Why is the idea of force always associated with violence and aggression? There is a whole field and ideology that utilizes nonviolent action to enact change that supports social and environmental justice. This course will examine the history, theories, techniques, and effectiveness of nonviolent action and civil disobedience.
We will explore a variety of topics, movements, and skills through lecture, films, readings, speakers, and discussions. The speakers will include nonviolent activists who've engaged in civilian disobedience themselves. The course will also include training in civil disobedience and direct nonviolent action. These will hopefully include training in direct action planning, support skills, basics of blockades, and introduction to climbing techniques. Through these trainings, you will learn the strategies for effective nonviolent protests and action.
In the spirit of experiential learning, we are open to the direction of the course based on student needs and interests. The vision and hope is to educate and inspire students to use what they've learned to support their own causes and make that "change you seek in the world," (Gandhi, one of the few well-known nonviolent activists).
Courtney is currently a graduate student in Conflict Transformation and Sustainable Development focusing on social movements, human rights accompaniment, Third Party Nonviolent Intervention, and civil disobedience. She has previously worked as a Family Support Worker and with victims of domestic violence in the Twin Cities and victims of war in Sri Lanka. She has also been involved in the restorative justice movement as a facilitator and Healthcare is a Human Rights campaign in the state of Vermont. Courtney enjoys engaging others in academic settings and learning from other's ideas. For the past year, she has been working with Nonviolent Peaceforce, Witness for Peace, and the New Tactics Project in Human Rights.
Robyn Skrebes is currently the regional organizer for Witness for Peace Upper Midwest. She is also one of the founding members of Child Protection International, which works to end child abduction in Southern Sudan. She also sits on the board of directors for Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition. Her experience is in organizing, training, and activism. Robyn is extremely passionate about documenting her work and experiences through photographs.
