violence
Dialogue: WHY NONVIOLENT STRUGGLE? (2)
The choice of nonviolent action is sometimes ridiculed, often
misunderstood, always in need of explanation. Second in our
popularization series on the core dynamics of nonviolent action, we
offer a basic definition of nonviolent struggle. We are in the process
of putting together a resource that you and anybody will be able to use,
to share with others a basic understanding of what non-military means
of fighting can offer this world in its thirst for justice and the full enjoyment of comprehensive human rights. You can help this project.
Dialogue: From Pain to Compassion, from Victim to Victor: Hearing the Stories that Heal
Photo: mell242
The cycle of violence can be broken. On interTactica this week, we get acquainted with two people, featured in our "Healing of Memories" dialogue, who haven't given up on hope.
Dialogue: Human Rights, Anything But Academic
White-supremacist graffitis were found at Colgate University
on the same day the United States elected its first African American
president. It's been less than a week, and I am standing in front of an
overflowing chapel on this all-American "Hidden Ivy"
campus, with over a thousand people who have congregated here to
denounce the symbols of a deep, ongoing strand of racism. The midday
sun is as dim as the air is crisp, but the chill comes from elsewhere:
the bigoted scribbles were part of hundreds of race threats and crimes committed around the same time across the US.
Dialogue: The Whole World Stopped Watching (Part II): How "Diversity of Tactics" offers neither
Nobody can argue against the proven benefits of using a diversity of well-chosen tactics to wage successful struggles. The sequencing of multiple creative tactics ranging from protests to legislative pressures, from secondary boycotts to civil disobedience, has been a fundamental feature of countless successful campaigns. A wide variety of tactics lies at the core of the emphasis nonviolent activists have put for decades on knowing a repertoire of at least 198 methods of action, and on clever ways to sequence them.But dangerous slips of logic have presided over a protest framework known as "Respect for a Diversity of Tactics". I believe the failure of protests such as the one at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul (USA) last September is inherent in the Diversity of Tactics approach.
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Dialogue: The Whole World Stopped Watching: "Diversity of Tactics", Repression, and the RNC protests in St. Paul, Minnesota (Part I)
Photo: Diana Jou
On September 1, 2008, several hundred protesters from across mainland USA tried to stop delegates from attending the Republican National Convention at the Xcel Center in the business district of Saint Paul, Minneapolis, where they were going to crown presidential hopeful John McCain.
"Crash the Convention" was the order of the day. But politically and number-wise, whose side really got smashed and crushed?
Over 800 people arrested. Many more detained and released. House raids in the middle of the night. Eight organizers facing "Conspiracy to Commit Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism", a second degree felony charges. Maximum penalty: seven and a half years in prison.
Deep police infiltration. Pre-emptive searches and seizures. Baton rounds. Concussion and Sponge grenades. Tasers. Pepper spray. Tear gas.
The intense brutality of the crackdown in the Twin Cities was an awful, a hydra monster of gross violations. Outrage and indignation. These are healthy, vital reactions.
But once the emotion subsides, what should be the question?
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Dialogue: So the whole world can watch
From the video "We were warriors".
From
behind the stools, white men start taunting the mixed row of mostly
black students who had the audacity to sit there. "He's so dark the
whole room is darkened." "Nobody ain't gonna sit beside them dirty
niggers." Those on the swiveling seats at the counter answer only with
an unshakable look of dignity. Frustrated, the men from behind start
pushing and shoving. Still no response from those on the stools. Then
they launch the attack: hurling obscenities, throwing milk shakes and
live cigarette buts, grabbing and punching. Lenses capture the scene.
The whole world watches in shock.
Dialogue: Nine ways nonviolent action workshops make better activists
In
the yard behind Christian Peacemaker Teams' headquarters in Chicago,
trainees stage a realistic role-playing exercise to prepare for
nonviolent accompaniment work in Hebron. Photo cc: delayed gratification.
The goal of training in nonviolent conflict is to prepare activists and supporters politically, physically, and psychologically to wage powerful campaigns and actions. Here are nine ways nonviolent action workshops help individuals hone their skills and nurture the courage and resilience they need to withstand the pressures of unarmed struggle.
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Dialogue: Nonviolence training, what is it good for?
photo cc: treviño
There's an idea out there that anyone can take to the streets and make themselves heard. You just head out and start demonstrating to confront power. It's a beautiful idea.
Sooner than later, however, any assertive form of mass mobilization will cross path with agents of authority, be they security guards, police, or military. These forces are armed, and trained.
Dialogue: In the company of accompaniment
Nonviolent Peaceforce members Bella Desai and Eldred de Klerk during the 2005 Sri Lankan elections. Photo: Bob Fitch.
In case you are just catching up, we ran a dialogue on unarmed accompaniement from January 23 to 29, 2008. And what an outstanding exchange it's been. It started with a few questions, to which our generous resource people provided a wealth of answers. If you haven't had a chance to follow, I would hate for such gold nuggets to be lost on you.
So I have compiled a list of highlights from the dialogue. The list is subjective, but hey, that's what you get for relying on other people's reading...
The excertps were edited for conciseness (from 28,000 words down to 2,000, it's a sizeable summary still), and I corrected a few typos. I also added emphasis to allow you to scan quickly. Do feel free to explore further if you want; the names link back to the specific posts.
Oh, and some of the very best resources and training guides on protective accompaniment were also interspersed in the conversation. So yes, I have compiled a list.
No. You don't have to thank me. I'm here for you. ;-)
Dialogue: Heroes and the courage to be there
Photo from Informative bulletin Quarterly of Peace of Peace Brigades International, Columbia, Feb. 2007.
“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” — Arthur Ashe
One of the rewards of sticking with activism for a few decades is that time gives you an interesting vantage point. You can see how things that started really small — dream-sized tiny — can grow big and have awesome impact over time.
Let me tell you about one big sober hero of mine.
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Dialogue: Empowering Citizens to Fight Corruption
It's not too late to add your comments to add your comments to this dialogue on Empowering Citizens to Fight Corruption. This dialogue explored how campaigns have empowered and mobilized citizens to counter corruption in their communities.
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