Those That Make Peaceful Revolution Inevitable

“Those that make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.” President John F. Kennedy understood the importance of nonviolent protest as a vital component in a democracy. From the founders and the philosophy that went into our founding documents to this very day we can see that peaceful demonstrations against unjust laws or governmental actions have brought about great change and ultimately a healthier climate in society. Peaceful resistance to laws demonstrates the strength of a free society in that the government responds to such protests and that the people do not jump immediately to violence. One of the primary reasons the founders decided to separate from Great Britain was because of their lack of a voice in British government. The British Parliament and King oppressed the colonies with taxes and laws that the colonists had to comply with without having any representation. The rallying cry of many of the colonists was "No taxation without representation!" Colonists sought out peaceful ways to bring about change, and only turned to violence when they felt there was no other option. The violent rebellion was not merely on a whim of the Continental Congress, as
the colonies had suffered a "long train of abuses and usurpations" as Thomas Jefferson explained in the Declaration of Independence. The founders did everything they could to protect the sanctity of peaceful sedition within their new country, even extending the Olive Branch petition to the Crown so that no more violence would be needed to achieve a more democratic society. Jefferson wrote that "dissent is the highest form of patriotism," and this is seen in the first amendment protecting the freedom of speech, petition, and assembly. Non-violent social movements have been frequent in American history, and some have even led to the passage of constitutional amendments. The most famous of these movements is the civil rights movement of the 1950’s and 60's, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The movement forced the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, ensuring more liberties to more Americans than ever in U.S. history. The women's suffrage movement of the early 20th century, spearheaded by trailblazers like Alice Paul and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, led to the 19th Amendment’s ratification, which gave women the right to vote. During the Vietnam War the legal requirement to vote was 21, although you could be drafted into military service at 18. This incited a peaceful movement to lower the voting age to 18, as the movement coined the phrase "old enough to fight, old enough to vote." The 26th amendment was passed soon after, allowing 18 year olds the right to vote. Today, we see even more peaceful resistance to governmental action, like the “#nodapl movement,” protesting the building of an oil pipeline through a Native American water supply and burial ground. The American Army Corps of Engineers eventually pulled out of Standing Rock, as the protesters gained much media traction. As America has progressed, through struggle and sacrifice, we have increased the "us" and reduced the "other." The "us" being those who fully enjoy their social, political, civil, and natural rights, the other being those who do not.
As more and more groups receive full recognition of their rights, we grow as a society to be “a more perfect union” as promised by the Constitution’s framers. Dr. King mentions this in his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” where he says of African Americans, "Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever. The yearning for freedom eventually manifests itself, and that is what has happened to the American Negro. Something within has reminded him of his birthright of freedom, and something without has reminded him that it can be
gained." If America chooses to quiet the voices of dissent and instead let remain the inequality and injustices, then surely the rebellion will turn from signs and demonstrations to guns and violence. When Dr. King was assassinated, a great distress rose across the country and in many cities there were very violent riots. At this time, Robert Kennedy was campaigning in Indianapolis, and he gave a speech on the importance of King's work. He implored that instead of the natural reaction to riot and to hate, people should dissent in peace. Speaking of a violent uprising, he said,” We can move in that direction as a country, in greater polarization - black people amongst blacks, and white amongst whites, filled with hatred toward one another. Or we can make an effort, as Martin Luther King did, to understand and to comprehend, and replace that violence, that stain of bloodshed that has spread across our land, with an effort to understand, with compassion and love." Peaceful, compassionate, and respectful breaking of the law shows the ultimate respect for it.