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Stand Up and Fight Back: Tactics and Strategies for Effective Creative Activism

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Do you want to get more active and skilled at making social and political change?

People around the world have used civil disobedience through non-violent direct action to fight for rights, freedom, and justice. This free 3-hour workshop at The Wiltern, taught by two of the nation’s leading nonviolent practitioners, will explore strategies and best on-the-ground practices for successful nonviolent action.

  • Identify what makes an action or movement effective 
  • Explore the history of nonviolent struggles 
  • Learn legal and safety skills, and how to de-escalate conflict 

Reverend James Lawson, a leading theoretician and tactician of nonviolence within the Civil Rights Movement who was instrumental in training Martin Luther King Jr. and thousands of US civil rights activists, will join Nadine Bloch, training director for Beautiful Trouble, an organization that promotes creative strategic activism.

Full video of the event will be available here following the program at The Wiltern.

This event is free and open to the public. RSVP encouraged. Doors open at 2 p.m. Seating is first come, first served. RSVP does not guarantee entry.

About Reverend James Lawson

Reverend James Lawson, a close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a leading architect of the nonviolent campaigns during the civil rights movement, has devoted his life to championing human rights and social change for all, including the rights of women and LGBT communities, using the nonviolent philosophy practiced by Mahatma Gandhi. Reverend Lawson served as pastor at Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles for 25 years, and in recent years he has been a visiting professor at UCLA, Cal State Northridge, and Vanderbilt University.

About Nadine Bloch

Nadine Bloch is an innovative artist, nonviolent practitioner, political organizer, direct-action trainer, and puppetista, who combines the principles and strategies of nonviolent civil disobedience with creative use of the arts in cultural resistance and public protest. She has worked with diverse organizations, including Nonviolence International, Greenpeace, The Ruckus Society, The Labor Heritage Foundation, Health GAP, Housing Works and the Bread & Puppet Theater. Her work has been featured nationally and locally, in newspapers including The Washington Post and magazines from Ms. to Time. She is a contributor to the books Beautiful Trouble: A Toolbox for Revolution (2012, O/R Press) and We Are Many, Reflections on Movement Strategy from Occupation to Liberation (2012, AK Press).

Attending this program?

Location: The Wiltern3790 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010

Ticketing: This event is free and open to the public. RSVP encouraged. Doors open at 2 p.m. Seating is first come, first served. RSVP does not guarantee entry.

Parking and transportation: Parking in The Wiltern's private underground garage beneath the theater is $15 and can be reserved in advance. You do not need to go outside to get in line: a VIP hallway connects the garage directly to the venue. Access to parking begins at 2 p.m.

There are several other parking lots in the area. The most convenient lot is the Ralphs parking structure located south and east of the theater on Oxford street. Enter only through the northern entrance, not the Ralphs entrance.

The Metro Purple Line stops right across the street from The Wiltern and connects with Downtown L.A., Union Station, and Metro Red Line (to Hollywood). Metro Purple Line operates until midnight on weekdays (Sunday to Thursday) and 2 a.m. on weekends. Please check metro.net for the most up to date information.

About the Wiltern Theater

The venue accommodates 1850 people, making it one of the largest theaters in Los Angeles. (Note:  Unfortunately, given the age of the building, it does not have an elevator. ADA seats are available on the main floor.)

Among the items not permitted are: bottles, cans, weapons, lasers, back packs, posters, outside food and beverage items, stickers, cameras with detachable lenses, audio/video recording devices, tripods/monopods, alcohol, drugs and illegal substances, large bags or backpacks inside the venue. See the list of restricted items.

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