In this interview, Mary Elizabeth King, an expert on nonviolent resistance, discussed how Mohandas Gandhi’s civil disobedience influenced the American civil rights movement, and what he might think of India today. NEW DELHI — The United States and India, the world’s oldest and largest democracies, have been punishing their citizens for using civil disobedience to…
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Question: What do Rwanda, Stateville Correctional Center, the Cook County Jail, and elementary schools across Chicago have in common? Answer: Henry Cervantes. A Little Village native — his license plate references “The Village” —Cervantes is a 32-year-old community organizer, activist and peacemaker. As program manager for Holy Family Ministries’ Peace Exchange, he leads two programs:…
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By. Mary Elizabeth King Despite the tumult in Mississippi Freedom Summer’s 1964 Jackson headquarters, the function of communications was ongoing and sometimes life-saving. On most days, Mary King was working to break news stories, or speaking with reporters as seen here. © George Ballis Nonviolent campaigns usually seize the latest technologies available, perhaps leading…
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By Tom Hastings // with PeaceVoice From tossing a brick through the plate glass window to throwing bottles at cops, violent flanks have been harming movements for a long time. The results are predictable; they are disastrous for campaigns. As with all movement decisions, your first filter inquiry toward a decision is How will this…
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In the aftermath of President Donald J. Trump’s inauguration on January 20th, we have seen a spate of resistance across the U.S., ranging from street protests to legal challenges. New alliances are formed, often across what just a few months ago would have been thought of as insurmountable political divides. Over the past few…
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By Erica Chenoweth. The politics of dissent is back in the United States. Since 2011, the country has witnessed the resurgence of popular action — from Occupy Wall Street to Flood Wall Street to Black Lives Matter to Standing Rock. Since Nov. 8, many Americans have participated in protests and marches in nearly every major city…
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By Erica Chenoweth and Maria J. Stephan, “How the World is Proving Martin Luther King Right about Nonviolence,” Washington Post, January 18, 2016. “I left India more convinced than ever before that nonviolent resistance was the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom.” – “The Autobiography of Martin Luther King…
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