Barbara Deming Quotes

Violent resistance and nonviolent resistance share one very important thing in common: They are both a form of theater seeking an audience to their cause.

Nonviolent action does not have to get others to be nice. It can in effect force them to consult their consciences.

There is a need for a movement of non-violent direct action.

There is no power above people power.

Government doesn’t always work the way its supposed to. Sometimes you have to use brute force, bring people together …

Protest is when I say this does not please me. Resistance is when I ensure what does not please me occurs no more.

I think there is a role for non-violent direct action when democratic channels have failed.

Be prepared to organize nonviolent workshops - a teach-in around what is happening in America today. Organize your teachers and schoolmates, and be prepared to engage in some action.

It's the people who are doing the nonviolent organizing at the grassroots that make me think there's still hope.

People! Take to the streets and scream 'BE REASONABLE!'

I love the protests. And if you think about it, what better way to send a message to Wall Street than by sitting in a pup tent banging on a drum.

Any protester knows that the only way activism works is to get the people on your side.

Nonviolence worked in Serbia, and it can work in other countries seeking their freedom.

I hope lots of people will join the solidarity march on May 7th and I hope things will change.

We who in engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive.

You don't have a peaceful revolution. You don't have a turn-the-cheek revolution. There's no such thing as a nonviolent revolution.

There never was a social change in America without angry people at the heart.

Most activism is brought about by us ordinary people.

If the law is a bad law, there is always the contingent right to take action that you would not otherwise take.

You know, I was a community activist, so I'm used to standing out in front of an elected official's office and protesting.

Activists are generally doers - rather than watching television and thinking about the world they will put there energies into doing something 'active' to change the (political) situation.

It does not take a majority to prevail... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.

CORE was committed to nonviolence, but I was not.

Activism could be defined as activities engaged in by individuals to change there of others situation.

Violence and nonviolence are, after all, two different forms of theater. They both depend and thrive on the response of an audience.