Richard Engel Quotes

I studied revolutions at university, and I think each revolution must begin with a moment of 'no.' If enough people have that moment at the same time, it becomes a movement.

Not one rebel or many rebels can change a government by force.

On some campuses, change is effected through nonviolent or even violent means.

My mum taught me the power of protest.

Freedom is a part of protest as well.

I think of protest as confrontation and disruption, as the end of silence.

I'd been focused on trying to start civil disobedience since 2010. I'd tried many things and they hadn't worked. So I went on a retreat and prayed, with some psychedelic medicines. It was really intense and I prayed for what I called the codes for social change and within a month my prayer was answered.

It's interesting to me that the Arab Spring started in Tunisia, and in the marches, people were singing 'Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights.'

The only weapon we have is our bodies, and we need to tuck them in places so wheels don't turn

In recent years, many seem to have spent their lives protesting. Perhaps they have felt to do this because they have felt repressed or wished to bring about change or have acted out of selfish reasons, thinking that if they tore the house down they might end up with a shingle.

It is not necessary to wait until all conditions for making revolution exist; the insurrection can create them.

It's the reason why I am always interested in engaging in people who are pushing us and pushing against the status quo. But having been an activist, the only thing that I'm always encouraging activists to do is, once you have raised the issue, and even through controversial means, you have to come behind it with an agenda and the possibility of reconciliation if power meets your demands.

There is a more excellent way, of love and nonviolent protest.

Revolt by all means, but only on one issue at a time. To do more would be to confuse the whips.

There's still a place for marching for instance with the Black Lives Matter movement, we've seen the importance of causing a scene, being on the streets and making your demands and your voice heard.

The revolution will not be televised.

I believe in civil disobedience among other forms of resistance in times when it's called for.

If civil disobedience is the way to go about change, than I think a lot of people will be going to San Francisco

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.

Where's the activism? Nobody knows. And anyone who thinks they know, like Todd Gitlin, has their head up their ass. Nobody knows. The day before every revolution that's ever happened, that revolution was impossible. The day before Rosa Parks, that was impossible. The day after, it was inevitable.

We forget now, but during his life, Dr. King wasn't always considered a unifying figure. Even after rising to prominence, even after winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Dr. King was vilified by many, denounced as a rabble rouser and an agitator, a communist and a radical. He was even attacked by his own people, by those who felt he was going too fast or those who felt he was going too slow; by those who felt he shouldn't meddle in issues like the Vietnam War or the rights of union workers.

Revolution means turning the wheel.

It is in the American tradition to stand up for one's rights--even if the new way to stand up for one's rights is to sit down.

Pick a movement, pick a revolution and join it.