Nonviolent Resistance Research Paper

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Peaceful resistance to laws positively impacts a free society. Without some form of opposition, there would not be a voice heard in the community. The community would have no insight on what problems are lying underneath the surface. It also gives other individuals in the community a sense of direction. Once they see other people participating in peaceful resistance, they take it upon themselves to join the movement as well. This domino effect is what makes nonviolent resistance such a successful way of protesting for a cause. When numerous people partake in such activities, one small voice is transformed into something much more massive. "You must never be fearful about what you were doing when it is right", said civil rights activist Rosa …show more content…
The shooting of Trayvon Martin in 2012 sparked a remarkable amount of commotion in the African American community. Martin was seen walking home from a local store by a neighborhood watch coordinator, George Zimmerman. Zimmerman took the initiative to open fire simply because of he felt threatened by Martin in some unknown way. The young boy was caught holding nothing more than an Arizona Iced Tea and a bag of skittles. In further investigation, Martin had no criminal record and was deemed as completely harmless. Zimmerman's non-indictment immediately sparked a riot in the African American community. A movement called "Black Lives Matter" marched through Manhattan, blocking traffic to bring awareness to numerous African Americans who have been killed and not served justice. This act of civil disobedience caused many people to join the "Black Lives Matter" Movement and bring attention to this uprising problem in society. Martin Luther King Jr was another significant figure in civil disobedience. In his letter from a Birmingham jail, King listed four steps to a nonviolent campaign: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist, negotiation, self purification, and direct