Nonviolent Civil Disobedience

Definition

Nonviolent civil disobedience is a strategy used during social or political movements where individuals intentionally break unjust laws or norms peacefully to bring attention to inequality or injustice. It involves acts such as sit-ins, boycotts, marches, and peaceful protests.

Related terms

Rosa Parks: She famously refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott and becoming an influential figure in the Civil Rights Movement.

Freedom Rides: These were organized bus trips throughout the South by interracial groups challenging segregation on interstate buses and terminals.

March on Selma: This historic march from Selma to Montgomery aimed at advocating for voting rights for African Americans faced violent opposition but ultimately contributed to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.