Michael McConnell of the American Friends Service Committee leads a discussion with Kathy Kelly of Voices of Creative Nonviolence, Rabbi Brant Rosen of Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in Evanston and Madelyn George, a Columbia College student whose activism is motivated by her Quaker faith. All share a commitment to peace and justice through nonviolence.

Active pacifism is a commitment to nonviolent power that has altered history in amazing ways including: toppling tyrants, stopping occupying armies and upending political systems that withheld human and civil rights. Nonviolent resistance has transformed entire societies, suddenly or gradually, destroying the oppressors’ ability to control people and events.

Pacifism should not be confused with passivity and nonviolence should not be considered a lack of force. Pacifism and nonviolence are powerful forces that gained the independence of India, the overthrow of apartheid in South Africa, the defeat of Nazism in Sweden and Denmark and the achievement of civil, labor, women’s and gay rights in the United States. In addition to marches and protests, active pacifism includes boycotts, blockades, sit-ins, strikes, noncooperation and other forms of withdrawing consent that alters the balance of power and gains a greater measure of peace and justice.

Organized by the AFSC & Columbia College’s Critical Encounters.

Recorded Tuesday, March 09, 2010 at Columbia College Chicago - Collins Hall, Room 602.