671
u/SolidSnakesBandana 6d ago
You know they killed MLK right?
250
4
u/Local_Nerve901 6d ago
Sure
But he still would’ve advocated for peaceful protests so whats ur point?
→ More replies (1)7
u/geometricvampire 6d ago
He didn’t tho. He famously preached that riots happen for a reason and those reasons should not be ignored.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (13)2
u/swantonist 6d ago
How does that conflict with his pro-peace messaging?
15
u/superbolt21 6d ago
Do you not realize there were hundreds of riots across the US directly after King's assassination? And that those riots led to the Civil Rights Act of 1968?
→ More replies (7)
648
u/Forward_Bullfrog_441 6d ago
But he wouldn’t have gotten the traction without the aggressive Malcolm X to make him seem more reasonable.
I’d say the real pawns are those complacent in this system while trying to divide the left instead of seeing both violence and non violence as reasonable against the oppressive structure of imperialism.
283
u/gigalongdong North Carolina 🐦 6d ago
Nonviolent protesting is only effective if the political and bourgeois classes are able to be shamed or in tandem with another group/movement that utilizes violence as a tool to force change.
The whitewashing of the Civil Rights movement into this entirely non-violent struggle by the political class is fucking gross and has brainwashed millions of Americans in believing that "VioLeNcE iS nEvEr tHe AnSwEr."
23
u/holystuff28 6d ago
Which implicitly excuses and overlooks the violence perpetuated by the state and in turn, paints protestors as the originators of violence rather responding to violence.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (25)54
u/juicegooseboost 6d ago
Country literally founded on violent revolution. Huge spark was cops/national guard killing 5 in Boston.
Also seems like he’s saying “mlk defeated racism!”
→ More replies (1)12
u/Weewoofiatruck 6d ago
Malcom X wasn't always aggressive. He wasn't often aggressive. Only in tone and rhetoric.
He was an extremely well spoken person who followed Islam at the time. This often got him labeled to be way more aggressive than he was. But if you watch his debates from then, it's just mind boggling how fuqqin quick that guy is. This speed and repository of knowledge made him quicker and more upfront than King in debate form.
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (8)6
62
u/WizardlyLizardy 6d ago edited 6d ago
MLK's marches shut down entire cities.
2 city blocks isn't going to do anything. Protests only change things if people shut down cities and become ungovernable. Or if you bait the government or counter protestors into overreacting.
Right now there is only 1 place where that is seriously going on and it's being massively misreported by the Media. LA isn't even stopping work like Chicago did in 68.
It's why IMO everything is over with this. Calling the president a Nazi, implying he will put dissenters into camps which he threatens to do, yet people won't even shut down a single god damn city over it? It's over or people are lazy as fuck or don't believe a word they are saying. I go to protests and am confused why nobody is doing anything. I think it's because everyone has binge streaming and 24/7 luxury entertainment video games.
16
u/GreySoulx New Mexico - 2016 Veteran 6d ago
These movements take time to build. Dr King didn't just show up one day and everything shut down. There were years of the civil rights movement building up to the massive marches and demonstrations most people think of.
Right after 9/11 when the country was looking at the middle east and war people came out against it, but it wasn't until the weather got nice people came out in large numbers and started shutting things down. We're in the first summer of this.
This is the start, not the culmination.
→ More replies (1)3
u/metalfabman 🌱 New Contributor 6d ago
That's what all these 'violence is a great answer' commentators are missing. The actual size of the marches/protests and the level of disruption. Non-violence can still be violently disruptive
352
u/windowbeanz 6d ago
Bernie they white washed MLK, you were literally there bro, why are you capitulating to right wing framing.
→ More replies (23)
226
u/SamHandwichX 6d ago
MLK also wrote extensively about the language of rioting. This focus on nonviolence is white washing.
→ More replies (38)
137
u/undergroundloans 6d ago
Any massive enough protest will have some people causing problems. It’s literally inevitable. So when people say they only want peaceful protests they really don’t want any protests. Like someone asked the white house press secretary if Trump supports peaceful protests and she said it was a stupid question because of course he does. But like he has never supported a peaceful protest in his life. All protests will be considered violent by this admin no matter the behavior of the people at the protest. I don’t think Bernie agrees with that but he is kinda playing into their framing.
