,! ,ILLEGITIMACY ( ,VIOL5CE1 ! ,VIOL5CE ( ,LEGITIMACY 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,CRIME?,9C4 

,TEXT 3 

,:AT IS VIOL5CE8 ,:O GETS TO DEF9E IT8 ,DOES IT HAVE A PLACE 9 ! PURSUIT ( LIB]ATION8 ,!SE AGE-OLD QUE/IONS HAVE RETURN$ TO ! =E DUR+ ! ,OCCUPY MOVEM5T4 ,BUT ?IS DISCUSSION NEV] TAKES PLACE ON A LEVEL PLAY+ FIELD2 :ILE SOME DELEGITIMIZE VIOL5CE1 ! LANGUAGE ( LEGITIMACY ITSELF PAVES ! WAY = ! AU?ORITIES TO EMPLOY IT4  
  

0,?\< L9ES ( POLICE ON HORSES1 & ) DOGS1 *>G$ ! MA9 /REET \TSIDE ! POLICE /ATION TO PU% RIOT]S BACK1 !RE W]E SIGNIFICANT POCKETS ( VIOL5CE :I* !Y C\LD NOT REA*40 

- ,! ,NEW ,YORK ,TIMES1 ON ! ,U,K RIOTS ( ,AUGU/ #baa  
  

,DUR+ ! #ba ,F,T,A,A SUMMIT 9 ,QUEBEC ,CITY1 ONE NEWSPAP] FAM\SLY REPORT$ ?AT VIOL5CE ]UPT$ :5 PROTE/]S BEGAN ?R[+ TE> GAS CANI/]S BACK AT ! L9ES ( RIOT POLICE4 ,:5 ! AU?ORITIES >E P]CEIV$ TO HAVE A MONOPOLY ON ! LEGITIMATE USE ( =CE1 0VIOL5CE0 IS (T5 US$ TO D5OTE ILLEGITIMATE USE ( =CE--ANY?+ ?AT 9T]RUPTS OR ESCAPES !IR CONTROL4 ,?IS MAKES ! T]M SOME?+ ( A FLOAT+ SIGNIFI]1 S9CE IT IS ALSO UND]/OOD TO MEAN 0H>M OR ?REAT ?AT VIOLATES CONS5T40 

,?IS IS FUR!R COMPLICAT$ BY ! WAYS \R SOCIETY IS BAS$ ON & P]MEAT$ BY H>M OR ?REAT ?AT VIOLATES CONS5T4 ,9 ?IS S5SE1 ISN'T IT VIOL5T TO LIVE ON COLONIZ$ T]RITORY1 DE/ROY+ ECOSY/EMS ?R\< \R DAILY CONSUMPTION & B5EFITT+ FROM ECONOMIC RELATIONS ?AT >E =C$ ON O!RS AT GUNPO9T8 ,ISN'T IT VIOL5T = >M$ GU>DS TO KEEP FOOD & L&1 ONCE A COMMONS %>$ BY ALL1 FROM ?OSE :O NE$ !M8 ,IS IT MORE VIOL5T TO RESI/ ! POLICE :O EVICT PEOPLE FROM !IR HOMES1 OR TO /& ASIDE :ILE PEOPLE >E MADE HOMELESS8 ,IS IT MORE VIOL5T TO ?R[ TE> GAS CANI/]S BACK AT POLICE1 OR TO D5\NCE ?OSE :O ?R[ !M BACK AS 0VIOL5T10 GIV+ POLICE A FREE H& TO DO WORSE8 

,9 ?IS /ATE ( AFFAIRS1 !RE IS NO SU* ?+ AS NONVIOL5CE--! CLOSE/ WE CAN HOPE TO COME IS TO NEGATE ! H>M OR ?REAT POS$ BY ! PROPON5TS ( TOP-D[N VIOL5CE4 ,& :5 SO MANY PEOPLE >E 9VE/$ 9 ! PRIVILEGES ?IS VIOL5CE AF=DS !M1 IT'S NAIVE TO ?9K ?AT WE C\LD DEF5D \RSELVES & O!RS AMONG ! DISPOSSESS$ )\T VIOLAT+ ! WI%ES ( AT LEA/ A FEW BANK]S & L&LORDS4 ,SO 9/EAD ( ASK+ :E!R AN ACTION IS VIOL5T1 WE MI<T DO BETT] TO ASK SIMPLY3 DOES IT C\NT]ACT P[] DISP>ITIES1 OR RE9=CE !M8 

,?IS IS ! FUNDAM5TAL AN>*I/ QUE/ION4 ,WE CAN ASK IT 9 EV]Y SITUATION2 EV]Y FUR!R QUE/ION AB\T VALUES1 TACTICS1 & /RATEGY PROCE$S FROM IT4 ,:5 ! QUE/ION CAN BE FRAM$ ?US1 :Y W\LD ANYONE WANT TO DRAG ! DEBATE BACK TO ! DI*OTOMY ( VIOL5CE & NONVIOL5CE8 

,! DISC\RSE ( VIOL5CE & NONVIOL5CE IS ATTRACTIVE ABOVE ALL BECAUSE IT (F]S AN EASY WAY TO CLAIM ! HI<] MORAL GR\ND4 ,?IS MAKES IT S$UCTIVE BO? = CRITICIZ+ ! /ATE & = COMPET+ AGA9/ O!R ACTIVI/S = 9FLU5CE4 ,BUT 9 A HI]>*ICAL SOCIETY1 GA9+ ! HI<] GR\ND (T5 RE9=CES HI]>*Y ITSELF4 

