Nonviolent resistance has produced an incredible impact throughout history, most notably during the Civil Rights movement. Cesar Chavez—a civil rights organizer—argues that nonviolence is the ideal approach in the face of injustice. Chavez utilizes allusions and strong diction to develop his argument supporting nonviolent resistance.
Chavez uses allusions to add ethos to his argument endorsing nonviolent resistance. To begin with, he refers to Martin Luther King Jr. in the first paragraph. By alluding to King—a civil rights leader and a strong believer in nonviolence—Chavez shows that nonviolence can be amazingly effective. King led a nonviolent campaign during the civil rights movement geared toward ending segregation and securing equal rights for African Americans. King successfully utilized
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In line 60, Chavez says how the people want to “avoid senseless violence.” Chavez also states that victory through violence is not a true victory in lines 65 to 70. In lines 74 to 77, Chavez states that “violence doesn’t work in the long run.” Chavez describes the negative effects violent resistance had on the oppressed throughout history in lines 78 to 86. By using strong diction, Chavez shows how violent resistance is not a good idea and how it hurt the people. Chavez also uses diction to support his argument for nonviolent resistance. Lines 12 to 16 illustrate how nonviolence helps the cause of the oppressed. The fifth paragraph states that people are more likely to support nonviolent resistance. When nonviolent protesters are attacked, people react. In lines 8 through 10, Chavez states that human life is more important than violence. Chavez’s words emphasize his argument for nonviolence by showing the innate power of it. Chavez’s use of diction, both supporting nonviolence and discouraging violence, strengthened his argument for nonviolent