The
Aether-Search Protests were a series of demonstrations and protests across several major cities in the US, which occurred throughout 2012. In them, many citizens of the US protested against a decision made by the government to study the
aether, and in a way, against the way the US and Western society treated
American Imbued. The protests were, and still are, considered an important marker in the public's changing opinions regarding Imbued. For the first time in the history of the US,
Mundane protested side-by-side with
Imbued and
Mutants about the way the powered folks were treated.
The Conflict
Prelude
Although society had been stirred up and approaching the boiling point for longer, the incident which caused the protests was singular: the governments decision to study the aether was (almost) universally disliked. Regardless of reason given, many read bad intentions behind the desire to research the source of the Imbued's power, be it because they wanted to remove their powers, or because they wanted to be able to make anyone of their choosing an Imbued.
More critically, however, the suggested method for this research involved Imbued Energy Overflows. Intentionally preventing an Imbued from using their powers until they reached their Overflow would be cruel, but on top of that, Overflows were fatal in almost all cases. It was a cruel research method, intended to research something that didn't need to be studied, or at least, nothing which required such drastic measures.
Protests and demonstrations took place all across the US, including in many major cities.
Rainsburg was notable for the presence of
The Unbroken, who'd been gathering much attention as superheroes, and who thus drew a lot of attention to any protest and demonstration they were present for. Which was most of them, if not all.
In short-term, the government backed out. The study never took place, and they never researched the aether. Or at least, not as far as the public knew.
In longer term, the intended study and resulting protests opened the eyes of many
Mundane about the fate of many Imbued, and the cruelty towards them. Protesting side-by-side made many realize that Imbued were just people like them, except
they were treated like their lives could be thrown away for curiosity's sake. The changing tides of society churned, and a better future came faster and faster.
You know, I was on the side of the government when it was like 'let's make everyone imbued' until the method they primarily used was the Overflow. It's like, gais... We could've had something neat and nice, and there ya go ruining it with your mad scientist approach. For shame. Great article <3 Conflict is always a nice way of drawing disparate sides together.
Thank you! And "making everyone Imbued" is also easier said than done, as even in non-Mutant cases it often involves significant bodily changes to be able to handle the powers. There's a reason why most Imbued are born that way! To be fair, the aether is incredibly difficult to study. No (modern) equipment exists which can sense it, not even Imbued people. Overflows are basically the only way to visualize it. That still doesn't make it a good method, unfortunately.
Yeeaaaah. Having in described in such a way didn't make it any better XD I'm just saying, every time I've seen / read one of the things where there are 'mutant' or supernatural things, if there was a way I could also get powers, I totes would. So I can empathize with the baddies when they're doing it - but obviously it tends to go too far.