carmen Electra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-electra/) > [“ Many of us are slaves to our minds. Our own mind is our worst enemy. We try to focus, and our mind wanders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham-rinpoche/many-of-us-are-slaves-to-our-minds-our-own-mind-is-our-worst-enemy-we/) Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche ## More by Kenny Stills > [People told me I couldn't play Division I football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/people-told-me-i-couldn-t-play-division-i-football/) [Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/) > [I moved a lot when I was in California, so I know a lot of people everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/i-moved-a-lot-when-i-was-in-california-so-i-know-a-lot-of-people/) [Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/) > [I have a '72 Volkswagen bus and it's lime green.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/i-have-a-72-volkswagen-bus-and-it-s-lime-green/) [Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/) > [Drew Brees is going to be in the Hall of Fame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/drew-brees-is-going-to-be-in-the-hall-of-fame/) [Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/) > [I'm just trying to take a stand for people that are unique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/i-m-just-trying-to-take-a-stand-for-people-that-are-unique/) [Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/) > [I've been in my share of trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/i-ve-been-in-my-share-of-trouble/) [Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/) > [I'll continue to speak my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/i-ll-continue-to-speak-my-mind/) [Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/) > [I think it's important to understand people can disagree on things, and still move forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/i-think-it-s-important-to-understand-people-can-disagree-on-things/) [Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/) > [I hope that people will get to know me and give me the opportunity to get to know them and just respect what I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/i-hope-that-people-will-get-to-know-me-and-give-me-the-opportunity-to/) [Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/) > [Every ball that comes my way, I believe should be caught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/every-ball-that-comes-my-way-i-believe-should-be-caught/) [Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/) > [They give us this presentation every year about the NFL being a brotherhood. And if something is going on with one of your brothers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/they-give-us-this-presentation-every-year-about-the-nfl-being-a/) [Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/) > [The MMA stuff has been really good, I'm enjoying that. To be able to work with Jay Glazer, he's a total meathead, he loves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/the-mma-stuff-has-been-really-good-i-m-enjoying-that-to-be-able-to/) [Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/) > [I think I've done a good job of trying to figure out ways to continue to use my voice and platform for the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/i-think-i-ve-done-a-good-job-of-trying-to-figure-out-ways-to-continue/) [Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/) > [You only live one time, and I'm not going to be the type of person to say, 'I wish I did this' or 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/you-only-live-one-time-and-i-m-not-going-to-be-the-type-of-person-to/) [Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/) > [Every cop isn't a bad cop just like every NFL player that makes a mistake, we're not all bad guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/every-cop-isn-t-a-bad-cop-just-like-every-nfl-player-that-makes-a/) [Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/) [Explore all 85 Kenny Stills quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/) ## More Feeling quotes > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My feeling has always been that 'Good Eats' would have never happened had it been left to a committee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/my-feeling-has-always-been-that-good-eats-would-have-never-happened/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [Tryna hide this pain with these pain killers, she said the storms only will last a little while but shit it got me feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myself/tryna-hide-this-pain-with-these-pain-killers-she-said-the-storms-only/) Myself > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [Hate not knowing when things are going to happen feeling different every single day. It is called LIFE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-valdovinos/hate-not-knowing-when-things-are-going-to-happen-feeling-different/) Stephanie Valdovinos > [The best feeling comes when you realise, that you are perfectly happy without the things, once you thought you needed the most…!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-feeling-comes-when-you-realise-that-you-are-perfectly-happy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love transforming myself constantly because it gives me that 'new' feeling that I'm very much addicted to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-mondo/i-love-transforming-myself-constantly-because-it-gives-me-that-new/) [Brad Mondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-mondo/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [What I do miss that I don't get anymore? You're going to think I'm crazy, but you want the truth, so here it is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mandrell/what-i-do-miss-that-i-don-t-get-anymore-you-re-going-to-think-i-m/) [Barbara Mandrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mandrell/) > [I think kids growing up, if they were picked on and feeling inferior at 12, they're going to feel that way at 72. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/i-think-kids-growing-up-if-they-were-picked-on-and-feeling-inferior/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [I don't think Alfonso was a big expert on Potter either. He was feeling his way through it more than I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-thewlis/i-don-t-think-alfonso-was-a-big-expert-on-potter-either-he-was/) [David Thewlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-thewlis/) > [The most difficult part for me is feeling connected to the people that I love but always being on the go to different places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-franti/the-most-difficult-part-for-me-is-feeling-connected-to-the-people/) [Michael Franti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-franti/) Browse all 8,809 Feeling quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I decided to protest in 2016 because I was feeling helpless and somebody needed to do something.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kenny Stills" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/i-decided-to-protest-in-2016-because-i-was-feeling-helpless-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feeling" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/i-decided-to-protest-in-2016-because-i-was-feeling-helpless-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/kenny-stills-8037_feeling_i-decided-to-protest-in-2016-because-i-w_3194256.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/kenny-stills-8037_feeling_i-decided-to-protest-in-2016-because-i-w_3194256.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/kenny-stills-8037_feeling_i-decided-to-protest-in-2016-because-i-w_3194256.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I decided to protest in 2016 because I was feeling helpless and somebody needed to do something.” — Kenny Stills", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kenny Stills", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I decided to protest in 2016...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/i-decided-to-protest-in-2016-because-i-was-feeling-helpless-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/i-decided-to-protest-in-2016-because-i-was-feeling-helpless-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```