Editor’s Note from Rivera Sun
Dictators, despots, power-grabbers, presidents-for-life . . . autocrats around the world are being challenged by nonviolent movements. This week’s edition shares the many tales of presidents and protests. In Peru, mass protests forced the interim president to resign after a shady parliamentary coup shoved the previous president out of power. Meanwhile, US citizens are resisting President Trump’s lies about “widespread voter fraud” and refusal to concede. In Belarus, thousands gathered to mourn an activist slain amidst the popular movement that is striving to end Lukashenko’s 26-year rule. Across the globe, Thai activists are campaigning for free speech and democracy rather than a monarch and a military regime.
Will they succeed? Only time will tell . . . but one thing’s for certain: Nonviolence News will share their stories.
Don’t miss other uplifting stories – 48 faith institutions divested from fossil fuels recently. California, Oregon, and Indigenous Nations signed a historic agreement to dismantle dams. Chilean activists saved their street art and have made a protest museum; US Black Lives Matter activists are scrambling to do the same. In Germany, a “walking forest” pushes urban communities to green-up. And if you’re looking for global wisdom, the “Democracy Defense” webinar video shares stories from pro-democracy activists from around the world.
What was my favorite story this week? The Lakota Houseless Camp. When Lakota members created a place for houseless relatives, the police cracked down. But they didn’t give up. They moved locations. Now located on tribal trust land and rooted in traditional Lakota values, the community is thriving.
In solidarity,
Rivera Sun
Photo Credit: Protesters against the government of Peru’s interim president Manuel Merino took to the streets of Lima in November 2020. EPA-EFE/Paolo Aguilar
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Story of the Week: Peter Bergel From The PeaceWorker says: “I am an admirer of Nonviolence News. I edit an online peace news magazine (at peaceworker.org) and almost every week I select at least one item from Nonviolence News to reprint. The work that goes into creating each issue of Nonviolence News is very impressive.”
Lakota Houseless Camp: When Lakota activists set up a camp for homeless relatives in this Black Hills town last month, the police descended immediately and shut it down. The response? The activists quickly moved the encampment to trust land just outside of town. Today the camp, built on traditional values and teachings, is flourishing. Read more>>
4 Dozen Faith Institutions Divest From Fossil Fuels: “While government leaders cling to the economic models of yesterday, faith leaders are looking ahead to the energy future we share.” Read more>>
Peru Protests Force Resignation of Interim President After Previous President Was Ousted by “Parliamentary Coup”: Peru is in crisis. The week-long regime of interim president Manuel Merino has been brought crashing down in the face of mass protests by tens of thousands of angry protesters. Three people were killed and dozens injured throughout the week when demonstrators took to the streets in Peru’s major cities, including the capital Lima, to protest the ousting of popular president Martín Vizcarra. Read more>>
California And Oregon Join With Indigenous Nations To Dismantle Dams: In a historic agreement, California Governor Gavin Newsom today joined with Oregon Governor Kate Brown, leaders of the Yurok and Karuk Tribes and Berkshire Hathaway-owned PacifiCorp to remove four dams on the Klamath River and advance the most ambitious salmon restoration effort in history. The project, when completed, will address declines in fish populations, improve river health and renew Tribal communities and cultures. Read more>>
Women and Students Are Leading Thailand’s Fight for Democracy: Led by a new generation of students and workers, protests have taken place throughout the country. They are organizing for a profound transformation of Thai society. In this interview, exiled Thai socialist Giles Ji Ungpakorn discusses how activists across the world can build solidarity with the Thai struggle. Read more>>
Unhoused Community Forms Tenants Union: A tenants union was formed this past weekend by unhoused community members who have been living at the Extended Stay America hotel in Bloomington, MN. After a deal for Hennepin County to purchase the building unexpectedly fell through, residents say they are standing up for their rights as tenants. Read more>>
Nigeria’s #EndSARS Movement Suspends Protests, But Vows To Come Back Stronger: After protests turned violent, the #EndSARS movement hit pause to develop a blueprint to end police brutality in Nigeria. Read more>>
Hunger Strike Enters Third Week At California’s Largest Prison: Prisoners are protesting lack of COVID-19 protections. The Corcoran treatment facility is home to the California prison system’s largest active COVID-19 outbreak, with 502 active cases and counting. Read more>>
North Carolina Activists Hold 58-Day Vigil For Prisoner Releases Due To Pandemic: Demonstrators gathered outside the Executive Mansion on Sunday to demand that Gov. Roy Cooper use his powers of pardon and clemency to protect people who are incarcerated during the pandemic. Read more>>
Manufacturing Workers On Strike: Dozens of union workers at the Johnson Controls facility – where they make air conditioners and other appliances – have been on strike since late September, seeking an increase in pay and flexibility with using vacation time. Read more>>
Hundreds March Against Lack of Accountability Over Rape At Louisiana State University: Hundreds of teal-clad students, faculty, alumni and advocates carrying signs and chanting slogans marched through the Louisiana State University campus on Friday in reaction to LSU’s systemic mishandling of sexual misconduct complaints against top athletes and others. Read more>>
Thousands Attend Funeral For Belarus Activist: Thousands of people have attended the funeral of a Belarusian protester in the country’s capital Minsk. The death is the latest flashpoint in months-long mass protests against President Alexander Lukashenko. Read more>>
