The key to non-violent protest is that you don’t plan on going home afterward. You go, you stay, and you don’t leave – until somebody drags you to the jail, the hospital, or the morgue.
The key to nonviolent protest is that they have to be an alternative to violence - in other words, both sides must be fully aware that either nonviolence works or violence follows.
Certainly. But of course, when the state has a much higher capability for violence, command of professional martial organizations, mature systems of espionage, infiltration, and surveillance, as well as vast propaganda resources, non-violence is a decent way to start. Not the kind of “non-violence” that takes an Uber to Denny’s after the march – the kind of non-violence that won’t simply “blow over,” but the kind of non-violence that absolutely will not stop until it’s dealt with, one way or the other. Not everyone who goes to a protest needs to be a martyr, but there should be a core of people who believe enough in the cause to put themselves at risk of winding up with a criminal record, a hospital bill, or… worse.
I’m not arguing for pacifism. I just don’t like that people have an idea that non-violent protest is the cowardly, half-hearted strategy of dilettantes and tourists.
Often that’s only if those in power worry there will be consequences for the protests being ignored. It could be as simply as worry about being kicked out of office, damage to property, or damage to them or their family (such as Republicans staying in line with Trump because of worries about stochastic terrorism).
Yes, and it can have an effect on the people doing the protest. I was supposed to go to dinner on 2/28 with four people. I canceled that morning when I realized it was “buy nothing” day (and told them why). Those four also canceled and became curious about where to learn more about protest movements. We’ve now committed to supporting each other to escalate our efforts into more impactful actions. So, keep in mind some protests are more about rallying the troops, creating cohesion, educating, and supporting each other than impacting direct change with that particular action. Protests are just one tool in the arsenal.
Rule number 1 of protesting is always that if the protest can be suffered or ignored, then it will be.
The key to non-violent protest is that you don’t plan on going home afterward. You go, you stay, and you don’t leave – until somebody drags you to the jail, the hospital, or the morgue.
The key to nonviolent protest is that they have to be an alternative to violence - in other words, both sides must be fully aware that either nonviolence works or violence follows.
That’s certainly not how Gandhi imagined it would work.
Certainly. But of course, when the state has a much higher capability for violence, command of professional martial organizations, mature systems of espionage, infiltration, and surveillance, as well as vast propaganda resources, non-violence is a decent way to start. Not the kind of “non-violence” that takes an Uber to Denny’s after the march – the kind of non-violence that won’t simply “blow over,” but the kind of non-violence that absolutely will not stop until it’s dealt with, one way or the other. Not everyone who goes to a protest needs to be a martyr, but there should be a core of people who believe enough in the cause to put themselves at risk of winding up with a criminal record, a hospital bill, or… worse.
I’m not arguing for pacifism. I just don’t like that people have an idea that non-violent protest is the cowardly, half-hearted strategy of dilettantes and tourists.
I don’t think that’s fair, the fact that enough people care enough to show up and protest can have an effect by itself.
Often that’s only if those in power worry there will be consequences for the protests being ignored. It could be as simply as worry about being kicked out of office, damage to property, or damage to them or their family (such as Republicans staying in line with Trump because of worries about stochastic terrorism).
Yes, and it can have an effect on the people doing the protest. I was supposed to go to dinner on 2/28 with four people. I canceled that morning when I realized it was “buy nothing” day (and told them why). Those four also canceled and became curious about where to learn more about protest movements. We’ve now committed to supporting each other to escalate our efforts into more impactful actions. So, keep in mind some protests are more about rallying the troops, creating cohesion, educating, and supporting each other than impacting direct change with that particular action. Protests are just one tool in the arsenal.