This week, we talk with political scientist and civil resistance scholar, Dr. Maria J. Stephan, co-author of Why Civil Resistance Works. We discuss how she was shaped by early community and faith organizing in Vermont, and later by the documentary A Force More Powerful and global nonviolent struggles. Stephan explains research on preventing democratic backsliding and the need for sustained engagement beyond mass protests, through tactics such as boycotts, strikes, walkouts, and noncooperation.

Connect with Maria

• Website: Maria Stephan
• Instagram: @horizonsprjt
• The Horizons Project: The Horizons Project
• Nonviolent Action Resources and Training: Nonviolent Action Resources and Training

Connect with RLC

• Help sustain the work of RLC: www.redletterchristians.org/donate/
• To check out what RLC is up to, please visit us www.redletterchristians.org
• Follow us on Twitter: @RedLetterXians
• Instagram: @RedLetterXians
• Follow Shane on Instagram: @shane.claiborne
• Twitter: @ShaneClaiborne

We chat with Tim Shriver—Special Olympics leader, disability rights advocate, and author—who explains how decades with Special Olympics athletes taught him to see people “from the inside out” and recognize dignity as universal, inherent, and not earned.

Connect with Tim

• Website: Tim Shriver
• Instagram: @timothyshriver
• The Dignity Index: The Dignity Index
• Need A Lift? Podcast: Need A Lift? with Tim Shriver - Podcast - Apple Podcasts
• The Special Olympics: Special Olympics

Connect with RLC

• Help sustain the work of RLC: www.redletterchristians.org/donate/
• To check out what RLC is up to, please visit us www.redletterchristians.org
• Follow us on Twitter: @RedLetterXians
• Instagram: @RedLetterXians
• Follow Shane on Instagram: @shane.claiborne
• Twitter: @ShaneClaiborne

Shane is joined by Pastor Carl Ruby and Viles Dorsainvil from Springfield, OH. They have been leading the way in advocating for Haitian families facing the possibility of deportation, and now have a case before the Supreme Court.

Socials:

• Carl Ruby (@carlrubygoblue)
• Viles Dorsainvil on Instagram

Connect with RLC

• Help sustain the work of RLC: www.redletterchristians.org/donate/
• To check out what RLC is up to, please visit us www.redletterchristians.org
• Follow us on Twitter: @RedLetterXians
• Instagram: @RedLetterXians
• Follow Shane on Instagram: @shane.claiborne
• Twitter: @ShaneClaiborne