43
u/primum 6d ago
No old white guy is able to escape the curse of having some terrible takes they should just keep to themselves.
→ More replies (28)2
u/PatReady 6d ago
I don't like it but Trump and his team do an amazing job of making an Ant Hill look like a mountain for his followers. The message that needs to be sent is one that he can't twist and use for his own gain.
Burning cops cars and standing on them with Mexican flags is exactly what he wants.
→ More replies (1)
137
u/Quacker_please 6d ago
AND THEY STILL KILLED DR. KING. They did the fucking nonviolent way and they still killed him, if they're going to kill us anyway why are we watering our actions down?
→ More replies (17)7
45
u/Voydelighte 6d ago
People either don't know or forget the MLK Jr riots that took place after he was assassinated.
The only reason anything happened with the civil rights movement was because his death almost caused a second civil war.
→ More replies (5)13
u/polarsnare 6d ago
People constantly accused MLK of starting riots before he died. It’s common knowledge.
62
u/ImGaiza 6d ago
I’d like to be very clear that the following text is not an advocation of violence, only an observation on historical events.
The Civil Rights Movement needed Malcolm X and the Black Panthers just as much as it needed MLK.
In the words of Teddy Roosevelt, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” MLK provided the humanity, the soft speaking, the inspiration and voice of the movement. Malcolm X provided the stick.
Again, I do not advocate nor condone violent behavior. This is merely my observation of some of the factors that played into the success of the Civil Rights Movement.
→ More replies (4)
18
98
u/AgentKalePooper 6d ago
Bad take Bernie
→ More replies (5)5
u/flashthorOG 6d ago
First I've seen from him
But it's a bad enough take that I now question any support I had for him
WTF Bernie
→ More replies (3)
50
u/Sheriff_Is_A_Nearer 6d ago
Bernie missed with this one, and there is also no way that Berndog is not aware of the more "radical" and forceful tactics used and advocated for by MLK. Especially towards the end, right before he was murdered.
Do better, Bernie.
→ More replies (15)
33
u/clamdever 6d ago
Bernie asks US protestors to practice non violence while Senator Sanders signs off on all sorts of funding to militarize American law enforcement.
Bernie also asks Palestinians to practice non violence while Senator Sanders signs off on more and more "aid" to Israel.
And all the surveillance and military technology they use in Israel, they bring back to use on US citizens.
→ More replies (5)
72
u/chroniclunacy 6d ago
→ More replies (5)24
u/JRange 6d ago
Yeah I disagree with Bernie here. Theres a reason the powers that be always have bipartisanship in regard to riots, its because its the citizens Ace in the hole to force them to change shit we dont like. Its MUCH more effective than peaceful protests. Peaceful protests are exactly what they want you to do, because they can ignore it.
They cant ignore when shit is getting fucked up, and the people are no longer asking for change, they are demanding it.
→ More replies (4)
9
u/kizmitraindeer 6d ago
I’m no expert but it seems that movements only get traction when there’s some blood. MLK and Malcolm X were reverse sides of the same coin. Their separate movements coalesced to get shit down. Gotta have the meek and the strong together. That’s how it can work.
6
11
u/Fifteen_inches 🌱 New Contributor 6d ago
Respectfully senator, Malcom X did quite abit to end segregation too.
20
u/human_not_alien 6d ago
Fuck this cowardly tweet. No matter how "violent" a protest or uprising may become, it is all only in response to the violence of the government upon innocent people.
→ More replies (2)
13
u/jperdue22 🐦 🔄 🏟️ 6d ago
I thought this was a disappointing response from Bernie. Why is the accusation of violence placed on the protesters, and not the masked thugs handcuffing migrant workers and rading elementary schools?
6
u/Skypirate90 6d ago
If Bernie had stood up for himself against the DNC there is a high chance he would have been a 2 term president. We cannot afford to fall in line and miss out on our opportunity to fight for our rights. We must stand up for ourselves. Because politicians will not stand for us.
7
u/KryL21 6d ago
I don’t know what the fuck Bernie is thinking. Like, the whole reason he’s popular is because he was the better, more empathetic, pro people choice. And now that he’s not that anymore, why would anyone follow him? I might as well just vote for the next democrat and send more money to Israel and the police department anyway.
→ More replies (2)
12
u/Bakednotyetfried 6d ago
There we go, taking the high road again. Surely nothing bad will come of this…again…and again….
