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Alfonso Alcala

Ms. Justice

English III AP

24 May 2017

Cesar Chavez Free-Response

Cesar Chavez uses moments in history to prove that nonviolence is more powerful than

violence. Through those examples, he contradicts violent resistance with nonviolent.

We advocate militant nonviolence as our means of achieving justice for our people, ,

Chavez ensures that though peaceful protest and boycotts will lead to freedom. He gives credit to

Dr. Kings life as the source that inspired him to be an advocate and leader of the farm workers

movement. Chavez believes that when nonviolent measures are taken, you have already won.

Nonviolence supports you if you have a just and moral cause. In the following paragraph

Chavez then explains the opposite effect that nonviolence has.

Or there will be a total demoralization of the workers. This past week there was a

boycott in which I participated. I believe that through the use of nonviolent resistance we can

achieve our goals. Violence does not work , Chavez knew this and ultimately succeeded. He

shortly mentions Gandhi and his teaching that the perfect instrument of nonviolent change is

boycotting. The support of the people is the most important thing in a protest. If people do not

support a cause then there will be no cause that can accomplish their goals.

Examine history, we have seen countless moments in history where people have fought

for what they believe in and what they think is right. Dr. King was assassinated because of his
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fight for civil rights, Gandhi starved and Chavez boycotted. Through these three men great things

have happened but there is always going to be new problems that rise. In the last paragraph,

Chavez says, time is our ally, some say that time fixes all problems. Yes nonviolent resistance

takes time but the problems and rebuttals that would come up from violent measures would not

be worth all the suffering.