Violence is the best way of achieving change

Some people believe that the use of violence is the best way of achieving substantial change. I argue that non-violence is the key to achieve lasting change, because some of the greatest acts of non-violence have led to changes which have not changed and have transformed the lives of many people. However, I understand that violence may have to be used in certain circumstances.

Some figures who thought that change can be achieve through using violence and violent methods were Malcolm X, Camilo Torres and Nelson Mandela. Violence and violent protests only make things bigger, more complicated and only cause more violence. People use violence, because they believe it is required to achieve such change. Furthermore, some point out the fact that violence is used due to non-violence taking too long to cause change.

Malcolm X was an African-American activist who violently protested. He used violence to fight for the rights and freedom of all Black Americans. Although he wanted the same changes as Martin Luther King, he was not remembered the same as him. Malcolm X was an Islamic ex-convict who believed in racial separatism. Racial segregation is where Black Americans live separately from White Americans in the United States of America. X also believed in gaining freedom and rights ‘by any means necessary’. Malcolm X was assassinated on the 21st of February 1965, aged 39 by three members of the ‘Nation of Islam’ after X left this group after being disillusioned by their radical beliefs.

Camilo Torres was a Colombian socialist, teacher at the National University of Colombia and a Roman Catholic Priest. Torres was also a member of the National Liberation Army. The Nation Liberation Army is a terrorist group formed in 1963. They are respon...

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...im. He then went on to use them in his campaign against racial discrimination. On the 28th of August 1963 at a march to Washington DC for racial equality and the end of discrimination, Martin Luther King delivered his “I have a dream” speech. On October 14th 1964 Martin Luther King became the youngest man (age 35) to receive a Nobel Peace Prize for fight racial inequality through non-violence. Martin Luther King was arrested many times during his protests for civil rights, even though he was peaceful and did not retaliate to any violence towards him. Martin Luther King also protested against the Vietnam War. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4th 1968 on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis Tennessee. He was the first African American to be granted a national holiday and ‘Martin Luther King Jr. Day’ is celebrated the third Monday every January.