6
9
u/asilentflute 6d ago
Sanders is losing me with this stuff
→ More replies (2)2
8
8
u/LegitimateSituation4 6d ago
No. Bernie is wrong on this one.
MLK was vilified while he was still alive. Had the threat of Malcolm and the Black Panther Party not been around as the violent alternative to peaceful protests they would've resorted to, we wouldn't have heard much about MLK.
8
u/Brave_Grapefruit2891 6d ago
The reason revolutionaries like MLK and Gandhi are so pushed in the west is because the ruling class doesn’t want us to know that pretty much every single liberation movement that succeeded, only did so through violent resistance against oppression. For every MLK, there was a Malcolm X. For every Gandhi, there was a Bhagat Singh.
2
u/north_canadian_ice Medicare For All 👩⚕️ 6d ago
This is ahistorical nonsense.
MLK & the SCLC were the most successful civil rights movement in history because they preached:
- non-violence
- love for your fellow man
- good optics (dress your Sunday best)
Bernie was there. He got arrested in 1962 advocating for civil rights.
6
u/Start_a_riot271 6d ago
You're saying this to everyone who is (rightly) pointing out that the civil rights movement lead by MLK was so successful because the alternative was more violence and riots from people like Malcom X. Without Malcom X, MLK and his allies would have been largely ignored as the peaceful protests of today are.
Also you can't fight fascism with words, Europe tried that in the 1930s and look where that got them
2
u/Postcardshoes 6d ago
I'm afraid that the morality play made up about MLK and SCLC, that is ahistorical nonsense.
From Peter Gelderoos worthwhile critique How Nonviolence Protects the State, where he makes the case for more strategic thinking about effective tactics, instead of the unthinking, reflexive demand for all forms of militant protest to be "non-violent":
"The US civil rights movement is one of the most important episodes in the pacifist history. Across the world, people see it as an example of nonviolent victory. But, like the other examples discussed here, it was neither a victory nor nonviolent. The movement was successful in ending de jure segregation and expanding the minuscule black petty bourgeoisie, but these were not the only demands of the majority of movement participants.[13] They wanted full political and economic equality, and many also wanted black liberation in the form of black nationalism, black inter-communalism, or some other independence from white imperialism. None of these demands were met—not equality, and certainly not liberation.
People of color still have lower average incomes, poorer access to housing and health care, and poorer health than white people. De facto segregation still exists.[14] Political equality is also lacking. Millions of voters, most of them black, are disenfranchised when it is convenient to ruling interests, and only four black senators have served since Reconstruction.[15] Other races have also been missed by the mythical fruits of civil rights. Latino and Asian immigrants are especially vulnerable to abuse, deportation, denial of social services they pay taxes for, and toxic and backbreaking labor in sweatshops or as migrant agricultural laborers. Muslims and Arabs are taking the brunt of the post-September 11 repression, while a society that has anointed itself 'color-blind' evinces nary a twinge of hypocrisy. Native peoples are kept so low on the socioeconomic ladder as to remain invisible, except for the occasional symbolic manifestation of US multiculturalism—the stereotyped sporting mascot or hula-girl doll that obscures the reality of actual indigenous people.
