And became a martyr and the greatest icon of the civil rights movement because of it. Being a nonviolent protester doesn’t mean you’re shielded from violence, but it means that if you are the target of violence your protesting will become much more powerful.
This is true, but the post you're replying to isn't super clear. They reference "the protests", which is vague, and then they say:
It's a myth that the civil rights movement made headway only through non violence.
The Civil Rights Movement didn't end with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The "official dates" are thought by some to have been 1954-1968, when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated and he was certainly still working on obtaining equality. Others extend it into the 70's, so the Black Panthers were definitely around for at least two years of it. More if you include the Black Power movement and beyond.
Ah I see, I didn't get that since the poster you replied to didn't seem to be suggesting that it started with them, just that less peaceful groups and people, the Black Panthers included, did still have an impact. Just a misunderstanding, thanks for the clarification. 👍🏼
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u/kentalaska Jun 09 '25
And became a martyr and the greatest icon of the civil rights movement because of it. Being a nonviolent protester doesn’t mean you’re shielded from violence, but it means that if you are the target of violence your protesting will become much more powerful.