The History of Political Resistance—And What Lessons Can We Apply to Today's Democratic Crisis?

Jan 9, 2026

Jack Funk, a former public defender and local activist, delves into the rich history of political resistance, highlighting its evolution from ancient defiance to modern movements like Black Lives Matter. He discusses civil disobedience, referencing Thoreau's philosophy and its influence on leaders like Gandhi and King. Funk shares insights on the Wide Awakes' mobilization in 1860 and the impact of nonviolent tactics during key protests, emphasizing the power of grassroots movements today. He urges practical civic engagement and maintaining hope in turbulent times.

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INSIGHT

Moral Duty Of Civil Disobedience

Thoreau and King framed civil disobedience as a moral duty to oppose unjust laws and awaken public conscience.
Nonviolent resistance aims to promote justice and order by appealing to higher moral laws.

ANECDOTE

Wide Awakes Mobilized Lincoln Support

Jack Funk recounts the Wide Awakes' rapid rise from five men to hundreds of thousands in 1860.
Their torch-lit, paramilitary pageantry mobilized youth and helped propel Lincoln to prominence.

INSIGHT

Solidarity Multiplied Farmworker Power

Farmworker strikes used cross-ethnic solidarity and nonviolent tactics to force concessions from growers.
Mass boycotts and alliances amplified leverage and won union contracts after sustained action.

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Political resistance is as old as injustice itself, fighting with tools that span from civil disobedience (boycotts, strikes, sit-ins) to armed struggle, challenging tyranny, colonialism, racism, and inequality through both nonviolent or violent means.

Historically it has evolved from ancient community defiance to modern national movements like Black Lives Matter, utilizing culture, direct action, and grassroots organization. Key nonviolent strategies include passive noncooperation (e.g., sit-ins and boycotts) and active confrontation (e.g., U.S. Civil Rights Movement), with recent studies highlighting effective nonviolent strategies, like those seen in the Eastern European revolutions.

We will look at the history of political resistance in the United States and make some recommendations for the current tumultuous times.

About the Speakers

Dr. Michael Baker recently retired from a 40-year career in general, vascular, and trauma surgery. He also served 30 years in the uniform of his country and retired from the U.S. Navy with the rank of rear admiral, having earned numerous awards including a Combat Action Ribbon and 3 Legion of Merit Awards. He currently teaches history, political science, and military affairs for the Osher LifeLong Learning (OLLI) Programs at UC Berkeley, Dominican University, Cal State East Bay, Cal State Channel Islands—and is on the Board of Governors of Commonwealth Club World Affairs. He teaches Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) to physicians in the United States, at military bases around the world, and most recently returned from his fifth tour in Ukraine teaching ATLS to physicians in that war-torn nation.

Jack Funk graduated with a BA in political science from UC San Diego in 1977. He received his JD from Berkeley School of law in 1980. Following law school, he worked as a trial attorney in the Contra Costa County Public Defender’s Office for 30 years. He has retired from the practice of law. He is currently president of the Martinez Education Foundation, which raises money to support schools in Martinez, and is also the chair of the Retiree Support Group of Contra Costa County, which is an organization created to protect retiree rights and interests. Since February of this year, he has been working with the Diablo Valley Resistance, which is focused on activities that push back against the Trump political agenda.

An East Bay Chapter and Humanities Member-led Forum program. Chapters and forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California, and they cover a diverse range of topics.

Organizer: Michael Baker

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