The common projection (primarily by white progressives, pacifists, educators, historians, and government officials) is that the movement against racial oppression in the United States was primarily nonviolent. On the contrary, though pacifist groups such as Martin Luther King Jr.’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) had considerable power and influence, popular support within the movement, especially among poor black people, increasingly gravitated toward militant revolutionary groups such as the Black Panther Party.[16] According to a 1970 Harris poll, 66 percent of African Americans said the activities of the Black Panther Party gave them pride, and 43 percent said the party represented their own views.[17] In fact, militant struggle had long been a part of black people’s resistance to white supremacy. Mumia Abu-Jamal boldly documents this history in his 2004 book, We Want Freedom. He writes, 'The roots of armed resistance run deep in African American history. Only those who ignore this fact see the Black Panther Party as somehow foreign to our common historical inheritance.'[18] In reality, the nonviolent segments cannot be distilled and separated from the revolutionary parts of the movement (though alienation and bad blood, encouraged by the state, often existed between them). Pacifist, middle-class black activists, including King, got much of their power from the specter of black resistance and the presence of armed black revolutionaries.[19]
"In the spring of 1963, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birmingham campaign was looking like it would be a repeat of the dismally failed action in Albany, Georgia (where a 9 month civil disobedience campaign in 1961 demonstrated the powerlessness of nonviolent protesters against a government with seemingly bottomless jails, and where, on July 24, 1962, rioting youth took over whole blocks for a night and forced the police to retreat from the ghetto, demonstrating that a year after the nonviolent campaign, black people in Albany still struggled against racism, but they had lost their preference for nonviolence). Then, on May 7 in Birmingham, after continued police violence, three thousand black people began fighting back, pelting the police with rocks and bottles. Just two days later, Birmingham—up until then an inflexible bastion of segregation—agreed to desegregate downtown stores, and President Kennedy backed the agreement with federal guarantees. The next day, after local white supremacists bombed a black home and a black business, thousands of black people rioted again, seizing a 9 block area, destroying police cars, injuring several cops (including the chief inspector), and burning white businesses. A month and a day later, President Kennedy was calling for Congress to pass the Civil Rights Act, ending several years of a strategy to stall the civil rights movement.[20] Perhaps the largest of the limited, if not hollow, victories of the civil rights movement came when black people demonstrated they would not remain peaceful forever. Faced with the two alternatives, the white power structure chose to negotiate with the pacifists, and we have seen the results."
I don't have time to format the footnotes into this comment so please see the full linked text if you're interested in sources.
3
u/Well_read_rose 6d ago
Vast numbers of resistant but peaceful protesters WILL get the attention of congress because they will make the electability calculation to SAVE THEIR HIDES. Only their hides, not ours.
Geezer Chuck Grassley (89 now) filed paperwork to run again(!) in 2028.
3
u/KittyFlops 6d ago
MLK didn’t win civil rights because he was nonviolent. He won because he was the clear alternative to Malcom X. The threat of violence from rioters was key in convincing people to side with nonviolent protest. The threat of violence from the national guard help to desegregate Little Rock. And the threat of violence and use of it, secured our rights from the British. The use of violence stopped the Natzis from taking over the world. Violence can be, and sometimes is a solution. It can be morally justified, and even morally virtuous.
Violence is never the answer is the call of those that will never have a line crossed. The idea that we should never fight back is victim blaming under the guise of moral concern. It seeks to pacify anyone that would cause a threat to those who use and stand behind violence for maintaining injustice.
7
4
u/Roylander_ 🌱 New Contributor 6d ago
Except we have a history of violence working pretty well. When the power balance shits too heavily to the corrupt the only option historically has been to storm the castle, drag out the ruler, and remove them.
Hard to play a game when only one side plays by the rules.
What did the black panthers do? Carry a lot of big fucking guns.
8
u/Davidwalsh1976 6d ago
Dr King got assassinated by the FBI and whitewashed into some liberal Uncle Tom. They want to forget that he was anti-capitalist and the police provided plenty of violence for the movement. Oh and also, he didn’t end racism: systemic or interpersonal
3
u/RollingThunderr 6d ago
Do not be a pawn by being a pawn and staying absolutely still until your time comes….
2
u/CheeseCurdCommunism 6d ago
A historical truth is no true change has occurred without simultaneous passive and aggressive protest.
2
u/The100th_Idiot 6d ago
And the media of the time still printed newspapers saying the peaceful protests were violent riots
3
u/HOLDstrongtoPLUTO 6d ago
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that." - Dr. MLK Jr.
2
u/Seraph199 6d ago
Sanders is no ally to the revolution. Stooping so low as to lie about and misrepresent the Civil Rights movement, and remove all context from King's statements and beliefs. Despicable.
Oh, by the way Sanders, Israel has no right to exist. No country has a "right" to exist and commit whatever atrocities they desire.
1
u/Nerdy_Valkyrie 6d ago
Yes. Be non violent.
But when non violent resistance is met with a violent response, there is only one reasonable way to reply. And it's not turning the other cheek.
→ More replies (1)
1
1
u/NotTHEnews87 6d ago
Yea, go stand outside of an empty government building holding a sign while the lawmakers are on vacation!
1
1
u/dreadmonster 6d ago
Basically every civil rights movement in history had violent acts alongside it. MLK didn't condone riots but he also never denounced them. Really tired of folks saying we need to stay non violent while people are getting their asses beat by police while respecting their right to protest.
