The Non-Violent Army.

• Author: Glick, Ted
• Position: Protesters - Brief Article

For those of us who believe that fundamental change is needed in the United States and the world, there is a new development that we all need to welcome, understand, support and work with: the non-violent army.

The protests in Washington, DC, against the IMF and the World Bank bore witness to this historic development. Many thousands of people from across the country followed up the November 30, 1999 disruption of the World Trade Organization in Seattle by focusing the attention of the world on these two linchpins of the world's corporate-dominated, destructive, economic and financial system.

A traditional military army is made up at its base primarily of young people. This is true of the non-violent army of this first decade of the 21st century; fully 80-85% or more of those who blockaded the streets of downtown DC were under 25.

A traditional army is organized using platoons, companies, battalions, brigades and divisions. The non-violent army is organized on the basis of affinity groups, flying squads, clusters and slices.

A traditional army is trained in techniques of offense and defense, expecting to take and inflict casualties. The non-violent army is learning the techniques of civil disobedience, jail solidarity and legal issues, while also expecting to face tear gas, pepper spray, clubs, rubber bullets, horses, arrests or beatings. It makes no plans for the infliction of casualties on anybody.

Soldiers in traditional armies have uniforms and equipment appropriate to their situation. The non-violent army uses sneakers, boots, vinegarsoaked bandanas, eye goggles, water bottles, ponchos and an occasional gas mask.

Traditional armies have communications systems in place for those times when engaged in battle. The non-violent army uses cell phones and walkie talkies, bicyclists and runners on foot, and a tactical operations group to re-deploy flying squads and clusters as needed.

Traditional armies have weapons of destruction. The non-violent army has weapons of the heart, spirit, mind and organization.

Twice in four and a half months this nonviolent army mobilized its forces, and it will do so again. Throughout the days of preparation in DC leading up to the April 16 mass disruption, in evening "spokes council" meetings attended by many hundreds of people, the leaders of this non-violent army emphasized that as significant as this one battle was, there was a critical need to build an ongoing movement.

This is a new type of movement, in...