Waging Nonviolence

New Jersey's Break the Bonds campaign adds pressure on states to divest from Israel Palestine solidarity organizations in New Jersey launched the latest expression of a growing national campaign to divest from Israel Bonds.

Palestine solidarity organizations in New Jersey launched the latest expression of what has become a growing national campaign to halt investments in Israel Bonds.

Regenerative economics as a pathway forward for humanity Erin Axelrod of the worker-owned cooperative LIFT Economy on practicing a vision of nonviolent economics.

Erin Axelrod of the worker-owned cooperative LIFT Economy on practicing a vision of nonviolent economics.

What fantasy stories teach us about defeating authoritarianism Fantasy worlds like Harry Potter help us understand that the ending we hope for depends on how we show up in the uncertain middle chapters.

Fantasy worlds like Harry Potter and Star Wars help us understand that the ending we hope for depends on how we show up in the uncertain middle chapters.

Women play an overlooked but essential role in peacebuilding Women peacebuilders deserve funding, protection against violence and to have their alternative visions of peace taken seriously.

Women peacebuilders deserve funding for their efforts, protection against violence and to have their alternative visions of peace taken seriously.

A new youth-led lawsuit is challenging Trump's fossil fuel orders In Lightiser v. Trump, 22 young people are using the protections of the Constitution to demand a livable future.

In Lightiser v. Trump, 22 young people are using the protections of the Constitution to demand a livable future. #youthvtrump

Campaign Nonviolence Action Days in challenging times The Campaign Nonviolence 2025 calls-to-action engage people in powerful interventions to the violence we see in our world right now.

The Campaign Nonviolence 2025 calls-to-action engage people in powerful interventions to the violence we see in our world right now.

How movements can make the abundance agenda work for everyone Politicians want to make it easier to build things. Movements can help ensure this process serves the public — not billionaires.

With smart strategy, organizing and action, movements can harness the momentum to build things faster and ensure it serves the public — not just billionaires.

What it means to stay open-hearted in a wounded world Canticle Farm co-founder and Anne Symens-Bucher on grief, forgiveness and the wisdom of environmental activist Joanna Macy.

Canticle Farm co-founder and Anne Symens-Bucher on grief, forgiveness and the wisdom of environmental activist Joanna Macy.

Lessons from a historic act of disarmament in Kurdistan After decades of armed struggle, the PKK is laying down its weapons and beginning a new nonviolent chapter in the Kurdish movement.

After decades of armed struggle, the PKK is laying down its weapons and beginning a new nonviolent chapter in the Kurdish independence movement.

Violence de-escalation trainings are key to making movements stronger As provocateurs try to discredit protests, having civilians trained in de-escalation gives people power a greater chance of success.

As provocateurs try to discredit protests, having civilians trained in the skills of de-escalation gives people power a greater chance of success.

No ordinary solidarity — inside Chicago’s hunger strike for Gaza For 18 days, six members of JVP-Chicago led a hunger strike that helped re-center Gaza in the public discourse and pressure elected officials.

For 18 days, six members of @jvp-chicago.bsky.social led a hunger strike that helped re-center Gaza in the public discourse and pressure elected officials.

Why we need a solidarity economy now As the US face historic cuts to the social safety net, local economic alternatives can meet basic needs and provide opportunities to organize.

As the US faces historic cuts to the social safety net, local economic alternatives can meet basic needs and provide opportunities to organize for a better future.

How to create a justice system rooted in care Policing is morally and emotionally unsustainable. To break the cycle of harm we must begin with care and systemic solutions.

Policing is morally and emotionally unsustainable. To break the cycle of harm we must begin with care for officers and communities traumatized by police violence.

Why faith leaders are standing up to the largest pro-Israel Christian lobby A interfaith campaign is challenging one of the most powerful groups driving unconditional support for Israel and the genocide in Gaza.

A interfaith campaign is confronting one of the most powerful groups driving unconditional support for Israel and the genocide in Gaza with spiritual resistance.

The founding myth of the United States The celebration of war on the Fourth of July obscures the contributions that a decade of nonviolent resistance made to the founding of our country.

The celebration of war on the Fourth of July obscures the contributions that a decade of nonviolent resistance made to the founding of our country.

Why movements need to learn to fly like bees and thread like spiders For insights into building a broad-based pro-democracy movement take inspiration from nature.