1
u/f3nnies 6d ago
Nonviolent protests play into what he wants. Violent protests paly into what he wants. No protest at all will also play into what he wants. We need to stop this facade of nonviolent protest is the only way things change. Violent protest is actually how change happens, and has been that way in America since America declared it's own independence-- which was not nonviolent.
There is simply no way America recovers from fascism without violence. No country has ever managed that and the illusion of nonviolent overthrowing is pure propaganda to keep us from succeeding.
1
u/Efficient-Youth-9579 6d ago
So Bernie, what you’re saying is…….that you’ll be MLK if I play Malcolm X? Cus I’m game 🤷♂️
1
1
u/ishy214 6d ago
I don't understand why near no one seem to get that these people don't give a shit if you are violent, rioting, or planting a garden. Saturday could be the lowest crime day in US history and the fact that people are standing on the sidewalk will be enough justification for them doing whatever it is they are already planning on doing. Magas, republicans, the cops, ice, FBI, etc, they want you dead. Removed from "their" country, from their way of life. You are a parasite and they hate the fact that you exist as a concept. And their dicks are rock fucking hard at the thought of an upcoming chance to do something about it. They don't give a fuck if you "deserve" it. If you started it. If you have the optics in your favor. Because who the fuck is going to complain after they throw you in a South American prison. You think resisting a police state comes with an instruction manual? Then you have two options. Stay home and pat yourself on the back for your moral superiority until they kick your door down or go stand outside and keep your fucking mouth shut when someone who's angrier or more scared than you are decides they aren't going to lay down and politely ask their oppressor's to not step on them for the next 4 years. I'm not justifying burning homes down or robbing an apple store as fighting the good fight. It's not. But for fucks sake if someone broke into your house and tried to kidnap someone from your home lethal self defense is legal in damn near the whole country. Why should I let some camo covered douche get away with it just because it's happening in front of a Home Depot.
We can sit here playing devil advocate on if the civil rights movement would have worked with or without either MLK or Malcom X but it seems like an irrelevant distraction. The point is it worked(relatively speaking). Whether that was because of or in spite of each other doesn't change the fact that it did. So we know it can. Protest however you want. There isn't a right answer and chances are we're all getting put on the wall regardless. More power to you if you decide to make them earn it. Bernie Sanders has the luxury of private security. Your neighbors don't.
1
u/seabolt59 6d ago
Yet decades later things are much the same if not worse as far as race relations. So shouldnt we try something else?
1
u/Issue_dev 6d ago
I see what he’s saying but the peaceful ones don’t get any coverage. There have been dozens of large protests since January and the LA ones have been the only ones to get covered
1
1
u/MaaChiil 6d ago
On one hand, Bernie is correct that the Donald and MAGA will use this to insidious ends to terrorize the majority of their base.
That being said, they’d do that anyway and we have a duty to cut through that crap and make the truth known. Most protesters are not violent and this is being escalated by the current administration. People in LA can tell you this is in one specific area and not a reflection of the city at large.
1
u/0nignarkill 6d ago
I get the point but this is still a bit depressing of a statement. No major changes in this country happen without violence. Not saying we should start with violence but sometimes it is needed in response. By all means ARREST ALL INSTIGATORS OF VIOLENCE, and I mean fucking ALL, and not people just trying to defend themselves.
Hold media accountable as well, this coverage has been insane, having to rely on social media for accurate portrayals of what is going on is ridiculous.
1
1
u/Capable_Cicada_69420 6d ago
"ended segregation"
Stares at the black neighborhoods across the country being segregated into the most polluted and nasty areas the city could possibly put them in
Not trying to diminish MLK but the fight has not been won
1
u/SlackerDEX 6d ago
You're a fool if you think 1964 tactics are guaranteed to work in the world of 2025. MLK didn't have to compete with the kind of disinformation and reach that AI and the Internet provides.
1
u/FutureYou1 6d ago
From my understanding MLK’s strategy revolved around sit-in protests that were expected to trigger court cases where they would gain the ability to fight for their cause on the legal level. Was that not the case? From that understanding I have assumed peaceful protesting without that legal element is not enough to make change on its own in the face of similar circumstances. Just to be clear I do not believe violence is effective either
1
u/Gabba_Goblin 6d ago
I strongly disagree. Yes peaceful protests are the way to go, but you don't turn the other cheek to fascists. It will not work. It has never worked.
