Non-Violent Direct Action Training Available in Southeastern Vermont
There’s a lot going on these days: large-scale pro-democracy demonstrations all across the country, smaller weekly rallies in response to various political threats, the occasional sit-in at a municipal, state or federal building.
There comes a time when passive demonstrations with clever signs are not enough to respond to escalating authoritarianism. If you are ready to do more, you might consider joining other concerned citizens who will meet for a Non-Violent Direct Action (NVDA) Training at several places around Southeastern Vermont this August.
Among other topics, the training will cover the effectiveness of nonviolence, finding courage to act, de-escalation, and how to make social change in solidarity with others.
Steve Crofter and Laurel Green have decades of experience with political action, and have recently begun preparing Vermonters with a one-day workshop in the principles and practice of NVDA.
They are offering the training, as Green puts it, because “many people are taking part in rallies and protests without training. Even learning the basics of NVDA can help them gain confidence, become more effective, de-escalate conflict, and keep one another safe.” Crofter adds that, “statistics show that nonviolence is about twice as effective as violence in creating meaningful change.”
Most of the locations will have limits on the number of participants, so the organizers encourage early registration.
The training will include:
- Finding courage to act,
- The effectiveness of nonviolence,
- How to make social change in solidarity with others,
- And more!
The training is a great opportunity to bring together folks from many local movements including Third Actors, Indivisible folks, people working on Gaza, democracy, climate and immigration. All are welcome.
Here are the planned dates and locations:
- Chester – Sunday 8/17, 1 to 5:30 p.m., registrar Steve Dock, styeve35@gmail.com (512) 466-5656
- Springfield – Wednesday 8/20, 1 to 5:30 p.m., registrar Sharon Mueller, sharonm@vermontel.net (802) 885-8094
- Bellows Falls – Sunday 8/24, 1 to 5:30 p.m., registrar Linda Robinson, lindalrob@gmail.com (802) 463-3220
- Putney – Tuesday 8/26, 1 to 5:30 p.m., registrar Mary Houghton, maryhotn@together.net (802) 363-0711
- Brattleboro – Friday, 8/29, 9:30 am to 3 p.m., registrar George Carvill. Use this link to register for Brattleboro: ascvt.org/nvda For information e-mail wecanvt@gmail.com
The Brattleboro August 29 training will end early enough to allow participants to join in either or both of the long-standing Brattleboro Friday afternoon protests on the I-91 bridge and at The Common.
As an option, the Brattleboro group could decide to spend some extra time to plan an actual event for the following Monday, Labor Day.
“Nonviolence was not a tactic we chose out of weakness or cowardice. We adopted it because we saw it as a tool of strength — a moral and political force capable of transforming even the most entrenched structures of oppression. Through disciplined, peaceful resistance, we could expose the inhumanity of apartheid to the world and awaken the conscience of humanity.” – Nelson Mandela