Part 1, Section i
- Introduction
The latest public discourse surrounding methods of nonviolent and violent protest pits these two strategies against one another, but fails to acknowledge what each truly means. Definitions of either are non-specific and have typically led to the condemnation of violence in all its forms. In particular, rioting and looting have been denounced as methods that supposedly counteract the initial message that the “peaceful protest” hopes to accomplish. The riot is often seen as “the voice of the voiceless” and as a symptom of political injustice when in reality, the “voiceless” are consciously articulating their sentiments.
Structural change necessitates conflict: effective change is dependent on how debilitating the conflict is to the institution. When people’s peaceful protests are ineffective, people come not to expect justice from nonviolence, and rightfully so. In fact, even the success of the “peaceful protest” is dependent on the possibility of violence against the institution. Is the threat of violence not a violent act in and of itself?