Put your bodies upon the wheels

Essay by hobbs4848fbUniversity, Bachelor'sA-, February 2005

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During The 1960's many protests and revolts took place. Activist leaders started out with nonviolent protests and ended up battling police and administrations violently. Although one would recommend nonviolent protests over violent protests, during the 60's violent revolts were more common and more effective.

In October 1967, 200 Kent State students marched in a nonviolent protest at the Pentagon. The two leaders of the Kent State activists were Howie Emmer and Jim Powrie. Powrie stated that his time with the revolt at the Pentagon was,"romantic and terrifying." He was a sympathetic man who wanted to protest nonviolently. In his approach by nonviolent protesting he believed that war would end. Nonviolent protest like this one was common in the 1960's but did little good. Politicians just turned the other cheek and went about there business. Powrie's counterpart Emmer had his own plans to end the war in Vietnam. Emmer was an activist that thought that violence would change minds on the people in the office rather than friendly protesting.

Thus, he charged into a crowd of soldiers "championed active resistance against the nation's civil and military leaders." This violent approach to protesting was more effective and gave activist such as Howie Emmer and his followers power in future revolts. The government's lack of recognizing friendly protest made students and activist leaders turn to violent revolts. Students in the 60's felt that the only way to be heard was to attack those that didn't listen, regardless of their beliefs. Government was out and marijuana, acid and protests were in.

Another nonviolent protest was at the University of Chicago led by the Students for Democratic Societies (SDS). These students protested a three day sit-in because of the university's decision to give their grades and class rankings to the Selective Service. Although no...