The concept of violence in social movements has always drawn controversy over its use, value, and appearance in relation to said movements, both by and against the activist groups. The Civil Rights Movement provides an interesting perspective on this, as the multiple ideological sections within the movement reveal the effectiveness of different strategies. These range from the nonviolent followers of Dr. Martin Luther King, to the more balanced supporters of Malcolm X and Elijah Mohammed, to the significantly more violent Huey Newton and the Black Panther Party. The different approaches of the groups shows the influence of violence,revealing its use both by and against the activists and the ultimate effects in each case. The nonviolent activists
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Anne Moody’s “Keep on Walkin’ Keep on Talkin’: The Jackson Sit-in” provides a strong example of the violence against these nonviolent protesters, and the power of this type of protest in drawing in outside support. Moody details her experience as a participant in a sit-in in Jackson, Mississippi, discussing the peaceful actions taken by her and her peers, contrasting with the unnecessary violent response by counter-protesters. She and the other students were to take part in a standard sit-in, a common method of nonviolent resistance in the movement, and did so, taking their place at a whites-only counter at a Woolworth’s. The events that followed showed the power of this type of protest by prompting an aggressive response from counter-demonstrators. Each of the demonstrators were physically attacked, with Moody describing how she was “snatched from [her] stool by two high school students [and] dragged about thirty feet toward by [her] hair”(Moody 22), before she got back up and made her way back to the counter. This particular instance of violence at the protest is a great example of how the protesters used nonviolent means. Reporters surrounding the scene, as well as their audiences, witnessed as the counter-protesters physically assault the peaceful students, who then proceeded to get back up and return
Anne Moody’s “Keep on Walkin’ Keep on Talkin’: The Jackson Sit-in” provides a strong example of the violence against these nonviolent protesters, and the power of this type of protest in drawing in outside support. Moody details her experience as a participant in a sit-in in Jackson, Mississippi, discussing the peaceful actions taken by her and her peers, contrasting with the unnecessary violent response by counter-protesters. She and the other students were to take part in a standard sit-in, a common method of nonviolent resistance in the movement, and did so, taking their place at a whites-only counter at a Woolworth’s. The events that followed showed the power of this type of protest by prompting an aggressive response from counter-demonstrators. Each of the demonstrators were physically attacked, with Moody describing how she was “snatched from [her] stool by two high school students [and] dragged about thirty feet toward by [her] hair”(Moody 22), before she got back up and made her way back to the counter. This particular instance of violence at the protest is a great example of how the protesters used nonviolent means. Reporters surrounding the scene, as well as their audiences, witnessed as the counter-protesters physically assault the peaceful students, who then proceeded to get back up and return