Martin Luther King Jr.’s 6 Facts About Non-Violent Resistance

From his deep studies of Gandhi and his own experience, Martin Luther King Jr. developed a list of six facts to help people understand non-violent resistance and join with him in his vision.

King’s words are as insightful and thought provoking today as they were when he wrote them:

1. Non-violent resistance is not for cowards. It is not a quiet, passive acceptance of evil. One is passive and non-violent physically, but very active spiritually, always seeking ways to persuade the opponent of advantages to the way of love, cooperation, and peace.

2. The goal is not to defeat or humiliate the opponent but rather to win him or her over to understanding new ways to create cooperation and community.

3. The non-violent resister attacks the forces of evil, not the people who are engaged in injustice. As King said in Montgomery, “We are out to defeat injustice and not white persons who may be unjust.”

4. The non-violent resister accepts suffering without retaliating; accepts violence, but never commits it. Gandhi said, “Rivers of blood may have to flow before we gain our freedom, but it must be our blood.” Gandhi and King both understood that suffering by activists had the mysterious power of converting opponents who would otherwise refuse to listen.

5. In non-violent resistance, one learns to avoid physical violence toward others and also learns to love the opponents with “agape” or unconditional love–which is love given not for what one will receive in return, but for the sake of love alone. It is God flowing through the human heart. Agape is ahimsa. “Along the way of life, someone must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate,” said King.

6. Non-violent resistance is based on the belief that the universe is just. There is God or a creative force that is moving us toward universal love and wholeness continually. Therefore, all our work for justice will bear fruit – the fruit of love, peace, and justice for all beings everywhere.”

Read more: Spirit, Inspiration, ghandi, martin luther king, mlk, non-violence

Adapted from Peace to All Beings, by Judy Carman (Lantern Books, 2003). Copyright (c) 2003 by Juday Carman. Reprinted by permission of Lantern Books.
Adapted from Peace to All Beings, by Judy Carman (Lantern Books, 2003).

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Ioney W.

9:39AM PDT on Jun 28, 2011

Wonderful article****

send a green star

KS G.

4:54AM PDT on Jun 13, 2011

Thanks for the article.

Bon L.

4:32AM PST on Feb 3, 2011

Thanks for the info.

Val L.

11:28AM PST on Jan 31, 2011

Just came from the Civil Rights museum in Memphis. So moving

will w.

1:13AM PST on Jan 30, 2011

noted

Diana C.

7:24PM PST on Jan 29, 2011

...

Tomoko H.

8:08PM PST on Jan 20, 2011

MLK is one of my favorite people but he is a bit over-rated in USA history.

Jj S.

8:47AM PST on Jan 19, 2011

I never realized before that most of our culture accepts non-violence to a point - that point being a person's blood being spilled in acceptance of violence without retaliation while actively working to promote peace. I can't recall a single popular culture image that promotes the last 3 points as being integrated into the daily life of Americans. Many images abound in the lives of saints, exalted beings, and leaders like Gandhi and Martin Luther King. How can American society foster a culture of peace?

Charlene R.

8:53PM PST on Jan 18, 2011

We should have cloned him!

Elizabeth M.

1:04PM PST on Jan 18, 2011

Thank You so very much for this post! Words truly from a great man! Non violence all the way...and you do have to be strong to be this way.