Revised 8/25/2017
Non violent protests have usually been associated with social movements combating oppression. Sit ins, marches, and sign waiving have become of a part of the American landscape, but they are usually initiated by groups seeking change. Fighting violence with violence is not always a smart strategy nor is it the most effective one. What could work even better is using those same non violent protest techniques in counter protesters. There is emotional satisfaction in taking the moral high road, too, for those who have not lost their moral compasses or a preference for peaceful non violence. If we have learned anything from history of Gandhi, Martin Luther King and others, in the long run, techniques they used have worked better to further their cause than did violence. For both pragmatic and moral reasons we should encourage future counter demonstrators to use non-violent techniques of peaceful marches and shunning associations with perpetrators of racism and hatred.
Fighting violent demonstrations with violent counter demonstrations only heats up the conflict and it opens them up to counter charges that weaken their case, as happened after Charlottesville. Trump tried to exploit the violence of the counter protesters , but fortunately for the counter protesters, he bungled it with a "plague on both houses" approach, by claiming "many sides" were guilty of violence. This is what generated the "moral equivalency" charges against him. He was referring to the violent techniques used by both sides, but the public saw it as approval or tolerance of the ideology of hate groups. He then sealed his fate forever by defining himself as being a fellow traveler of racists by saying "there were some fine people "in the KKK and white supremacist demonstrators. Trump's approach was not popular with most Americans,, with polls showing only 28% approved of his handling of Charlottesville. Nonetheless, he maintained job approval of 77% of Republicans per an August 23 Quinnipiac poll while his national job approval sank to 35%.
The size of turnout at demonstrations counts. Perception of strength or weakness is almost as important as actual numbers. For that reason, the numbers who turn out on behalf of one side or the other can be very important in painting a group as a powerless fringe. What may come as a shock to some is how large the numbers are of those who approve of the ideology of hate and violence. A recent ABC poll found one in ten thought it was OK to hold neo-Nazi and white supremacist views. The shock value and neo-Nazis' and KKK's bold openness achieved their goal of raising public awareness of their strength. The alt right demonstrators in Charlottesville basked in the glow of Trump's remarks that ""there were fine people "in their ranks and their violence was no worse than Antifa or Black Lives Matter counter acts. They were emboldened to display their hate messages in public again in the future. Since when have "fine people" raised their hands in a Nazi salute or chanted hate slogans?
Public shunning is another tool in the non-violent toolbox. We saw that action taken immediately following Trump's pronouncements. Corporate and labor leaders and artists withdrew from Administration's advisory boards, causing their disbanding. A large number of GOP leaders likewise distanced themselves from racism and hatred. They did not want to be associated with anyone who showed sympathy to the ideology of racial and religious hatred.
Shunning is also a physical but peaceful way for individuals or groups of people to show disapproval by resigning from organizations, religious or secular, that refuse to condemn racism and hatred. An essential part of the shunning technique is stating the reason for departing so there is no question why your back is turned. Individuals can also refuse to participate in conversations and to walk away, unfriend, or hang up after registering their reasons in quiet terms. A simple statement that you do not participate in racism and hate may take some guts if you are in a group of people you count as friends and colleagues, but if many do it, it could be a powerful movement.
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2017/08/16/the-president-continues-losing-friends/?utm_campaign=Brookings%20Brief&utm_source=h
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/28-approve-trumps-response-charlottesville-poll/story?id=49334079
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