,LEGITIMACY IS ONE ( ! CURR5CIES ?AT >E UNEQUALLY DI/RIBUT$ 9 \R SOCIETY1 ?R\< :I* ITS DISP>ITIES >E MA9TA9$4 ,DEF9+ PEOPLE OR ACTIONS AS VIOL5T IS A WAY ( EXCLUD+ !M FROM LEGITIMATE DISC\RSE1 ( SIL5C+ & %UTT+ \T4 ,?IS P>ALLELS & RE9=CES O!R =MS ( M>G9ALIZATION3 A WEAL?Y :ITE P]SON CAN ACT 0NONVIOL5TLY0 9 WAYS ?AT W\LD BE SE5 AS VIOL5T W]E A POOR P]SON ( COLOR TO DO ! SAME ?+4 ,9 AN UNEQUAL SOCIETY1 ! DEF9+ ( 0VIOL5CE0 IS NO MORE NEUTRAL ?AN ANY O!R TOOL4 

,DEF9+ PEOPLE OR ACTIONS AS VIOL5T ALSO HAS IMM$IATE CONSEQU5CES3 IT JU/IFIES ! USE ( =CE AGA9/ !M4 ,?IS HAS BE5 AN ESS5TIAL /EP 9 PRACTICALLY EV]Y CAMPAIGN T>GET+ COMMUNITIES ( COLOR1 PROTE/ MOVEM5TS1 & O!RS ON ! WRONG SIDE ( CAPITALISM4 ,IF Y\'VE ATT5D$ 5\< MOBILIZATIONS1 Y\ KN[ ?AT IT'S (T5 POSSIBLE TO ANTICIPATE EXACTLY H[ MU* VIOL5CE ! POLICE WILL USE AGA9/ A DEMON/RATION BY ! WAY ! /ORY IS PRES5T$ ON ! NEWS ! NI<T BE=E4 ,9 ?IS REG>D1 PUNDITS & EV5 RIVAL ORGANIZ]S CAN P>TICIPATE 9 POLIC+ ALONGSIDE ! POLICE1 DET]M9+ :O IS A LEGITIMATE T>GET BY ! WAY !Y FRAME ! N>RATIVE4 

,ON ! ONE-YE> ANNIV]S>Y ( ! ,EGYPTIAN UPRIS+1 ! MILIT>Y LIFT$ ! ,EM]G5CY ,LAWS--0EXCEPT 9 ?UG-RELAT$ CASES40 ,! POPUL> UPHEAVAL ( #baa HAD =C$ ! AU?ORITIES TO LEGITIMIZE PREVI\SLY UNACCEPTABLE =MS ( RESI/ANCE1 ) ,OBAMA *>ACT]IZ+ AS 0NONVIOL5T0 AN UPRIS+ 9 :I* ?\S&S HAD F\<T POLICE & BURN$ D[N POLICE /ATIONS4 ,9 ORD] TO RE-LEGITIMIZE ! LEGAL APP>ATUS ( ! DICTATOR%IP1 IT WAS NECESS>Y TO CREATE A NEW DI/9CTION BETWE5 VIOL5T 0?UGS0 & ! RE/ ( ! POPULATION4 ,YET ! SUB/ANCE ( ?IS DI/9CTION WAS NEV] SPELL$ \T2 9 PRACTICE1 0?UG0 IS SIMPLY ! WORD = A P]SON T>GET$ BY ! ,EM]G5CY ,LAWS4 ,FROM ! P]SPECTIVE ( ! AU?ORITIES1 IDEALLY ! 9FLICTION ( VIOL5CE ITSELF W\LD SUFFICE TO BR& ITS VICTIMS AS VIOL5T--I4E41 AS LEGITIMATE T>GETS4.<#a.> 

,SO :5 A BROAD 5\< P>T ( ! POPULATION 5GAGES 9 RESI/ANCE1 ! AU?ORITIES HAVE TO R$EF9E IT AS NONVIOL5T1 EV5 IF IT W\LD PREVI\SLY HAVE BE5 CONSID]$ VIOL5T4 ,O!RWISE1 ! DI*OTOMY BETWE5 VIOL5CE & LEGITIMACY MI<T ]ODE--& )\T ?AT DI*OTOMY1 IT W\LD BE MU* H>D] TO JU/IFY ! USE ( =CE AGA9/ ?OSE :O ?REAT5 ! /ATUS QUO4 ,BY ! SAME TOK51 ! MORE GR\ND WE C$E 9 :AT WE P]MIT ! AU?ORITIES TO DEF9E AS VIOL5T1 ! MORE !Y WILL SWEEP 9TO ?AT CATEGORY1 & ! GREAT] RISK ALL ( US WILL FACE4 ,ONE CONSEQU5CE ( ! PA/ SEV]AL DECADES ( SELF-DESCRIB$ NONVIOL5T CIVIL DISOB$I5CE IS ?AT SOME PEOPLE REG>D M]ELY RAIS+ ONE'S VOICE AS VIOL5T2 ?IS MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO PORTRAY ?OSE :O TAKE EV5 ! MO/ T5TATIVE /EPS TO PROTECT !MSELVES AGA9/ POLICE VIOL5CE AS VIOL5T ?UGS4  
  