For insights into building a broad-based pro-democracy movement take inspiration from nature, writes John Paul Lederach. wagingnonviolence.org/2025/07/why-...

Fierce vulnerability and the shift from harm to healing Nonviolence trainer and educator Kazu Haga discusses his new book and the need to bring trauma healing into the practice of nonviolence.

Nonviolence trainer and educator Kazu Haga discusses his new book and the need to bring trauma healing into the practice of nonviolence.

This new tool can help movements chart a path to victory The relative power matrix gives organizers a more sophisticated way to think about shifting the balance of power in their favor.

The relative power matrix is a new strategy tool that gives organizers a more sophisticated way to think about shifting the balance of power in their favor.

Is Trump co-governing with the billionaire class? Politicians regularly partner with business, when they should collaborate with grassroots movements.

Politicians regularly partner with economic elites. What would it mean if elected officials actually governed hand-in-hand with social movements as partners instead?

Lessons in courage, care and collective action from the international accompaniment movement Developed in Central America during the 1980s, accompaniment strategies show how movements can reduce attacks and resist state repression.

Developed in Central America during the civil wars of the 1980s, accompaniment strategies show how movements can reduce authoritarian attacks and resist state repression.

50 years after the Vietnam War, the legacy of nonviolent resistance lives on At the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War in Ho Chi Minh City, U.S. activists reflected on what the movement can teach us today.

At the 50th anniversary celebration of the end of the Vietnam War in Ho Chi Minh City, U.S. antiwar activists drew lessons for stopping the war on Gaza.

Trump's Manufactured Crisis and the Urgency of Strategic Nonviolence The challenge for movements now is not just to oppose Trump’s naked power grab, but to refuse to play the role he’s cast us in.

This is a very sharp analysis of what's happening in LA and what the movement can do to make the repression backfire.

The movement against overtourism is sweeping Southern Europe A growing coalition in Portugal, Italy and Spain is challenging the harmful effects of mass tourism — and calling for a new economic model.

A growing coalition across Southern Europe is challenging the many harmful effects of mass tourism on housing, public services and the environment — and calling for a new economic model.

More carnival than warzone — the LA protests aren’t what you’ve heard LA protesters are using humor, joy and patriotism to oppose Trump’s immigration raids, but the battle over the narrative must still be won.

LA protesters are using creativity, humor, joy and even patriotism to oppose Trump’s immigration raids, but the battle over the narrative must still be won. #stopdeportations #abolishice wagingnonviolence.org/2025/06/los-...

A line chart with a blue line showing a large growth of protest events from Jan 20 - May 31, 2025, and a green line showing the relatively modest growth of protest events during the same period in 2017.

My team and I at the Crowd Counting Consortium (@djpressman@bsky.social, Soha Hammam, & Chris Shay) have a new piece out: wagingnonviolence.org/2025/06/amer.... In it, we show that through May 2025, the size and scale of anti-Trump protests have dwarfed those in 2017. 🧵

American Spring? How nonviolent protest in the US is accelerating Contrary to conventional wisdom, anti-Trump protests this year have dwarfed 2017 in size, and they have been extraordinarily peaceful.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, the size and scale of anti-Trump protests this year have dwarfed those in 2017, and they have been extraordinarily peaceful. #NoKings #HandsOff

Timely lessons for keeping people safe in the streets As Trump looks for a pretense to increase repression, a new training guide explains how peacekeepers reduce fear and build solidarity.

As Trump looks for a pretense to increase repression, a new training guide explains how peacekeepers reduce fear and build solidarity.

Nonviolence starts with trusting our own inner wisdom Systems thinker Priyanka Sharma discusses the power of trust in one's self and the strengths of matriarchal societies.

Systems thinker Priyanka Sharma discusses the power of trust in one's self and the strengths of matriarchal societies.

Where is the AI safety movement? For all the disruption AI is bringing, there is no movement holding it to account. Here are five key ingredients needed for mobilization.

For all the disruption AI is bringing, there is no movement holding it to account. Here are five key ingredients needed for a mobilization to make headway.

The real reason Musk retreated Elon Musk’s departure from DOGE was a massive, unplanned retreat by the richest person on the planet due to relentless noncooperation.

Elon Musk’s departure from DOGE was a massive, unplanned retreat by the richest person on the planet due to relentless noncooperation.