It is that time to pause and think about the incredible life and contributions of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., oftentimes referred to as MLK. He was named Michael King Jr. after his father — who later changed both their names to Martin Luther, in honor of the religious reformer. Like many icons, … Continue reading »
nonviolence
There’s something happening here…
and yes, what it is ain’t exactly clear. Tomorrow afternoon, the Academic Senate of the University of California, Berkeley will convene a Special Division Meeting, in response to a request from 47 named faculty. The agenda consists of a resolution authored by three faculty which is formally a vote of no confidence in the top … Continue reading »
What is nonviolence?
Having taught nonviolence at Berkeley for over a quarter of a century, I feel called to respond to the judgment of Chancellor Birgenau and UC police Capt. Margo Bennett that the students who linked arms to keep police from dismantling a tent outside Sproul Hall on November 9th were, as Chancellor Birgenau put it, “not … Continue reading »
Pepper spray
The images are horrifying. A group of UC Davis students sits on the ground, echoing generations of predecessors engaged in nonviolent civil disobedience. A police officer displays a canister to the students standing around, then turns and sprays down at the seated students, walking back and forth, orange liquid streaming out. A second officer comes … Continue reading »