Acts of violence Quote by Howard Zinn
““Look for some peace organization to join. It will look small at first, and pitiful and helpless, but that’s how movements start. That’s how the movement against the Vietnam War started. It started with handfuls of people who thought they were helpless, thought they were powerless. But remember, this power of the people on top depends on the obedience of the people below. When people stop obeying, they have no power. When workers go on strike, huge corporations lose their power. When consumers boycott, huge business establishments have to give in. When soldiers refuse to fight, as so many soldiers did in Vietnam, so many deserters, so many fraggings, acts of violence by enlisted men against officers in Vietnam, B-52 pilots refusing to fly bombing missions anymore, war can’t go on. When enough soldiers refuse, the government has to decide we can’t continue. So, yes, people have the power. If they begin to organize, if they protest, if they create a strong enough movement, they can change things.””
About This Quote
Source Book: A People’s History of the United States, 1980
Grassroots movements start small but can overturn powerful institutions.
In simple terms: Small groups can create big change.
Organize and act to challenge authority.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- protests
- boycotts
- strikes
- military dissent
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What small actions can you take today?
- How can we sustain momentum?
Change requires sustained effort and risk.