Apartheid Quote by Kerry Kennedy
“When I started working in human rights, Eastern Europe was communist, South Africa was under apartheid and South Korea had military rule. All the changes have come about not because of the militaries or government but because small groups of people spoke out against what was unfair and unjust.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Human Rights Forum, 1990s, Various locations
Small groups of courageous people can drive societal change more than armies or governments.
In simple terms: People can change societies.
Key Takeaway
Empower grassroots activism.
Themes
human rights
activism
social change
political reform
civil society
Mood
inspiring
determined
Type
historical
motivational
When to use this quote
- protests
- community organizing
- policy advocacy
- public awareness campaigns
Key Concepts
collective action
moral courage
grassroots movements
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you support local activists?
- What barriers do grassroots movements face?
A Different Perspective
Change also needs institutional support and resources.
![“We [ with Brian Mulroney and Rajiv Gandhi] went to the meeting in Canada [the 1987 Vancouver CHOGM] and I said to them there that sanctions weren't working; they were just being busted. And it did seem to me that one way that we could bring the apartheid regime down would be if we did mount an…” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/66c/bob-hawke-7891_apartheid_we-with-brian-mulroney-and-rajiv-gandhi_109260.jpg)
