Rev. Dr. King's organizing work took place in the context of political polarization and violent, white supremacist terrorism. Within this challenging landscape, the Civil Rights Movement organized brilliant and courageous nonviolent direct action campaigns that strategically broke unjust laws and boycotted racially segregated systems. These campaigns put so much pressure on the status quo that political and economic leaders were forced to concede and our nation made concrete progress towards racial equity. FNVW's work is part of the vast legacy passed on to us by the Civil Rights Movement. In fact, Civil Rights Leader Bernard Lafayette (SNCC and CORE Freedom March activist) helped develop the first Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) workshops. AVP workshops incorporate the nonviolent strategies Civil Rights activists used when they encountered life threatening violence during direct action campaigns. The 12 Transforming Powers that are at the heart of AVP reflect the beliefs that guided King's nonviolent activism. FNVW's AVP program is helping to grow the next generation of nonviolent leaders in our community. I invite you to join us as we expand our AVP workshop offerings in 2024 and beyond. The Civil Rights Movement offers us a tremendous wealth of wisdom we can draw upon as we address the pressing violence and inequities of today. In honor of MLK Day, I encourage you to educate yourself about Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the nonviolent strategies used by the Civil Rights Movement. We each have a role to play in creating the Beloved Community. Read on for resources and opportunities to guide and inspire you! With Revolutionary Love, Leah | |