Non-Violent Direct Action

History - Henry David Thoreau -“Resistance to Civil Government,” a lecture From Later published as essay, “Civil Disobedience” -Opposed slavery, favored abolition

Thoreau wrote: “All men recognize the right of revolution; that is, the right to refuse allegiance to, and to resist, the government, when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable. But almost all say that such is not the case now. But such was the case, they think, in the Revolution of ’75…” (p. 11).

Yet, he continues: “[W]hen a sixth of the population of a nation which has taken to be the refuge of slavery are slaves, and a whole country is unjustly overrun and conquered by a foreign army, and subjected to military law, I think that it is not too soon for honest men to rebel and revolutionize,” (p.12).

Voting “All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or backgammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right or wrong, with moral questions, and betting naturally accompanied it,” (p. 14). He challenged people to vote with acts of freedom.

In sum “Unjust laws exist: shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transcend them at once?” (p. 17).

Ghandi Indian Independence Movement Disobeyed the government with a system non-violent civil disobedience. Although illegal, they made salt and faced arrest. But the world saw their gesture.

King on Nonviolence 1) It is resistance to evil and oppression 2) It does not seek to humiliate the opponent 3) It attacks the forces of evil not the people doing it 4) It is the willingness to accept suffering without retaliation 5) Avoids physical or spiritual violence 6) It maintains a belief in justice for all

Model of Nonviolent Social Change Political Action – grassroots peoples’ movements, nonviolent campaigns Constructive Program – building a just, peaceful, sustainable society Personal Development – nonviolent lifestyles choices

Model Moves to US Quakers, AJ Muste Bayard Rustin, Ella Baker Martin Luther King No Nukes, Civil Rights, Women’s Movement, Gay Liberation, Anti-War Movement, ACT UP/AIDS activism.

Direct Action Organizing Direct Service – affordable housing development, shelter, Black Panther Soup Kitchens, Housing Works programs Education – Highlander Center, education for action, issue research. Teach people to research and issue, look for an apartment, cultural events. Self-Help – mutual aid networks, helping each other, neighborhood clean up, baby sitting co-op. Advocacy – propose laws on behalf of others. Direct Action – The people who have a problem take action to solve it. Clean city; build a garden; organize a bike ride; squat a building, etc. Create DIY solutions.

direct action “Direct Action utilizes hands-on intervention to directly challenge hierarchies. By using spectacle to expose hypocracies, direct action terrorizes the status quo and revitalizes public space. In the process, it builds a delicious and defiant culture of resistance. Direct action encourages people to push the boundaries of acceptable behavior in order to create new possibilities for organizing, self determination, and activism.”

non-hierarchical organizing “Why non-hierarchical organizing? In this country we are encouraged to think that voting is a participatory act of “democratic” choice, when in reality it means that a majority controls the agenda. Non-hierarchical organizing means that everyone participates in the process.”