September 18: Non-violent Protest

On 18 September 2007, Buddhist monks joined the anti-government protests against the Burmese military junta. These non-violent protests drew significant attention to the plight of Burmese citizens who lived under an oppressive military government.

The protests began three days earlier and were sparked by a jump in fuel prices by 66% after fuel subsidies were removed. The price for compressed natural gas jumped 500% in less than a week. The ruling junta reacted harshly to the protests by arresting and detailing hundreds of individuals. However, once the monks left the monasteries on September 18, the protests were tolerated until another crackdown on September 26.

In 2008, the a documentary using footage smuggled out of Burma was released. Burma VJ: Reporter i et lukket land told the story of the monks involvement with the protests. The film was nominated for an Academy Award. In Burma VJ and other images of the protesting monks, you can see that they are surrounded by lay Buddhists. These lay people are marching beside their monks in order to protect them from the Burmese military.

Non-violent protest has a long history dating back to at least 470 BCE when Mohism (墨) rivaled Confucianism (儒). Developed by the followers of Mo Tzu, they were committed to a harmonious social order and condemned unprovoked military aggression.

On 26 January 1930, when the Salt March, Mahatma Gandhi used non-violence as tactic to protest the monopoly the British had on salt in India. Other non-violent protests eventually lead to a change in both British and world views toward Indian Independence.

During World War II, both the Danish and Norwegian governments adopted non-violent obstructionism as the technique to fight against occupation after their countries were invaded by the Nazis.

The American Civil rights movement also adopted non-violence as a political strategy. For example, Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her bus seat to a white man eventually lead to the desegregation of buses in Montgomery, Alabama.

–Steven L. Berg, PhD

Photo Credit: Chanel News Asia

Mahatma Gandhi

Posted on September 18, 2013 by stevenlberg
Categories: World History: Ancient, World History: Modern
Tags: Buddhism, Burma, China, Denmark, films, Noray, protest, United States

9 Responses

Jacob J. Mulcahy-Miller says:

18 September 2012 at 9:46 am

This memories of the monk that protested by burning himself alive. What country was that in? Also, how similiar would there teachings be to one another? Would the Myanmar monks aproved of that kind of protest?

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Courtney Kihn says:

18 September 2012 at 3:14 pm

As I read this moment, I was reminded of a famous video clip of a man attempting to peacefully block the pathway of a line of tanks. After doing some research, I discovered that the brave man stood up for his beliefs on June 5, 1989 in Tiananmen Square, located in Beijing, China. For a short moment, the rebel was able to cause a halt of the tank movement until he was reportedly taken away by two men. Although he was not able to stop the movement all together, he left a lasting mark and was even included in TIME Magazine’s “Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century”. If done correctly, peaceful protest has the ability be more effective than violence. Here is a YouTube link to the video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcvaSnmqZ40&feature=related

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Michael T. Pietron says:

18 September 2012 at 3:25 pm

What I believe is interesting about events like these is that it shows that in certain parts of the world where freedom of speech is limited and violence is at a high level there are still people brave and willing enough to put their ideas and beliefs out for others to become influenced by. They set an example and helped spread the actions of trying to peacefully reason with others rather than igniting more trouble. The connection that I can make with these protests in relation to American history would be the protests held through the 1960’s to help stop the war in Vietnam.

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Evan DeFoe says:

18 September 2012 at 5:54 pm

These forms of protest against an oppressive government are similar to the events that helped create the United States.

This day, in 1776, during the American Revolution, George Washington reports to the Continental Congress, lead by John Hancock, on the Battle of Harlem Heights. During the battle, Captain Thomas Knowlton lured the British forces into combat. With Knowlton in the frontal assault,
a second force were sent out and attacked the British’s right flank, forcing them into retreat. Both sides lost about 70 troops, including Knowlton. This victory boosted confidence and moral in the Continental army.

Prior to the war itself, the Patriots also utilized nonviolent forms of protest that sparked the idea of independence. For example, the Boston Tea Party, where a group of Patriots dressed as Native Americans dumped cargo of British tea into the Chester river to protest the Tea Act.

Link to the letter:
http://oll.libertyfund.org/?option=com_staticxt&staticfile=show.php%3Ftitle=2402&chapter=227060&layout=html&Itemid=27

-Evan DeFoe

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Sean Pike says:

18 September 2012 at 6:14 pm

Today in China there are protests ranging from non-violent to very violent about the Japanese occupancy of the Senkaku islands. These islands have been under dispute by Japan, China, and Taiwan for many years.

Actions have included throwing objects at the Japanese embassy, lecturing foreigners for their nations alliance with Japan, and even smashing the cars of Japanese residents.

Today actually has a special significance to China’s distaste for the Japanese. Today is the 81st anniversary of the Mukden Incident, in which a Japanese owned railway in Manchuria was dynamited. The Japanese blamed China. This kicked off the second Sino-Japanese war. The actual party responsible for the damage is unknown, but it is believed that it was set-up by Japanese militarists to justify a war.

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Rachael Reister says:

18 September 2012 at 11:17 pm

Today in history , in the year 1763, President George Washington made a monumental step in making a symbol for our government. He created a place to lay the Capitol building; the building is in the same place today. As a new country, we didn’t have much to prove or to stand for so the irony of the building is great. As it is today, back then it was a huge stepping stone in creating our fundamental government. As the nation grew and gained power the building continued to stand for the same thing, federal power. What if we didn’t have a place that symbolized such a large part of our government so early on? Would we still appreciate our country’s government even if it wasn’t built so powerful so quickly?

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Tyler Lynch says:

27 September 2012 at 3:52 pm

Non violent protests are an excellent way to get a point across to the government or other group while remaining civil. Such protests often bring about government backlash in the form of violence against the protesters. While we as Americans take for granted the right to protest, it is not a guaranteed right in many nations.
In cases where the government responds to peaceful protests with violence it is because they see the protest as a threat to their regime. In fact, when the government starts the violence it is more likely to provoke the people to use violence next time and begin a total revolution. It has been proven time and time again that by letting the people protest peacefully they are less likely to revolt in the long run and this is a lesson that miliratist regimes should listen to.

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Jalynn Neeely says:

8 December 2012 at 12:06 pm

Mohism was seen as a major rival to Confucianism. In 470 BC-c. 391 BC Mohism was envolved at about the same time as Confucianism, Taoism and Legalism. He was one of the four main philosophic schools during the spring and Autumn period from 770 BC – 480 BC and the warring states period from 479 BC to 221 BC. The Qin Dynasty was united by china in 221 BC. It was adopted legalism as the official government philosophy and suppressed all other philosophy schools.

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Brandon Filipiak says:

9 December 2012 at 9:09 pm

non violent protest in my opinion is the best and the only way to stand up for something that you believe. these non violent protest are the way, because as we see now a days the more violent the act/protest is the more there is a violent response. Unfortunately these violent protest just lead to more violence and larger disputes. As doctor berg has mention one of the greatest non violent protesters was Mahatma Gandhi a man that promoted love, peace, and respect. Apparently many have adopted these tactics and continue to demonstrate the love, peace, and respect because majority of these peaceful non violent protests have ended in the favor of the protestors. Is love, respect, and peace the route to take when looking to make a point or is a violent protest bring about more change? If you ask those with morals and values they will tell you violence is not the way, so respect all and love all and good things will come unto you!

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