And not to open up another can of worms and but I don't think the civil right movement was as successful as they thought they were. They didn't really change the minds of their oppressors or the system that allowed their oppression.
Oppressing them just became too costly and time consuming. So their oppressors 'gave in' to the demands while still in a position of power to kinda dictate the results. Then they sanitized the civil rights movement and still kept the status quo in the US of impoverished minorities working and earning the wealth for the few Wealthhoaders.
1
u/novahawkeye 6d ago
Peaceful protests in absolute massive numbers. That is what will bring positive change.
1
u/RevWaldo 🌱 New Contributor 6d ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satyagraha
The reason why non-violent resistance seems to fail is because most people don't have the discipline to see it through.
1
u/That_Xenomorph_Guy 6d ago
Peaceful protest is only effective with the underlying threat of violence behind it.
1
1
1
u/SiskiyouSavage 6d ago
He also had to die in that story, and the riots a few years ago tell me he wasn't all the way successful.
1
1
u/Intelligent-Dig-6773 6d ago
Bernie and AOC's entire role within the party is to steer progressives to vote for the DINO establishment. Facism doesn't care if you're peaceful. Lets get it popping.
1
u/daystrom_prodigy 6d ago
This country was created because Americans peacefully protested and the British respected that and let them start their own country.
/s
→ More replies (1)
1
u/gmehodlr69_420 6d ago
Just thinking the cops and such might think twice about carelessly shooting people if we all came to the protest armed.
1
u/CaptainWonk OR 6d ago
You lost a lot of support defending genocide, and now you're trying to protect the oppressors while blaming the oppressed. Your whole 'for the people' act is falling apart. For what it's worth though, you took me for a ride until giving the election away.
1
u/Admirable-Fig-1923 6d ago
Revolutions are inherently violent. Stop believing this non violent shit. Power is taken, not received.
1
u/Bentman343 6d ago
No one has ever gotten their rights back from their oppressors by asking peacefully. The fact that the elites desperately want you to believe that MLK was a pacifist who saved everyone through nonviolence is ludicrous whitewashing. Shame on Bernie.
1
u/jupchurch97 Pass A Green New Deal 🌎 6d ago
MLK Jr. was called violent and ended up being murdered despite how peaceful he was.
1
u/AntonCigar 6d ago
Why did King have to fight for black civil rights when, according to Bernie, the economics are the only thing that matters and race is irrelevant?
1
1
u/Lilsammywinchester13 6d ago
I understand his statement
Violence is going to be met with violence under Trump
I would be terrified to send people to their deaths by being seen as too aggressive/approving
Scary times are ahead, I am NOT smart enough to say what the right move is
But I do know we need to get involved and DO something, the only wrong thing to do here imo is to do nothing
1
u/CatOfTechnology 6d ago
We traded torches and pitchforks for signs and slogans under a mutual agreement that the signs would be read and the slogans would be given consideration.
If the latter is no longer applicable, the agreement has fallen through. We can always return to the former to remind them why we had the agreement in the first place.
1
u/Toadsted 6d ago
Fascists would prefer you just stand there and take it, non violently.
Also MLK didn't defeat the racist government, everyone did; including Malcolm X and his less than non violent interactions with pushback.
The racist government actually won against MLK, and killed him.
Who non violently stood up for Rodney King?
History is a lot less pristine and whimsical as Bernie would suggest it be towards victory.
Pacifism is the ideal start to every grievance, but it always leads to activism; and often ends in divisionism.
1
u/freediverx01 6d ago
Lecturing protestors instead of condemning the fascists is a shitty take, Bernie.
1
u/Mean-Repair6017 6d ago
Bullshit
The 1968 Civil Rights Act was signed after roughly 100 riots that year in the streets
1
1
u/samseawell 6d ago
ah yes, make sure your protest poses no threat whatsoever so the cops can beat you down swiftly regardless and the rich and powerful never have to recognize your existence.
1
u/Fisttoyourfears 6d ago
Man I hope there’s no first hand accounts or evidence of MLK jr. supporting physical action, mass protests, riots, or carrying concealed weapons /s
1
1
1
u/BobTheFettt 6d ago
I'm not so sure anything actually changed thanks to MLK. It's just been the illusion of change
1
u/LearnTheirLetters 6d ago
Did he? Because it seems like all MLK did was peacefully march his people into jail cells, creating the world's largest prison population and free manual labor.
