Why was the use of Non-Violence Protest effective during King Jr.’s Campaign for improved Civil Rights?

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Why was the use of Non-Violence Protest effective during King Jr.’s Campaign for improved Civil Rights?

The use of non violence by black protestors was a trademark which was used repeatedly over a large proportion of the civil rights movement, right from the early days in Montgomery through to the mid sixties and the Selma campaign.   Martin Luther King Jr. had taken inspiration from Ghandi and his fight for independence in India.  In this fight for civil rights it would test King’s leadership skills to the limit, in trying to refrain thousands of angry and frustrated protestors from the violence which was so easily used against them.  The technique, though, proved to be wholly successful and a vital part of the civil rights movement.

The thing that made non violent protest effective was that it gave black protestors the moral high ground.  They already had this in most cases, as the battle they were fighting was a just one. Martin Luther King urged protestors to maintain the tactic:

“Advocate non-violence and passive resistance. [We are] armed with the weapon of non-violence and love”

They marched peacefully through racist towns in the south, such as Montgomery, Birmingham and Albany.  They didn’t respond to any violence against them, except with a well thought out comment to the press or authorities.  All this showed the shocked whites of America that black people were intelligent, dignified and determined to get the rights they deserved.

The non-violent protest came out best when it was compared with the violent tactics used by whites to stop the protests.  In Birmingham in 1963, thousands of black people marched, including hundreds of children.  The city’s police chief Bull Connor used police dogs and fire hoses to disperse the protestors.  They had no protection and were pinned up against walls by 100 pounds of pressure per square inch of water.  Connor was ruthless and let the dogs out to protestors, whatever their age.  By the end of May 6th, 2500 protestors were in prison.  

Similar to this are the events in Selma in 1965.  Martin Luther King planned a march to Montgomery, which would take the marchers over a bridge leaving Selma.  Waiting on the bridge were Alabama State Troopers, under the orders of Governor George Wallace.  The marchers stopped in front of the police and then turned around to go back.  The troopers suddenly ran and attacked the retreating protestors, and Bloody Sunday began.  Reverend Andrew Young who was present remembers: “Police were beating people…you couldn’t get to where people were needing help”

The contrast between the black serenity and the ugly violence used by whites was never more clear than on television and to the press.  The local networks were broadcasting a film about Nazi Germany when they cut in with coverage of the Selma march.  Surely, even if it was subconscious, a link must have been made between the fascist regime and the beatings of peaceful protestors on their screens.  People were able to see for themselves the callous violence used against the blacks.  Dramatic photographs in the press also served to shock readers.  In Birmingham in 1963, photographs, such as those by Charles Moore, showing police dogs attacking black people shocked the nation.  It was a reporter who overheard Bull Connor’s words: “I want to see the dogs work, look at those niggers run.”  

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With worldwide media coverage came worldwide disapproval; a serious problem for the Federal Government. Wallace though, didn’t care about America’s image:

“Other nations should be worried about what we think of them. After all we feed most of them. Southern tax payers pay for foreign aid.”

Even so, Federal government became more inclined to act.  The contrast between black and white protest was effective on many levels.  The goodness of the civil rights campaign became clear to many.  This was highlighted by the calmness and peace portrayed by the protestors, as well a many religious references used ...

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