Labor union organizer and civil rights leader, Cesar Chavez, published an article devoted to

helping those in need on the tenth anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, jr. In the
essay Chavez uses ethos and repetition in his article to persuade the audience to turn towards peaceful
protest by speaking to religious people and using Dr. Martin Luther King’s credibility in his passion for
peaceful protests and unity.

Chavez’s use of ethos in his speech supports two of the most famously known icons of non-
violent protests, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Gandhi. For example, he persuades his audience to
convert to nonviolent protests, especially religious people. Gandhi and Dr. King’s peaceful protests
promoted nonviolence and were also extremely successful in spreading the positive behavior within the
community. In lines 17 Chavez says that resorting to violence will bring nothing but deaths and
demoralization, if we react with nonviolence, we will attract people's support.

Chavez uses repetition by continuously arguing how nonviolence is not the correct response to
conflict. For example, he states that responding nonviolently to situations provides dignity, class, and
gains moral support. Nonviolence has a domino effect, by spreading positivity. Violence spreads turmoil,
chaos, and disregards human life. Chavez makes a great point that no matter how important struggle
and misery is, it is not more important than human life. He sums up his repetition of nonviolence by
stating how nonviolent reactions such as boycotting and peaceful protesting spreads the message by
gaining support and gaining leverage which creating a lasting effect.