I believe that peace is an important goal, but part of that belief is understanding that a violent and unjust system will often give rise to more violence in response. The blame for this should be placed on the violent system.

"Nonviolence" and "peaceful" as descriptions of protest refer to people practicing moral values that they espouse, but which nobody else seems to aspire to. Those descriptors do not mean that we can delegitimize any protest that someone slaps the label "violent" on.

Justice is very hard work. And the necessity never seems to end. Like rowing a boat upriver. But we never can hold onto peace unless justice is the foundation.