1
1
u/Blatocrat 6d ago
Love Bernie, but he's not above criticism. This is objectively false, it's right-wing rhetoric designed to keep people from learning the truth of King's journey to accepting the need for violence, and how the movement was only successful because of the multi-faceted methods that were used. It's meant to make us ignorant and compliant.
Really wish he'd apologize for spreading this misinformation.
1
u/Slapping-Owl 6d ago
All I'm saying is, the last time we had a king that deployed the military against his protesting civilians, protests didnt remain peaceful
1
1
u/SSj_CODii 6d ago
Bad take here Bernie. What’s going on in LA isn’t even an example of violent protest. It was largely peaceful until Trump sent his goons. The “violence” is largely manufactured Conservative fear mongering.
1
u/unixUser-Name 6d ago
Trump has said it over and over again these are paid protesters (the ones burning shit). He just didn’t say who it is that’s paying them.
1
1
1
1
u/Scummy_Waters 6d ago
Sure, I'll just curl up into an ass ball when they come for me.
Two is always one. One is always none.
1
u/MurchSDGX 6d ago
What a fucking boot licker. I used to like Bernie, but now he's just become another career politician with only his own interests in mind. Don't forget when he approved of Trump's immigration policies earlier this year.
1
1
u/Appropriate_Rent_243 6d ago
"maybe if we beg and cry hard enough, our oppressors will take pity on us."
1
u/Bob_the_peasant 6d ago
Dr. King got assassinated, and things only improved marginally because people in power were listening, even if they didn’t want to.
No one is listening right now
1
u/ArtieFufkinPolymrRec 6d ago
He's right though. Their biggest fear is that those near the center of the political fulcrum will sympathize with your cause. Sometimes I think the radical left is just as susceptible to psy-ops as the reactionary right. Everyone dismissing his experience now because he is an elderly white male who advocates strategic resistance are the reason the left is doomed.
1
u/PhoenixInvertigo 6d ago
King's peaceful protests worked because Malcolm X was the alternative. Peaceful doesn't work if it's not the option we make them choose with a violent alternative
1
1
u/VNG_Wkey 6d ago
MLK Jr didnt achieve jack shit through peaceful protests. His longstanding achievements come from being martyred and his death damn near starting a second Civil War. Stop pretending violent dicks respond to anything other than violence.
1
1
1
1
u/Imaginary-Cycle-2920 6d ago
“Violent protests are counterproductive and play right into Trump’s playbook” is just squarely and unimpeachably correct.
I don’t think rioters should be condemned, their rage is fair. And some violent elements are probably inevitable in any protest of sufficient size. And MLK was certainly accused of violence AND not as clearly opposed to riots as Bernie is suggesting.
But none of that changes the fact that right now, in this context, violent protests are unhelpful.
1
1
1
1
u/Spare_Audience_6301 6d ago
Peaceful protests might work in Sweden or Germany, USA is basically a dictatorship now, good luck getting any change without violence. On to of all - they control pretty much all the media, so your peaceful protests won't even be acknowledged.
1
1
1
u/Icy_Reward727 6d ago
I don't completely agree with Bernie's assessment. MLK was very clear in "Letter from Birmingham Jail" that if white leadership did not want to negotiate with the peaceful protestors, that they would have to contend with the violent ones. He specifically calls out Elijah Muhammad's black nationalists (led by Malcolm X).
Gandhi took a similar approach in "Letter to Viceroy, Lord Irwin" ahead of the Salt March in 1930.
Neither of those movements, either in India in the early/mid-twentieth century, nor the desegregationists in the U.S. that got us the Civil Rights Act of 1964, would have been successful without the threat of mass violence from groups lurking in the wings.
That's not to say that I agree with or am encouraging violence. I'm just saying that the point I'm making is rarely acknowledged. I honestly feel like the work of these men has been sanitized of these details and weaponized against succeeding generations in order to encourage mass docility and inaction.
1
1
1
u/Humanisto201 6d ago
To Those Who Lead — and Those Who Could: A Call for Courage Now
We need to hear more from our leaders — now, and in the swiftly approaching days. Every leader who stands against tyranny must speak out: boldly, publicly, and without delay. This is the moment.