0,! 9DIVIDUALS :O L9K$ >MS & ACTIVELY RESI/$1 ?AT 9 ITSELF IS AN ACT ( VIOL5CE444 L9K+ >MS 9 A HUMAN *A9 :5 ORD]$ TO /EP ASIDE IS NOT A NONVIOL5T PROTE/40 

-- ,U,C POLICE CAPTA9 ,M>GO ,B5NETT1 QUOT$ 9 ,! ,SAN ,FRANCISCO ,*RONICLE1 JU/IFY+ ! USE ( =CE AGA9/ /UD5TS AT ! ,UNIV]SITY ( ,CALI=NIA AT ,B]KELEY  

,! ,MA/]'S ,TOOLS3 ,DELEGITIMIZATION1 ,MISREPRES5TATION1 & ,DIVISION 

  

,VIOL5T REPRESSION IS ONLY ONE SIDE ( ! TWO-PRONG$ /RATEGY BY :I* SOCIAL MOVEM5TS >E SUPPRESS$4 ,= ?IS REPRESSION TO SUCCE$1 MOVEM5TS MU/ BE DIVID$ 9TO LEGITIMATE & ILLEGITIMATE1 & ! =M] CONV9C$ TO DIS[N ! LATT]--USUALLY 9 RETURN = PRIVILEGES OR CONCESSIONS4 ,WE CAN SEE ?IS PROCESS UP CLOSE 9 ! EF=TS ( PR(ESSIONAL J\RNALI/S LIKE ,*RIS ,H$GES & ,REBECCA ,SOLNIT TO DEMONIZE RIVALS 9 ! ,OCCUPY MOVEM5T4 

,9 LA/ YE>'S ,?R[+ ,\T ! ,MA/]'S ,TOOLS & ,BUILD+ A ,BETT] ,H\SE3 ,?\<TS ON ! ,IMPORTANCE ( ,NONVIOL5CE 9 ! ,OCCUPY ,REVOLUTION10 ,REBECCA ,SOLNIT MIX$ TOGE!R MORAL & /RATEGIC >GUM5TS AGA9/ 0VIOL5CE10 H$G+ H] BETS ) A SORT ( ,U,S EXCEPTIONALISM3 ,ZAPATI/AS CAN C>RY GUNS & ,EGYPTIAN REBELS SET BUILD+S ON FIRE1 BUT LET NO ONE SO MU* AS BURN A TRA% CAN 9 ! ,U,S4 ,AT BASE1 H] >GUM5T WAS ?AT ONLY 0PEOPLE P[]0 CAN A*IEVE REVOLUTION>Y SOCIAL *ANGE--& ?AT 0PEOPLE P[]0 IS NECESS>ILY NONVIOL5T4 

,SOLNIT %\LD KN[ ?AT ! DEF9+ ( VIOL5CE ISN'T NEUTRAL3 9 H] >TICLE 0,! ,MY? ( ,SEATTLE ,VIOL5CE10 %E REC\NT$ H] UNSUCCESSFUL /RUGGLE TO GET ! ,NEW ,YORK ,TIMES TO /OP REPRES5T+ ! DEMON/RATIONS AGA9/ ! #aiii ,W,T,O SUMMIT 9 ,SEATTLE AS 0VIOL5T40 ,9 CONSI/5TLY EMPHASIZ+ VIOL5CE AS H] C5TRAL CATEGORY1 ,SOLNIT IS RE9=C+ ! EFFECTIV5ESS ( ONE ( ! TOOLS ?AT WILL 9EVITABLY BE US$ AGA9/ PROTE/]S--9CLUD+ H]--:5EV] IT S]VES ! 9T]E/S ( ! P[]FUL4 

,SOLNIT RES]VES P>TICUL> IRE = ?OSE :O 5DORSE DIV]SITY ( TACTICS AS A WAY TO PRECLUDE ! A=EM5TION$ DIVID+ ( MOVEM5TS4 ,SEV]AL P>AGRAPHS ( 0,?R[+ ,\T ! ,MA/]'S ,TOOLS0 W]E DEVOT$ TO D5\NC+ ! ,CRIME?,9C4 0,DE> ,OCCUPI]S0 PAMPHLET3 ,SOLNIT PROCLAIM$ IT 0A SCRE$ 9 JU/IFICATION ( VIOL5CE10 0EMPTY MA*ISMO PEPP]$ ) 9SULTS10 & /OOP$ TO AD HOM9EM ATTACKS ON AU?ORS AB\T :OM %E ADMITT$LY KNEW NO?+4.<#b.> 

,AS ANYONE CAN READILY ASC]TA91 ! MAJORITY ( 0,DE> ,OCCUPI]S0 SIMPLY REVIEWS ! SY/EMIC PROBLEMS ) CAPITALISM2 ! ADVOCACY ( DIV]SITY ( TACTICS IS LIMIT$ TO A C\PLE SUBDU$ P>AGRAPHS4 ,:Y W\LD AN AW>D-W9N+ AU?OR REPRES5T ?IS AS A PRO-VIOL5CE SCRE$8 

