On the Merits of Peaceful Protest

Across more than a century of global movements, data shows that nonviolent protest is not only morally grounded, it’s strategically superior. Peaceful movements win more often, involve more people, and lead to freer societies afterward.

We believe that when people resort to violence, authoritarianism wins. But when we meet it with joy and creativity, it collapses under the weight of its own absurdity. We raise our voices against injustice, but do not engage in, advocate or promote violence to have our voices be heard, just like these guys:

“Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. It is a weapon unique in history, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

“Nonviolence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble... but always in a peaceful, nonviolent fashion.” – John Lewis

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. But if you choose nonviolence, you stand on the side of humanity.” – Desmond Tutu

Wait … Does Non-Violent Protest Even Work?

Yes. Here’s why (this one’s for the data nerds):

  • Political scientists Erica Chenoweth and Maria J. Stephan studied 323 uprisings between 1900 and 2006 (Why Civil Resistance Works, 2011) and found:

    • Nonviolent campaigns succeeded 53 % of the time.

    • Violent campaigns succeeded 26 % of the time.

  • The 3.5 % Rule: No regime can withstand sustained nonviolent participation from roughly 3.5 % of its population. Violence prevents movements from reaching that scale.

  • Broader Coalitions: Peaceful protests draw people from every social class, gender, and age group, turning resistance into a civic act rather than a combat operation.

  • Moral and Media Advantage: When protestors stay peaceful in the face of repression, public sympathy — and often even police loyalty — shifts toward them.

  • Lasting Democracies: Nations born from nonviolent struggle are ten times more likely to become stable democracies than those emerging from armed revolt.