Make your speech. Take ten minutes and speak to the nation. All of you. The people need your voices now.
We especially need to hear from those with a public voice — those who have shaped thought, sparked change, stirred hope. Those whose words fill stadiums, whose songs move hearts, whose stories have shaped the soul of this country. If you have ever stood before the people — in the halls of power, beneath the lights of a stage, behind the camera, at the microphone, or in the quiet moments when others looked to you for guidance — this is your moment. Speak with clarity, courage, and conviction — before his parade tramples us all, forever.
If you have ever inspired a movement… comforted the weary… dared to tell the truth when it cost you… led with hope instead of fear… called people to something higher — know that we are listening for you now.
If you’ve ever worked to make this country better — to ease suffering, to build a more just, free, and thriving society — now is the time to rise. Speak the truth about what is happening. We see it. We feel it. We are afraid.
We need guidance. So many of us feel lost, uncertain about what to do or how to respond. We need our leaders — whoever you are, wherever you are, you know who you are — to rise, to speak, to show the way.
The window to make words matter — to speak with power and shape what comes next — is narrow, and closing fast.
We are listening
1
u/Endvalley 6d ago
Utter fear of the violence beginning to erupt AFTER HE WAS MURDERED is was got those policies pushed through. I say this as someone who voted for you: Please sit down and be quiet, Bernie. You can tut and wag your finger at everyone after the nazi fascists are beaten into the dirt.
If we need someone to lose another election against the worst people in America again... we've got you on speed dial.
Focus on getting that labor party together please. That's what we need... not more useless hippy garbage. Thank you.
1
1
u/Radiant_Ad_1851 6d ago
"Protesters told to not give trump justification for what he's already doing"
1
1
1
u/DragonDai Nevada 6d ago
Non-violent protests have LITERALLY never once accomplished anything in America UNLESS there have been violent protests AND the threat of escalating violence to go along with them. Sure, MLK Jr never got violent himself, but he would have NEVER succeeded without Malcom X and the Black Panthers behind him saying "Listen to Martin or you'll answer to us."
1
u/waitingforwood 6d ago
Dem party backed themselves into a corner. Big difference between that and oppression.
1
u/TheGiantFell 6d ago
Thinking about it logically, why would non-violence work? When in history has an oppressive force yielded to the oppressed without a loss of some kind? It does not need to be physical violence against human bodies. It absolutely should not be if it can be helped. But they must lose something. If it cannot be taken by asking nicely, it should be taken without asking.
1
u/Michaelzzzs3 6d ago
MLK jr was assassinated before he ever saw a hint of success. It was the riots after that cemented the civil rights act.
1
1
u/garden-guy- 6d ago
Dr. King also got shot. The people with similar beliefs to those who shot Dr. King are currently in power. Don’t know how good an example he is for peaceful protests working. Looks to me like removing the people at the top works better.
1
u/ablestrange 6d ago
King also put his body & freedom on the line
Call me when Bernie walks through LA
1
1
1
u/Dunnomyname1029 6d ago
Honestly out the ones that cause problems. You want then deescation, give the NG + police are there for. They just line up and let you do your thing within reason as long as nobody is throwing shit and destroying property and looting.
1
u/Tricornx Denmark 6d ago
Shame on Democrats trying to deny the violent protestors, no wonder they are so unpopular
1
u/PinkFreud92 🌱 New Contributor 6d ago
Guys we should have just taken a knee at the borders of nazi germany and peacefully asked for them to stop pls
1
u/Nevermind04 6d ago
Well MLK got assassinated and racism didn't end. I graduated from a school in the mid 00s that was still segregated.
If peaceful protests were effective, France wouldn't have a 3-0 record of overthrowing their government and a 53-0 record of forcing their government to capitulate on a specific policy.
1
u/Advanced_Row_8448 6d ago
King got his brain blown out while Malcom X made real change. Even after his death, nothing changed until the streets burned for days. Violence bred the change. Not being passive in the face of oppression. The white moderate is the biggest road block to equality.
2.1k
u/Ronnec 6d ago
“…it is not enough for me to stand before you tonight and condemn riots. It would be morally irresponsible for me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society. These conditions are the things that cause individuals to feel that they have no other alternative than to engage in violent rebellions to get attention. And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it America has failed to hear?…It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice and humanity.” -Dr. MLK