,P]HAPS = ! SAME REASON ?AT %E JO9S ! AU?ORITIES 9 DELEGITIMIZ+ VIOL5CE EV5 :5 ?IS EQUIPS !M TO DELEGITIMIZE H] [N EF=TS3 ,SOLNIT'S LEV]AGE 9 SOCIAL MOVEM5TS & H] PRIVILEGES 9 CAPITALI/ SOCIETY >E BO? /AK$ ON ! DI/9CTION BETWE5 LEGITIMATE & ILLEGITIMATE4 ,IF SOCIAL MOVEM5TS EV] CEASE TO BE MANAG$ FROM ! TOP D[N--IF !Y /OP POLIC+ !MSELVES--! ,H$GES & ,SOLNITS ( ! WORLD WILL BE \T ( A JOB LIT]ALLY AS WELL AS FIGURATIVELY4 ,?AT W\LD EXPLA9 :Y !Y P]CEIVE !IR WOR/ 5EMIES TO BE ?OSE :O SOB]LY ADVISE AGA9/ DIVID+ MOVEM5TS 9TO LEGITIMATE & ILLEGITIMATE FACTIONS4 

,IT'S H>D TO IMAG9E ,SOLNIT W\LD HAVE REPRES5T$ 0,DE> ,OCCUPI]S0 ! WAY %E DID IF %E EXPECT$ H] AUDI5CE TO READ IT4 ,GIV5 H] READ]%IP1 ?IS IS A FAIRLY SAFE BET--,SOLNIT IS (T5 PUBLI%$ 9 ! CORPORATE M$IA1 :ILE ,CRIME?,9C4 LIT]ATURE IS DI/RIBUT$ ONLY ?R\< GRASS-ROOTS NETWORKS2 9 ANY CASE1 %E DIDN'T 9CLUDE A L9K4 ,*RIS ,H$GES TOOK SIMIL> LIB]TIES 9 HIS NOTORI\S 0,! ,CANC] 9 ,OCCUPY10 A LITANY ( \TRAGE\S G5]ALIZATIONS AB\T 0BLACK BLOC AN>*I/S40 ,IT SEEMS ?AT BO? AU?ORS' ULTIMATE GOAL IS SIL5C+3 ,:Y W\LD Y\ WANT TO HE> :AT ?OSE PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY8 ,!Y'RE VIOL5T ?UGS4 

,! TITLE ( ,SOLNIT'S >TICLE IS A REF]5CE TO ,AUDRE ,LORDE'S 9FLU5TIAL TEXT1 0,! ,MA/]'S ,TOOLS ,WILL ,NEV] ,DISMANTLE ! ,MA/]'S ,H\SE40 ,LORDE'S TEXT WAS NOT AN 5DORSEM5T ( NONVIOL5CE2 EV5 ,D]RICK ,J5S51 :OM ,H$GES QUOTES APPROV+LY1 HAS DEBUNK$ SU* MISUSE ( ?IS QUOTATION4 ,H]E1 LET IT SUFFICE TO REPEAT ?AT ! MO/ P[]FUL ( ! MA/]'S TOOLS IS NOT VIOL5CE1 BUT DELEGITIMIZATION & DIVISION--AS ,LORDE EMPHASIZ$ 9 H] TEXT4 ,TO DEF5D \R MOVEM5TS AGA9/ !SE1 ,LORDE EXHORT$ US3  
  

0,DIFF]5CE MU/ BE NOT M]ELY TOL]AT$1 BUT SE5 AS A FUND ( NECESS>Y POL>ITIES BETWE5 :I* \R CREATIVITY CAN SP>K444 ,ONLY )9 ?AT 9T]DEP5D5CY ( DIFF]5T /R5G?S1 ACKN[L$G$ & EQUAL1 CAN ! P[] TO SEEK NEW WAYS ( BE+ 9 ! WORLD G5]ATE1 AS WELL AS ! C\RAGE & SU/5ANCE TO ACT :]E !RE >E NO *>T]S40  
  

,IF WE >E TO SURVIVE1 ?AT MEANS3  
  

0444LE>N+ H[ TO /& ALONE1 UNPOPUL> & SOMETIMES REVIL$1 & H[ TO MAKE COMMON CAUSE ) ?OSE O!RS ID5TIFI$ AS \TSIDE ! /RUCTURES 9 ORD] TO DEF9E & SEEK A WORLD 9 :I* WE CAN ALL FL\RI%444 LE>N+ H[ TO TAKE \R DIFF]5CES & MAKE !M /R5G?S4 ,= ! MA/]'S TOOLS WILL NEV] DISMANTLE ! MA/]'S H\SE40  
  

,IT IS P>TICUL>LY %AMELESS ?AT ,SOLNIT W\LD QUOTE ,LORDE'S >GUM5T AGA9/ SIL5C+ \T ( CONTEXT 9 ORD] TO DELEGITIMIZE & DIVIDE4 ,BUT P]HAPS WE %\LD NOT BE SURPRIS$ :5 SUCCESSFUL PR(ESSIONALS SELL \T ANONYM\S POOR PEOPLE3 !Y HAVE TO DEF5D !IR CLASS 9T]E/S1 OR ELSE RISK JO9+ US4 ,= ! ME*ANISMS ?AT RAISE PEOPLE TO POSITIONS ( 9FLU5CE )9 ACTIVI/ HI]>*IES & LIB]AL M$IA >E NOT NEUTRAL1 EI!R2 !Y REW>D DOCILITY1 (T5 COD$ AS 0NONVIOL5CE10 R5D]+ 9VISIBLE ?OSE :OSE EF=TS ACTUALLY ?REAT5 CAPITALISM & HI]>*Y4 

