REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

SIX PRINCIPLES OF NONVIOLENCE

 

PRINCIPLE ONE

It is active nonviolent resistance to evil.It is a way of live for courageous people.

It is aggressive spiritually, mentally and emotionally.

 

PRINCIPLE TWO

Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding with and among people.

The end result of nonviolence is redemption and reconciliation.
The purpose of nonviolence is the creation of the Beloved Community.

PRINCIPLE THREE
Nonviolence recognizes that evil doers are also victims.
Nonviolence seeks to win opponents support rather than defeat opponents.
Nonviolence seeks a win/win solution.

PRINCIPLE FOUR
Nonviolence accepts violence if necessary, in the course of achieving a goal,
but will never inflict it.
Nonviolence willingly accepts the consequences of its acts.
Unearned suffering is redemptive.

PRINCIPLE FIVE
Nonviolence resists violence of the spirit as well as the body.
Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate.
This love is spontaneous, unselfish and creative.
This love gives willingly knowing that the return could be hostility.
It is unending in this ability to forgive in order to restore community.
Love does not sink to the level of the hater.

PRINCIPLE SIX
Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice.
The nonviolent resister has deep faith that justice will eventually win.

Derived from “Pilgrimage Nonviolence” in Dr. King’s Stride Toward Freedom, Harper & Row, 1958