Join The King Center & World as We Commemorate the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

PRINCIPLE ONE

Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people.

• It is active nonviolent resistance to evil.
• It is aggressive spiritually, mentally and emotionally.

PRINCIPLE TWO

Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding.

• The end result of nonviolence is redemption and reconciliation.
• The purpose of nonviolence is the creation of the Beloved Community

PRINCIPLE THREE

Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice not people.

• Nonviolence recognizes that evildoers are also victims and are not evil people.
• The nonviolent resister seeks to defeat evil not people.

PRINCIPLE FOUR

Nonviolence holds that suffering for a cause can educate and transform people and societies.

• Nonviolence accepts suffering without retaliation.
• Unearned suffering for a cause is redemptive and has tremendous educational and transforming possibilities.

PRINCIPLE FIVE

Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate.

• Nonviolence resists violence of the spirit as well as the body.
• Nonviolent love is spontaneous, unmotivated, unselfish and creative.

PRINCIPLE SIX

Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice.

• The nonviolent resister has deep faith that justice will eventually win.
• Nonviolence believes that God is a God of justice.

The Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change are based on Dr. King’s nonviolent campaigns and teachings that emphasize love in action:

• Information Gathering
• Education
• Personal Commitment
• Negotiation
• Direct Action
• Reconciliation

The Beloved Community, as described by Dr. King, is a global vision, in which all people can share in the wealth of the earth. In the Beloved Community, poverty, hunger and homelessness will not be tolerated because international standards of human decency will not allow it.

Racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry and prejudice will be replaced by an all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood.

In the Beloved Community, international disputes will be resolved by peaceful conflict-resolution and reconciliation of adversaries, instead of military power. Love and trust will triumph over fear and hatred. Peace with justice will prevail over war and military conflict.