,! ,LURE ( ,LEGITIMACY 

  

,:5 WE WANT TO BE TAK5 S]I\SLY1 IT'S TEMPT+ TO CLAIM LEGITIMACY ANY WAY WE CAN4 ,BUT IF WE DON'T WANT TO RE9=CE ! HI]>*IES ( \R SOCIETY1 WE %\LD BE C>EFUL NOT TO VALIDATE =MS ( LEGITIMACY ?AT P]PETUATE !M4 

,IT IS EASY TO RECOGNIZE H[ ?IS WORKS 9 SOME SITUATIONS3 :5 WE EVALUATE PEOPLE ON ! BASIS ( !IR ACADEMIC CR$5TIALS1 = EXAMPLE1 ?IS PRIORITIZES AB/RACT KN[L$GE OV] LIV$ EXP]I5CE1 C5TRALIZ+ ?OSE :O CAN GET A FAIR %OT 9 ACADEMIA & M>G9ALIZ+ EV]YONE ELSE4 ,9 O!R CASES1 ?IS OCCURS MORE SUBTLY4 ,WE EMPHASIZE \R /ATUS AS COMMUNITY ORGANIZ]S1 IMPLY+ ?AT ?OSE :O LACK ! TIME OR RES\RCES = SU* PURSUITS >E LESS 5TITL$ TO SPEAK4 ,WE CLAIM CR$IBILITY AS LONGTIME LOCALS1 IMPLICITLY DELEGITIMIZ+ ALL :O >E NOT--9CLUD+ IMMIGRANTS :O HAVE BE5 =C$ TO MOVE TO \R NEI<BORHOODS BECAUSE !IR COMMUNITIES HAVE BE5 WRECK$ BY PROCESSES ORIG9AT+ 9 \RS4 ,WE JU/IFY \R /RUGGLES ON ! BASIS ( \R ROLES )9 CAPITALI/ SOCIETY--AS /UD5TS1 WORK]S1 TAXPAY]S1 CITIZ5S--NOT REALIZ+ H[ MU* H>D] ?IS CAN MAKE IT = ! UNEMPLOY$1 HOMELESS1 & EXCLUD$ TO JU/IFY !IRS4 

,WE'RE (T5 SURPRIS$ BY ! RESULT+ BL[BACK4 ,POLITICIANS DISCR$IT \R COMRADES ) ! V]Y VOCABUL>Y WE POPUL>IZ$3 0,?OSE >5'T ACTIVI/S1 !Y'RE HOMELESS PEOPLE PRET5D+ TO BE ACTIVI/S40 0,WE'RE NOT T>GET+ COMMUNITIES ( COLOR1 WE'RE PROTECT+ !M FROM CRIM9AL ACTIVITY40 ,YET WE PREP>$ ! WAY = ?IS \RSELVES BY AFFIRM+ LANGUAGE ?AT MAKES LEGITIMACY CONDITIONAL4 

,:5 WE EMPHASIZE ?AT \R MOVEM5TS >E & MU/ BE NONVIOL5T1 WE'RE DO+ ! SAME ?+4 ,?IS CREATES AN ,O!R ?AT IS \TSIDE ! PROTECTION ( :ATEV] LEGITIMACY WE W9 = \RSELVES--?AT IS1 9 %ORT1 A LEGITIMATE T>GET = VIOL5CE4 ,ANYONE :O PULLS !IR COMRADES FREE FROM ! POLICE RA!R ?AN WAIT+ PASSIVELY TO BE >RE/$--ANYONE :O MAKES %IELDS TO PROTECT !MSELVES FROM RUBB] BULLETS RA!R ?AN AB&ON+ ! /REETS TO ! POLICE--ANYONE :O IS *>G$ ) ASSAULT ON AN (FIC] = BE+ ASSAULT$ BY ONE3 ALL !SE UN=TUNATES >E ?R[N TO ! WOLVES AS ! VIOL5T ONES1 ! BAD APPLES4 ,?OSE :O MU/ WE> MASKS EV5 9 LEGAL ACTIONS BECAUSE ( !IR PREC>I\S EMPLOYM5T OR IMMIGRATION /ATUS >E D5\NC$ AS CANC]1 BETRAY$ 9 RETURN = A FEW CRUMBS ( LEGITIMACY FROM ! P[]S ?AT BE4 ,WE ,GOOD ,CITIZ5S CAN AF=D TO BE P]FECTLY TRANSP>5T2 WE W\LD NEV] COMMIT A CRIME OR H>BOR A POT5TIAL CRIM9AL 9 \R MID/4 

,& ! ,O!R+ ( VIOL5CE SMOO?S ! WAY = ! VIOL5CE ( ,O!R+4 ,! ONES :O BE> ! WOR/ CONSEQU5CES ( ?IS >E NOT ! MIDDLE CLASS BRATS PILLORI$ 9 9T]NET FLAME W>S1 BUT ! SAME PEOPLE ON ! WRONG SIDE ( EV]Y O!R DIVID+ L9E 9 CAPITALISM3 ! POOR1 ! M>G9ALIZ$1 ?OSE :O HAVE NO CR$5TIALS1 NO 9/ITUTIONS TO /& UP = !M1 NO 9C5TIVE TO PLAY ! POLITICAL GAMES ?AT >E SLANT$ 9 FAVOR ( ! AU?ORITIES & P]HAPS ALSO A FEW JET-SETT+ ACTIVI/S4 

