let me say as I've always said and I
will always continue to say
that riots are socially destructive and
self-defeating
I'm still convinced that non-violence is the most potent weapon available to oppressed people
in their struggle for freedom and justice.
I feel that violence will only create more social problems than they will solve.
That in a real sense it is impractical
for the Negro to even think of mounting a
violent revolution in the United States.
So I will continue to condemn riots and
continue to say to my brothers and
sisters that this is not the way
continue to affirm that there is another way
but at the same time it is as
necessary for me to be as vigorous in
condemning the conditions which cause
persons to feel that they must
engaged in riotous activities as it is
for me to condemn riots
I think America must see that riots do not develop out of thin air
certain conditions continue to exist in our society
which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots.
But in the final analysis a riot
is the language of the unheard
What is it that America has failed to hear it has failed to hear?
It has failed to hear that the plight of the Negro poor has worsened over the last few years
It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met
and it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned
about tranquility and the status quo,
than about justice, equality, and humanity.
and so in a real sense our nation's
summers of riots
are caused by our nation's winters of delay.
and as long as
America postpones justice
we stand in the position of having these recurrences of violence and riots over and over again
social justice and progress are
the absolute guarantors of riot prevention
