Forum Post: Maintain Non Violence At All Costs

I think that given the large scale of protest being seen not only in the US but worldwide it is important to discuss and implement methods of nonviolence. These methods should not only be practiced on an individual level but at one cohesive group that would promote internal structural integrity.

Given large amounts of frustrations channeled into one large group of people at one time in space it is easy to succumb to acts of violence as a form of confrontation. However this method can be counter productive to the goals of a resistance.

A resistance that is principally based on violent confrontation only encourages and validates reactive violence from its opposition. This will also create a very strict dichotomy of "US vs. THEM" sort of mentality, which is likely to be coupled with over emotional irrationality. This should not be the goal of any movement that desires effective change and equality, especially one that represents the "99%".

Even when met with police violence it is important to maintain an entirely nonviolent composure. This allows a group to gain a moral high ground that would effectively demonize an opponent allowing them to gain support from other citizens and foreign agents. As it would clearly express that there are "the oppressors" and that there are "the oppressed" and that at this point the system's only way left of maintaining legitimacy is through fear and physical violence.

If one were to succumb to reactionary violence as a form of resistance then that individual or group would lose its own sense of conscious choice as it would merely be reacting, rather than thoughtfully processing and engaging in conflict.

To all protestors and advocates please thoughtfully consider and reflect on nonviolent methods as the most effective and peaceful means towards effective change.

For your reading consideration:

"Strategic Nonviolent Conflict: The dynamics of people power in the twentieth century" By Peter Ackerman & Christopher Kruegler

"The Politics of Nonviolent Action" By Gene Sharp