Nonviolence 4 Equality

INTRODUCTION: Drawing from a diverse collection of independent sources, this “Tool Kit” provides a comprehensive set of resources useful to the organizer, trainer and practitioner seeking to explore the theory and practice of Nonviolent Resistance and Civil Disobedience.

>> Gandhian Nonviolence – This short presentation maps Soulforce principles to those taught by Mohandes K. Gandhi. It can be used in conjunction with the Doing Justice (v1-pledge) handout to facilitate a concise training covering an introduction to the principles of nonviolence.

>> Ruckus Action Planning Manual – “The [Ruckus Society] Action Planning Manual starts with an introduction to direct action, discusses the functions and symbolic nature of direct action, and provides steps for action development.” (http://www.ruckus.org/section.php?id=17)

>> ACT-UP Civil Disobedience Index – “ACT UP practices a form [of Civil Disobedience] that comes from a variety of progressive movements.” This online training manual “[describes] some of the history, theory, and practice of civil disobedience.” (http://www.actupny.org/documents/CDdocuments/CDindex.html)

>> War Resisters’ International Handbook for Nonviolent Campaigns – Founded in 1921, the War Resisters’ International is an anti-war organization including collaborative partners from over thirty countries. This comprehensive Handbook for Nonviolent Campaigns includes an introduction discussing theory and history of nonviolence as well as sections covering “Gender and Nonviolence”, “Tasks and Tools for Organizing and Facilitating Meetings”, “Nonviolent Campaigns”, “Organizing for Effective Nonviolent Actions”, “Stories and Strategies”, and a section containing “Exercises for Working in Nonviolence”. It can be accessed directly at this web URL: http://www.wri-irg.org/node/3855.

>> Metta Center for Nonviolence Education – While a professor emeritus at UC-Berkeley and founder of the Berkeley Department of Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution, Dr. Michael Nagler taught two semester-length courses in nonviolence: Introduction to Nonviolence and Nonviolence Today. In addition to the resources available at the Metta Center website (“What is Nonviolence?” & Metta Glossary), both courses are also available in their entirety on YouTube: PACS 164A: Introduction to Nonviolence - Fall 2006 & PACS 164B: Introduction to Nonviolence - Spring 2007. For the organizer or student seeking an in depth account of the history, philosophy and practice of nonviolence, these two courses are the ideal resource.

>> Action Videos – This growing library of action videos provide the user immediate and direct access to discovering what nonviolent direct action looks like and how it can be carried out effectively. The emphasis is on nonviolent resistance to discriminatory marriage laws in the United States, but the library will include any video which will enable the viewer to observe nonviolent direct actions being carried out.

>> 198 Methods of Nonviolent Direct Action – Gene Sharp is internationally known as a theorist and strategist of nonviolent resistance. Organizers can use his comprehensive list of 198 Methods of Nonviolent Direct Action as an aid in brainstorming actions that may be appropriate to their issue and contexts.

>> Action Planning Pointers – This document is designed to assist local organizers with the basic elements of planning an action in partnership with a national campaign. Topics covered include: site reconnaissance, staging site selection, recruiting participants and promoting an action, developing an action theme, media relations, messaging, action coordination, and after-action follow-through.

>> Civil Disobedience Guidelines – This document contains some general guidelines for executing a civil disobedience including legal considerations, guidelines for interaction with the police, opting-out suggestions, dealing with counter-demonstrators, action logistics, and action abort process. For non-arrestee participants, organizers may also use the Non-Arrestee Tasks guidelines.

>> Logistics and Planning Pointers – This document covers several general categories of logistics and planning issues including: dealing with law enforcement agencies, the need for legal observers and legal representation, obtaining of use permits and sound amplification permits, liability insurance, special events, dealing with counter-demonstrators, and miscellaneous pointers.

>> Action Planning Checklist – Organizers can use this checklist as a guideline to plan and execute a nonviolent direct action. This checklist is not comprehensive, additional resources should be sought if the organizer is planning to stage civil disobedience.

>> Peacekeeping – In numerous demonstrations of the past it has been found that the effectiveness and nonviolence of the action has been greatly enhanced by the participation of people with special skills. These specialized participants, or peacekeepers, perform specific facilitating roles for the action. These short handouts provide general guidelines for approaching and executing the role of Peacekeeper in a nonviolent direct action. Handout #1, Peacekeepers is a one-page, downloadable, stand-alone .PDF that organizers can adopt or adapt to include amongst the latter segments of a training in nonviolence.

>> Ruckus Media Manual – “Coordinating media for a direct action is more art than science, and sometimes owes more to luck than either. News is a quirky, complicated, unpredictable endeavor – much like an action itself. Put the two together, and it can seem like a miracle when an action actually communicates the intended message to the desired audience. As media coordinator, your job is to work miracles.” (http://www.ruckus.org/downloads/RuckusMediaManual.pdf) This manual provides an excellent, concise primer to media relations followed by a comprehensive Checklist for Effective Direct Action Media.

>> Media Pointers – This short handout provides general guidelines for conducting successful media relations. It is not comprehensive—instead, this Talking to the Media handout is a one-page, downloadable, stand-alone .PDF that organizers can adopt or adapt to include amongst the latter segments of a training in nonviolence.

>> Other Media Resources – Soulforce’s Local Media Checklist is a companion to the Action Planning Checklist. Organizers can use this checklist as a guideline to plan and execute effective media relations before, during and after a nonviolent direct action. Additionally, we have provided a press release template along with a media advisory template that organizers can use for writing press releases and media advisories.

>> The Spin Project – The Spin Project (http://www.spinproject.org/) is a non-profit organization that develops valuable resources for other non-profits seeking a “fair, just and equitable society”. They publish numerous online Tutorials, including Developing Relationships With Reporters and News Releases.

>> Pledge to Nonviolence – Organizers can insert the pledge at the end of a training or immediately at the beginning of an action. It is recommended that action participants carry the pledge on their person as a reminder of their commitment to nonviolent methods of resistance and civil disobedience.