On Saturday, I helped lead Richmond’s 99% Spring Training Workshop. Among the many incredible lessons from the event, my greatest takeaway came via a pre-recorded video on the history of non-violent civil disobedience. Watching the history of America’s greatest social movements unfold reminded me of the incredible power of non-violent civil disobedience, when done correctly. Ironically, the weekend before, I was moved beyond words by Chris Hayes’ monologue on the same topic during his weekly cable television show.
Throughout the week, my mind has traveled through time in remembrance of the most courageous and effective strategies of social change. From women’s suffrage to the civil rights movement, non-violent civil disobedience has been used effectively to effect positive change in our society. However, the most memorable image of all, and a moment in courage I will always remember, belongs to “Tank Man”.
The “Unknown Rebel”, aka, “Tank Man”, will forever live in protest lore. Most adults across the globe have seen the above image. Few, however, know its history. I will save you a history lesson today, but I encourage you to google the events of Tiananmen Square at your own leisure. Nevertheless, the power of the still image to tell a story is unmatched. The still image can convey a message that reverberates greater than minutes of video or pages of text. This image of “Tank Man” is powerful. He stood bravely for what he believed in and the legend of his courageousness will live on for decades.
I applaud and admire those of you who fought the extension of the Keystone XL Pipeline in front of the White House. That too, was a powerful moment in history. The takeaway is important: the non-violent disobedience worked. A single moment of civil disobedience can serve as a catalyst for change on a massive scale. Like Tiananmen Square, the Keystone Event is not in and of itself a game-changer, but it can serve as the signature event of a longer, successful campaign for social change. We just need the patience to fight the battle ‘til its conclusion.
