Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. taught the practice of nonviolent resistance; the most effective, practical and moral way for African Americans to achieve their civil rights. King preferred the term “active resistance” rather than the more familiar term “passive resistance”, as pacifism implies that force is not required to achieve a goal. This active protest was aimed towards eliminating the limitations set on blacks registering to vote. Unfortunately, nonviolent protests were still met with force. This painting shows the excessive violence by state troopers against civil rights protestors as they attempted to march peacefully from Selma, Alabama to the state capital, Montgomery. It became known as “Bloody Sunday”, March 7, 1965.
Nonviolent Resistance
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. taught the practice of nonviolent resistance; the most effective, practical and moral way for African Americans to achieve their civil rights. King preferred the term “active resistance” rather than the more familiar term “passive resistance”, as pacifism implies that force is not required to achieve a goal. This active protest was aimed towards eliminating the limitations set on blacks registering to vote. Unfortunately, nonviolent protests were still met with force. This painting shows the excessive violence by state troopers against civil rights protestors as they attempted to march peacefully from Selma, Alabama to the state capital, Montgomery. It became known as “Bloody Sunday”, March 7, 1965.