THE POWER OF NON-VIOLENT PROTEST
Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness. We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love… Our aim must never be to defeat or humiliate the white man, but to win his friendship and understanding.” These words from Dr Martin Luther King Jr eloquently summed up the intentions of the majority of civil rights campaigners in America; namely, that their goal of equality was to be met through non-violent and peaceful protest, a stark contrast to the violence and hate levelled against black communities over the previous few centuries. One of the crowning achievements of the movement was its effectiveness in promoting these ideals and affecting real change in the country while hardly ever raising a hand in anger.
“Love thy neighbour” was a biblical verse that King took to heart. He, and other activists, believed that love was the force that would win equality and end the racist and segregated laws that infested the USA. Love in their mind didn’t have to be a literal, emotional bond, but a powerful force that could be used for good.
The 20th century had revealed just how effective mankind had become in waging war, with his violent tendencies playing out through a multitude of wars, genocides and civil inequality, backed up by brutal repression. In contrast, there was also a rise in peaceful, nonviolent protest that sought to enforce positive change without the need for bloodshed. The genesis of non-violent protest