Netherlands Battle Over Black Pete – Black Face is Racism: Collecting candy from the Black Petes is a rite of Dutch childhood, but one from which many Black children feel excluded. “I do not enjoy it very much,” says Yano, 9, wriggling in the protective embrace of his mom. “It reminds me too much of slavery and my dad is Black, so I know the history of slavery, and that makes me very sad around those holidays when Zwarte Piet is there.” Read more>>
Protesters Object To Trump Law Firm’s Backing of Racist Voter Suppression Strategies: “They’re filing frivolous lawsuits in Michigan, specifically targeting Detroit, which is a predominantly Black district in Michigan, and they’re applying racist voter suppression strategies to try to steal the election,” Resist STL organizer Alex Cohen said. Read more>>
UK University Lecturers Stand In Solidarity With Students Against Racial Profiling: Teaching staff held a show of solidarity with their students following a ‘racial profiling’ row at the University of Manchester. Lecturers also voiced their support for students protesting at the university’s handling of the coronavirus crisis. Read more>>
Saving Black Lives Matter Protest Art: Boarded-up store windows became canvases for street artists to leave protest messages. Now, they’re scrambling to save the art for posterity. Read more>>
Grad Workers’ Strike Shows Labor Why It Must Become Abolitionist: The strike at the University of Michigan highlighted the role of policing in upholding racial capitalism on campus. Read more>>
Okinawa’s Resistance To US Military Base Continues Even Amid COVID-19: The protesters come by the busload – 3-5 buses per day – and blockade the dump trucks that are tearing down a mountain to build the base by milling around and preventing more than 1 truck to pass through the traffic light per cycle. Read more>>
#ReclaimArmisticeDay Recap: Veterans For Peace shares action recaps and event highlights from their on-going campaign to #ReclaimArmisticeDay. Read more>>
Chileans Channel Street Rage Into Art At Protest Museum: Awash with multicolored posters, angry graffiti and other symbols of protest — metal shields, tear gas cartridges — Santiago’s Museum of Social Uprising is aiming to keep alive the memory of months of deadly demonstrations that have left a lasting mark on Chile. Read more>>
A Walking Forest in Germany: These mobile “walking trees” roll through Stuttgart, Germany, bringing green spaces and shelter, nature, biodiversity and community spaces to the city while championing for citizens’ freedom to change their neighborhoods. In the fall, the plants are planted in green spaces. Read more>>
2 Native Women Writers Harness Their Languages for Liberation: “Indigenous words persevere despite efforts to extinguish our cultures, languages and selves.” Read more>>
Trump Shuts Down Voter Fraud Hotline After Prank Calls: The Trump campaign’s hotline was receiving mostly prank calls: people recording themselves on social media calling into the number with jokes about the Hamburgler, playing the losing horn from the Price is Right. They shut the hotline down because they weren’t receiving reports of voter fraud. Read more>>
Rap Against Dictatorship Turns Thai Protests Into Video Hits: Facing a military-backed government, Thai protesters find musical inspiration. Read more>>
When Music Becomes Political Protest: This podcast explores the changing role of protest music across American history, from 19th-century Black spirituals to Public Enemy, Lady Gaga, and Janelle Monáe. They also touch on the secret history of a Bob Dylan classic, and the new ways pop stars have engaged with activism in the social media era. Read more>>
Defending Democracy Around The Globe: Activists from around the world share hard-won wisdom on countering autocratic power grabs. This webinar is also a global message of solidarity to US democracy organizers trying to stop post-election false claims and confusion from undermining the election results. Read more>>
How To Stop A Power Grab: As democracy hangs in balance, activists are drawing lessons from the study of civil resistance. Read more>>
Why Do Some Protests Escalate To Violence? A new report shows that protest is more likely to escalate to violence a) the more recently it has faced state repression and b) when it is spontaneous rather than well-organized. This is just one of the many helpful findings. Read more>>
Stop Rumors, Stop Violence – How Unarmed Protectors Keep Us Safe: As this uncertain post-election period continues in the United States, we must be prepared to help calm communities, prevent violence, and protect each other through disciplined and strategic nonviolent action. Read more>>
6 Ways To Stay Focused On Movement-Building Amid Post-Election Chaos: In this time of uncertainty, movements must continue the long-term work of building democracy. Read more>>
On The Perennial Violence & Nonviolence Debate: Okay, it’s more of a heated argument … but this writer asks us to look at the many angles on this conflict and see what shakes out for movement strategy. Read more>>
AFRICOM Webinar w/ Black Alliance For Peace and Allies: This webinar will include first hand reports on the impacts of AFRICOM on Nigeria, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya. (Dec 4, Online) Learn more>>
Workers and Just Transition – A Global View: From the experiences of metalworkers in South Africa to coal miners in Spain, to the informal sector workers in Latin America, the struggle for a just transition is truly global. Join NEC member the Labor Network for Sustainability with labor leaders and activist leaders to hear perspectives, stories, and strategies from the frontlines of the struggle for a just transition abroad. (Dec 5 – Online) Learn more>>
Nonviolence News Happy Hour: Want to talk about the stories you’re reading Nonviolence News? Editor Rivera Sun and other readers gather on Zoom every other Friday to dig into some of the burning questions and juicy stories. Come join us! (Dec 6 – Online) Learn more>>
How People Fight and Win with Humor: An online webinar on lessons of creative resistance from Belarus, other tyrannies and failing democracies. (Dec 8) Learn more>>
Soul Force Retreat w/ Rivera Sun, Veronica Pelicaric, and Robert Ferrell: Restore. Nourish. Replenish. Nurture. Heal. It’s been a crazy year. Let’s take time together to look inward and look forward. This retreat is a place where we can return to our hearts, restore our spirits, and gather our energies for new beginnings. (Dec 12) Learn more>>
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