,SIMPLY DELEGITIMIZ+ VIOL5CE CAN'T PUT AN 5D TO IT4 ,! DISP>ITIES ( ?IS SOCIETY C\LDN'T BE MA9TA9$ )\T IT1 & ! DESP]ATE WILL ALWAYS RESPOND BY ACT+ \T1 ESPECIALLY :5 !Y S5SE ?AT !Y'VE BE5 AB&ON$ TO !IR FATE4 ,BUT ?IS K9D ( DELEGITIMIZATION CAN CREATE A GULF BETWE5 ! ANGRY & ! MORALLY UPRI<T1 ! 0IRRATIONAL0 & ! RATIONAL1 ! VIOL5T & ! SOCIAL4 ,WE SAW ! CONSEQU5CES ( ?IS 9 ! ,U,K RIOTS ( ,AUGU/ #b#a#a1 :5 MANY ( ! DIS5FRAN*IZ$1 DESPAIR+ ( BETT]+ !MSELVES ?R\< ANY LEGITIMATE MEANS1 HAZ>D$ A PRIVATE W> AGA9/ PROP]TY1 ! POLICE1 & ! RE/ ( SOCIETY4 ,SOME ( !M HAD ATTEMPT$ TO P>TICIPATE 9 PREVI\S POPUL> MOVEM5TS1 ONLY TO BE /IGMATIZ$ AS HOOLIGANS2 NOT SURPRIS+LY1 !IR REBELLION TOOK AN ANTISOCIAL TURN1 RESULT+ 9 FIVE DEA?S & FUR!R ALI5AT+ !M FROM O!R SECTORS ( ! POPULATION4 

,! RESPONSIBILITY = ?IS TRAG$Y RE/S NOT ONLY ON ! REBELS !MSELVES1 NOR ON ?OSE :O IMPOS$ ! 9JU/ICES FROM :I* !Y SUFF]$1 BUT ALSO UPON ! ACTIVI/S :O /IGMATIZ$ !M RA!R ?AN JO9+ 9 CREAT+ A MOVEM5T ?AT C\LD *ANNEL !IR ANG]4 ,IF !RE IS NO CONNECTION BETWE5 ?OSE :O 9T5D TO TRANS=M SOCIETY & ?OSE :O SUFF] MO/ )9 IT1 NO COMMON CAUSE BETWE5 ! HOPEFUL & ! 5RAG$1 !N :5 ! LATT] REBEL1 ! =M] WILL DIS[N !M1 & ! LATT] WILL BE CRU%$ ALONG ) ALL HOPE ( REAL *ANGE4 ,NO EF=T TO DO AWAY ) HI]>*Y CAN SUCCE$ :ILE EXCLUD+ ! DIS5FRAN*IZ$1 ! ,O!RS4 

,:AT %\LD BE \R BASIS = LEGITIMACY1 !N1 IF NOT \R COMMITM5T TO LEGALITY1 NONVIOL5CE1 OR ANY O!R /&>D ?AT HANGS \R POT5TIAL COMRADES \T TO DRY8 ,H[ DO WE EXPLA9 :AT WE'RE DO+ & :Y WE'RE 5TITL$ TO DO IT8 ,WE HAVE TO M9T & CIRCULATE A CURR5CY ( LEGITIMACY ?AT IS NOT CONTROLL$ BY \R RUL]S1 ?AT DOESN'T CREATE ,O!RS4 

,AS AN>*I/S1 WE HOLD ?AT \R DESIRES & WELL-BE+ & ?OSE ( \R FELL[ CREATURES >E ! ONLY MEAN+FUL BASIS = ACTION4 ,RA!R ?AN CLASSIFY+ ACTIONS AS VIOL5T OR NONVIOL5T1 WE FOCUS ON :E!R !Y EXT5D OR CURTAIL FRE$OM4 ,RA!R ?AN 9SI/+ ?AT WE >E NONVIOL5T1 WE EMPHASIZE ! NECESSITY ( 9T]RUPT+ ! VIOL5CE 9H]5T 9 TOP-D[N RULE4 ,?IS MI<T BE 9CONV5I5T = ?OSE ACCU/OM$ TO SEEK+ DIALOGUE ) ! P[]FUL1 BUT IT IS UNAVOIDABLE = EV]YONE :O TRULY WI%ES TO ABOLI% !IR P[]4 

,CONCLUSION3 ,BACK TO ,/RATEGY 

  

,BUT H[ DO WE 9T]RUPT ! VIOL5CE ( TOP-D[N RULE8 ,! P>TISANS ( NONVIOL5CE FRAME !IR >GUM5T 9 /RATEGIC AS WELL AS MORAL T]MS3 VIOL5CE ALI5ATES ! MASSES1 PREV5T+ US FROM BUILD+ ! 0PEOPLE P[]0 WE NE$ TO TRIUMPH4 

,!RE IS A K]NEL ( TRU? AT ! HE>T ( ?IS4 ,IF VIOL5CE IS UND]/OOD AS ILLEGITIMATE USE ( =CE1 !IR >GUM5T CAN BE SUMM>IZ$ AS A TAUTOLOGY3 DELEGITIMIZ$ ACTION IS UNPOPUL>4 

