Civil rights leader brings message of peace to city

A former colleague of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a South Sound message of peace Saturday, days after a protest in Olympia turned violent and less than three months after post-concert rioting at The Evergreen State College.

The Rev. James Lawson, 79, whom King once described as "the leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence in the world," spoke to about 100 students Saturday at Evergreen.

Students were interested in hearing Lawson's thoughts on nonviolent versus violent protest, as well as his reaction to recent events.

Lawson said violent protest has never accomplished major social change, but he understands why some groups resort to violence.

"All of us in the U.S. are weened on the efficacy of violence," he said, adding that he grew up playing cops and robbers, and others learn from violent images on TV or in films.

About some protest movements, he said: "They are not acting out well-thought-out, wrestled-with theories of social change. The are simply reflecting destructive elements in American society."

One student asked if the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front could be considered nonviolent because they destroy property with no intention of hurting people.

Lawson said none of the major theorists of nonviolence, such as Mahatma Gandhi or King, would consider property destruction a nonviolent act.

He acknowledged that U.S. history is filled with moments in which people have resorted to violence, such as the 1992 riots in Los Angeles that followed the acquittal of police officers shown on video beating Rodney King. Yet ultimately it did more damage to that community rather than produce "serious urban change."

After Lawson spoke, third-year students Hannah Eklund and Katy Kuchno said they were pleased to hear his message because the violent protests have hurt the image of Olympia and Evergreen. Kuchno said Evergreen is more than just a "hippie school where they overturn cars at hip-hop concerts."

They also said they were frustrated by the recent May Day protest.

"What did that have to do with immigration and nonviolence?" Eklund said. "We all have our opinions, but we don't believe in throwing rocks at banks."

Rolf Boone is a reporter at The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5403 or rboone@theolympian.com.