Arguments Against The Use Of Nonviolent Resistance

The method of using Non-violent peaceful resistance along with the method of employing violence in the form of self-defense were both strategies used in the fight for Civil Rights from 1954-1977 during the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power Movement. Some people supported the use of violence if necessary while others supported the use of nonviolent resistant. Both factions gained considerable ground alone and together. The decision on what method to use should depend on the situation at hand. Violence even in the form of self-defense should still be the last resort. The use of violence is sometimes necessary. Monroe, North Carolina was a town in which the blacks in their own separate, little community were terrorized by their white racist neighbors. One terror method used was going through the black community raiding, shooting and raping. The NAACP Chapter headed by Robert F. Williams kept the white racist out by arming themselves, threatening violence if provoked, and using violence in the form of self-defense if necessary (Williams). They were able to protect themselves and kept the number of deaths and injuries
Nonviolence was used when SNCC groups, first in North Carolina later in many other locations throughout the South, integrated business like cafes through the use of sit-ins. In some cases they would fill up counters that would only serve white and in shifts sit there all day. They would endure mental and physical torment. If these students decided to retaliate in self-defense against their tormenters they would have most likely been thrown in jail. They would have moved away from the goal of integration because all the students would have been in jail or worse instead of sitting at the counters making the businesses lose profit. With the students resisting peaceful the law and the self-declared law had less of reason to intervene, although they still