this post was submitted on 20 Apr 2025
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Political Memes

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[–] squirrel@lemmy.blahaj.zone 69 points 2 days ago (4 children)

Yes, unconscionable opponents will always resort to violence, but people seriously underestimate the power of strikes. If an entire society comes to a halt because people refuse to keep it going, the power of authoritarians dwindles away. No dictatorship can control a complicated, modern society of millions of people through violence alone. That's why they have always been worried by an organized workers' movement and unions.

[–] yesman@lemmy.world 12 points 2 days ago

You're assuming wide popular opposition. Kwame Ture was advocating for minority rights in an era where popular movements were often lynch mobs.

[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 18 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Thank you!

This is a good quote, but I think the person in the picture (who?) was refering to a specific type of non-violent protest/opposition.

Also, it's all in the numbers. You can carry away 100 protesters, but can you carry away 10 000?

So yeah, the sane people of the US cannot "appeal" to something that isn't there - they need to do the math, find the point of leverage, and apply pressure.

[–] ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 6 points 2 days ago

Thanks. Stokely is an amazing first name.

[–] NeilBru@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago

Wildcat strikes are de wei.

[–] svcg@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 days ago

Ah, but you underestimate the power of having union ringleaders tortured to death.

[–] merc@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 days ago (2 children)

It's not necessarily your opponent who has to have a conscience. Sometimes it can be people they depend on.

Like, with Gandhi, the British Empire didn't really have a conscience. But, there were reporters present, and they reported on what happened. The story got out to regular people in Britain, to regular people in India, and to people worldwide. The British empire knew that if they let Gandhi die, India would erupt, other countries would boycott them, etc.

[–] Muaddib@sopuli.xyz 9 points 2 days ago (1 children)

In order for nonviolence to work, you or your allies have to implicitly threaten violence

[–] DarkDarkHouse@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I don't know, non-violent work strikes can be effective.

[–] Verdorrterpunkt@feddit.org 1 points 2 days ago

I've heard traffic blockades for climate protests classified as violent, i am sure any work strikes could be classified in a similar manner.

[–] takeda@lemm.ee 24 points 2 days ago (2 children)

That's a valid point, but people demonstrating still helps. Looks like it motivate some politicians to also act, and motivates more people.

[–] Quill7513@slrpnk.net 19 points 2 days ago

people need to know they're not alone before they can act

[–] lugal@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 days ago

Non violent action is still more effective than no action at all

[–] toy_boat_toy_boat@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

yet here you are with your signs and your pageants and your slogans. true america.

[–] miss_demeanour@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

You just wait until I wear my pink shirt and wave my auction paddle!

[–] toy_boat_toy_boat@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

ssssssssssssssssssssold for one dollar!

[–] lugal@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Who is this? I feel like I know the face but I can't put my finger on who it is

[–] yesman@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Stokely Carmichael aka Kwame Ture. Big pan-Africanist activist.