,9DE$1 ?OSE :O TAKE ! LEGITIMACY ( CAPITALI/ SOCIETY = GRANT$ >E LIABLE TO SEE ANYONE :O TAKES MAT]IAL /EPS TO C\NT]ACT ITS DISP>ITIES AS VIOL5T4 ,! *ALL5GE FAC+ US1 !N1 IS TO LEGITIMIZE CONCRETE =MS ( RESI/ANCE3 NOT ON ! GR\NDS ?AT !Y >E NONVIOL5T1 BUT ON ! GR\NDS ?AT !Y >E LIB]AT+1 ?AT !Y FULFILL REAL NE$S & DESIRES4 

,?IS IS NOT AN EASY MATT]4 ,EV5 :5 WE PASSIONATELY BELIEVE 9 :AT WE >E DO+1 IF IT IS NOT WIDELY RECOGNIZ$ AS LEGITIMATE WE T5D TO SPUTT] :5 ASK$ TO EXPLA9 \RSELVES4 ,IF ONLY WE C\LD /AY )9 ! B\NDS PRESCRIB$ = US )9 ?IS SY/EM :ILE WE GO AB\T OV]?R[+ IT6 ,! ,OCCUPY MOVEM5T WAS *>ACT]IZ$ BY ATTEMPTS TO DO JU/ ?AT--CITIZ5S 9SI/+ ON !IR RI<T TO OCCUPY PUBLIC P>KS ON ! BASIS ( OBSCURE LEGAL LOOPHOLES1 MAK+ TORTU\S JU/IFICATIONS NO MORE CONV9C+ TO ONLOOK]S ?AN TO ! AU?ORITIES4 ,PEOPLE WANT TO R$RESS ! 9JU/ICES >\ND !M1 BUT 9 A HI<LY REGULAT$ & CONTROLL$ SOCIETY1 !RE'S SO LITTLE !Y FEEL 5TITL$ TO DO4 

,SOLNIT MAY BE RI<T ?AT ! EMPHASIS ON NONVIOL5CE WAS ESS5TIAL TO ! 9ITIAL SUCCESS ( ,OCCUPY ,WALL ,/REET3 PEOPLE WANT SOME ASSURANCE ?AT !Y'RE NOT GO+ TO HAVE TO LEAVE !IR COM=T ZONES1 & ?AT :AT !Y'RE DO+ WILL MAKE S5SE TO EV]YONE ELSE4 ,BUT IT (T5 HAPP5S ?AT ! PRECONDITIONS = A MOVEM5T BECOME LIMITATIONS ?AT IT MU/ TRANSC5D3 ,OCCUPY ,OAKL& REMA9$ VIBRANT AFT] O!R OCCUPATIONS DI$ D[N BECAUSE IT EMBRAC$ A DIV]SITY ( TACTICS1 NOT DESPITE ?IS4 ,LIKEWISE1 IF WE REALLY WANT TO TRANS=M \R SOCIETY1 WE CAN'T REMA9 =EV] )9 ! N>R[ B\ND>IES ( :AT ! AU?ORITIES DEEM LEGITIMATE3 WE HAVE TO EXT5D ! RANGE ( :AT PEOPLE FEEL 5TITL$ TO DO4 

,ALL ! M$IA COV]AGE 9 ! WORLD WON'T HELP US IF WE FAIL TO CREATE A SITUATION 9 :I* PEOPLE FEEL 5TITL$ TO DEF5D !MSELVES & EA* O!R4 

,LEGITIMIZ+ RESI/ANCE1 EXP&+ :AT IS ACCEPTABLE1 IS NOT GO+ TO BE POPUL> AT FIR/--IT NEV] IS1 PRECISELY BECAUSE ( ! TAUTOLOGY SET =? ABOVE4 ,IT TAKES CONSI/5T EF=T TO %IFT ! DISC\RSE3 CALMLY FAC+ \TRAGE & RECRIM9ATIONS1 HUMBLY EMPHASIZ+ \R [N CRIT]IA = :AT IS LEGITIMATE4 

,:E!R WE ?9K ?IS *ALL5GE IS WOR?:ILE DEP5DS ON \R LONG-T]M GOALS4 ,AS ,DAVID ,GRAEB] HAS PO9T$ \T1 CONFLICTS OV] GOALS (T5 MASQU]ADE AS MORAL & /RATEGIC DIFF]5CES4 ,MAK+ NONVIOL5CE ! C5TRAL T5ET ( \R MOVEM5T MAKES GOOD S5SE IF \R LONG-T]M GOAL IS NOT TO *ALL5GE ! FUNDAM5TAL /RUCTURE ( \R SOCIETY1 BUT TO BUILD A MASS MOVEM5T ?AT CAN WIELD LEGITIMACY AS DEF9$ BY ! P[]FUL--& ?AT IS PREP>$ TO POLICE ITSELF ACCORD+LY4 ,BUT IF WE REALLY WANT TO TRANS=M \R SOCIETY1 WE HAVE TO TRANS=M ! DISC\RSE ( LEGITIMACY1 NOT JU/ POSITION \RSELVES WELL )9 IT AS IT CURR5TLY EXI/S4 ,IF WE FOCUS ONLY ON ! LATT]1 WE WILL F9D ?AT T]RA9 SLIPP+ CON/ANTLY FROM B5EA? \R FEET1 & ?AT MANY ( ?OSE ) :OM WE NE$ TO F9D COMMON CAUSE CAN NEV] %>E IT ) US4 

,IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE /RATEGIC DEBATES3 %IFT+ AWAY FROM ! DISC\RSE ( NONVIOL5CE DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE TO 5DORSE EV]Y S+LE BROK5 W9D[ AS A GOOD IDEA44 ,BUT IT ONLY OB/RUCTS !SE DEBATES :5 DOGMATI/S 9SI/ ?AT ALL :O DO NOT %>E !IR GOALS & ASSUMPTIONS--NOT TO SAY !IR CLASS 9T]E/S6--HAVE NO /RATEGIC S5SE4 ,IT'S ALSO NOT /RATEGIC TO FOCUS ON DELEGITIMIZ+ EA* O!R'S EF=TS RA!R ?AN COORD9AT+ TO ACT TOGE!R :]E WE OV]LAP4 ,?AT'S ! PO9T ( AFFIRM+ A DIV]SITY ( TACTICS3 TO BUILD A MOVEM5T ?AT HAS SPACE = ALL ( US1 YET LEAVES NO SPACE = DOM9ATION & SIL5C+--A 0PEOPLE P[]0 ?AT CAN BO? EXP& & 9T5SIFY4  
  

0,?OSE :O SAID ?AT ! ,EGYPTIAN REVOLUTION WAS PEACEFUL DID NOT SEE ! HORRORS ?AT POLICE VISIT$ UPON US1 NOR DID !Y SEE ! RESI/ANCE & EV5 =CE ?AT REVOLUTION>IES US$ AGA9/ ! POLICE TO DEF5D !IR T5TATIVE OCCUPATIONS & SPACES3 BY ! GOV]NM5T'S [N ADMISSION1 #ii POLICE /ATIONS W]E PUT TO ! TOR*1 ?\S&S ( POLICE C>S W]E DE/ROY$1 & ALL ( ! RUL+ P>TY'S (FICES >\ND ,EGYPT W]E BURN$ D[N4 ,B>RICADES W]E ]ECT$1 (FIC]S W]E BEAT5 BACK & PELT$ ) ROCKS EV5 AS !Y FIR$ TE> GAS & LIVE AMMUNITION ON US 444 IF ! /ATE HAD GIV5 UP IMM$IATELY WE W\LD HAVE BE5 OV]JOY$1 BUT AS !Y S\<T TO ABUSE US1 BEAT US1 KILL US1 WE KNEW ?AT !RE WAS NO O!R OPTION ?AN TO FI<T BACK40 

- ,SOLID>ITY /ATEM5T FROM ,CAIRO TO ,OCCUPY ,WALL ,/REET1 ,OCTOB] #b#d1 #baa  
  

.<#a.> ,WITNESS H[ POLICE (FIC]S R\T9ELY *>GE >RE/EES ) :ATEV] VIOL5CE !Y HAVE 9FLICT$ UPON !M4 

.<#b.> ,= :AT IT'S WOR?1 ?\< ,SOLNIT ALLEGES ?AT WE 0DON'T SEEM PREP>$ TO ACT10 ! AU?ORS ( 0,DE> ,OCCUPI]S0 & ?IS TEXT >E ALL LIFELONG P>TICIPANTS 9 SOCIAL MOVEM5TS1 MO/ ( :OM LIVE WELL BEL[ ! POV]TY L9E F> FROM LIB]AL ,MECCAS LIKE H] ,SAN ,FRANCISCO4 ,?IS SUBJECT /RIKES V]Y CLOSE TO HOME = US3 SEV]AL ( US HAVE FAC$ TRUMP$ UP RIOT+ *>GES--ONE = ACT+ AS A PUBLIC LIAISON DUR+ AN ANTI-G5TRIFICATION DEMON/RATION1 ANO!R = BE+ TACKL$ BY POLICE DUR+ A /REET P>ADE--& MANY ( US HAVE DE> FRI5DS 9 PRISON4 ,WE *OOSE TO WRITE ANONYM\SLY 9 P>T BECAUSE1 NOT BE+ PR(ESSIONAL J\RNALI/S1 WE CAN'T C\NT ON EMPLOY]S NOT TO DISCRIM9ATE AGA9/ US = \R POLITICAL BELIEFS1 & ALSO BECAUSE !SE BELIEFS ATTRACT MORE HO/ILE ATT5TION FROM ! AU?ORITIES ?AN ?OSE ( ,SOLNIT OR ,H$GES1 BUT ABOVE ALL BECAUSE WE DON'T SEEK TO F\ND C>E]S OR P]SONAL FAME ON \R EF=TS TO *ANGE ! WORLD4 

7,S\RCE3 ,RETRIEV$ ON #b#b-#h-#a#f FROM HTTPS3_/_/CRIME?9C4COM_/#b#a#b_/#c_/#b#g_/!-ILLEGITIMACY-(-VIOL5CE-!-VIOL5CE-(-LEGITIMACY47 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #a#d1 #bbb 3 ,! ,ILLEGITIMACY ( ,VIOL5CE1 ! ,VIOL5CE ( ,LEGITIMACY -- ,ADD$4 

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