Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored. My citing the creation of tension as part of the work of the nonviolent resister may sound rather shocking. But I must confess that I am not afraid of the word “tension.” I have earnestly opposed violent tension, but there is a type of constructive, nonviolent tension which is necessary for growth.

so must we see the need for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood. The purpose of our direct action program is to create a situation so crisis packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation. I therefore concur with you in your call for negotiation.

and from the author of the webpage

What we criticize and what we affirm speaks volumes about what we value. If I criticize the protestors for shutting down a freeway it demonstrates that I empathize with those who are inconvenienced by being caught in that traffic jam. But if I fail to criticize the systemic and historic killing of African Americans by police officers, and the refusal of the justice system to hold these officers accountable, I demonstrate a lack of value (and thus empathy) for the African American community.

It seems that as a nation we are more anti-protest than anti-oppression


Read more at: http://www.pastorbenjamin.com/the-purpose-of-protest/#.WmenPqinGUn

I am against violence of any kind! And don't like lazy people of any race living off the government. Unless a person is disabled, a veteran or retired, get Job! Pay your part of taxes! No not for all the protest marchs either, they mostly promote hatred.

perhaps it is some hatred, and perhaps it is also shining a light on what people may 'not like'

But I do feel they are one of the most necessary rights to be protected and appreciated.

He said men, not women....

To me that's little different than two siblings sitting in the back of a car on a trip with 1 kid sticking their finger an inch away from the other that is trying to read while chanting "I'm not touching you, I'm not touching you, I'm not gonna move my finger until you let me listen to your walkman."
And if the other kid smacks the annoying kids hand the annoying kid starts to cry and yell "mom! They hit me! I didn't do anything! I want some reparations! I want candy! I want soda! I want you to give me their walkman, right now because I didn't do anything wrong, they started it by hitting me and that's wrong!"


All tension is just different levels of violent tension.
It's just a matter of how long someone can tolerate the tension before lashing out with violence to make it go away.


We are more anti convenience and responsibility than anti oppression.
Oppression brings us goodies like a false sense of security and safety, social welfare programs, and "free" indoctrination err daycare err education.

We can disagree!