There were plenty of issues in 2016 worth standing for and against, and the brave protesters fighting for justice will continue to inspire us into the new year.
While peaceful protests and warranted stand-off’s often ended in violence at the hands of law enforcement, the fight lives on. Check out the most compelling, harrowing yet inspiring images of protests as 2016 comes to a close.
Let’s get free.
01
State of Emergency in Charlotte
Outraged protesters face riot during a demonstration against police brutality in Charlotte, North Carolina, following the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott the previous day.
Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/TNS via Getty Images
02
State of Emergency in Charlotte
Outraged protesters face riot police during a demonstration against police brutality in Charlotte, North Carolina, following the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott the previous day.
Sean Rayford/Getty Images
03
State of Emergency in Charlotte
NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images
04
State of Emergency in Charlotte
Sean Rayford/Getty Images
05
State of Emergency in Charlotte
Sean Rayford/Getty Images
06
Standing Up in Baton Rouge
Protestors take a stand after the death of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
A woman stands her ground peacefully as a group of police officers in riot gear try to apprehend her during a peaceful protest in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
REUTERS/Jonathan Bachman
08
Standing Up in Baton Rouge
Protestors take a stand after the death of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
One proster calms down another after a heated argument with officers after the news of a hung jury in the trial of Officer William Porter in the Freddie Gray case in Baltimore.
Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun/TNS via Getty Images
11
Frustration in Baltimore
Protesters march after the news of a hung jury in the trial of Officer William Porter in the Freddie Gray case in Baltimore.
Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun/TNS via Getty Images
12
Frustration in Baltimore
A protester confronts members of the Baltimore City Sheriffs Department in front of the Baltimore City City Circuit Courthouse.
Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun/TNS via Getty Images
13
Rights in South Africa
Students under the banner #FeesMustFall, closed some of the country’s largest universities – and President Zuma ordered a freeze on tuition fees for a year.
14
Interrupting Fashion Week
Black Lives Matter protesters call for justice during New York Fashion Week.
Jerritt Clark
15
Memphis on the Move
Protestors take a stand on the Hernando Desoto Bridge in Memphis, Tennesse. Protesters angry over police killings of black people occupied the key bridge over the Mississippi River, blocking an interstate highway for hours
Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal via AP
16
Unrest in Chicago
Demonstrators clash with police on December 9, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. Chicago Protests Erupt After Mayor Issues Apology for Laquan McDonald’s Death
Getty Images
17
Unrest in Chicago
Demonstrators confront police during a protest following the release of a video showing Chicago Police officer Jason Van Dyke shooting and killing Laquan McDonald in Chicago, Illinois. Van Dyke was charged today with first degree murder for the October 20, 2014 shooting in which McDonald was hit with 16 bullets.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
18
Unrest in Chicago
Demonstrators clash with police, calling for the resignation of the mayor.
Getty Images
19
Unrest in Chicago
Demonstrators confront police during a protest following the release of a video showing Chicago Police officer Jason Van Dyke shooting and killing Laquan McDonald in Chicago, Illinois. Van Dyke was charged today with first degree murder for the October 20, 2014 shooting in which McDonald was hit with 16 bullets.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
20
Unrest in Chicago
Chicago Police officers block an entrance to City Hall during a Justice for Laquan protest on Wednesday in Chicago.
Getty Images
21
Frustration in Baltimore
Meech Johnson gestures in the street in front of police after Baltimore authorities released a report on the death of Freddie Gray on May 1, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. Marilyn Mosby, Baltimore City state’s attorney, ruled the death of Freddie Gray a homicide and that criminal charges will be filed. Gray, 25, was arrested for possessing a switch blade knife April 12 outside the Gilmor Houses housing project on Baltimore’s west side. According to his attorney, Gray died a week later in the hospital from a severe spinal cord injury he received while in police custody.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
22
Frustration in Baltimore
Officers from the Baltimore Sheriff’s Department arrest a protestor after the news of a hung jury in the trial of Officer William Porter in the Freddie Gray case.
Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun/TNS via Getty Images
23
Black Lives Matter Continues
Protestors take a stand for #blacklivesmatter in New York City.
Andy Katz/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
24
Black Lives Matter Continues
Protestors take a stand for #blacklivesmatter in New York City.
Erik McGregor/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
25
Burkini Protests in Europe
Protesters from different societies stage outside the Council of State in France in Paris to show support for Muslim women after 15 French towns introduced and started to enforce a ban on the burkini.
NurPhoto via Getty Images
26
Burkini Protests in Europe
Women in stylish burkinis team up with supporters in Antwerp, Belgium at the beach party to protest against the ban of Burkinis in France.
Frederik Sadones/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
27
Zimbabwe on Fire
Protestors set up a burning barricade as they clash with police during a protest for electoral reforms, in Harare Zimbabwe.
ZINYANGE AUNTONY
28
Zimbabwe on Fire
A supporter of Zimbabwe Opposition Party Movement for Democratic Change Tsvangirai faction (MDC-T) throws back a tear gas canister as protesters clash with police during a march against Police Brutality on August 24, 2016 in Harare, Zimbabwe.
AFP/Getty images
29
Zimbabwe on Fire
A woman carrying fertilizer on her head movinaway as Zimbabwe’s opposition supporters set up a burning barricade and clash with police during a protest for electoral reforms in Harare, Zimbabwe.
ZINYANGE AUNTONY/Getty images
30
Justice for Dakota
Facebook/Morton County Sheriff’s Department
31
Justice for Dakota
Protestors demonstrating against construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline that has already destroyed sacred burial lands in North Dakota.
Getty images
32
Justice for Dakota
Protestors demonstrating against construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline that has already destroyed sacred burial lands in North Dakota.
Getty images
33
Justice for Dakota
Protestors demonstrating against construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline that has already destroyed sacred burial lands in North Dakota.
Getty images
34
Colin Kaepernick Kneels
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick certainly wasn’t the first to use his professional sports platform to take a stand against social injustice, but he left his own mark on history with his decision to protest the national anthem by kneeling during games while the song was played. In addition to sending the message that he wasn’t afraid to risk his livelihood to lend his influence to the fight for Black lives, his simple gesture also sparked a nationwide ripple effect across the sports world at all levels.
35
Post Election Dismay
Protestors in Oakland, California take to the streets after the troubling election results.
ANDA CHU
36
Post Election Dismay
A protester wearing an American flag faces police during an anti-Trump protest in Oakland, California.