The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert Nonviolence Scholar Maria J. Stephan
Jan 24, 2026
Maria J. Stephan, a scholar of nonviolent resistance and co-author of Why Civil Resistance Works, shares practical ways citizens can push back without violence. She covers tactics like neighborhood groups, strikes and playful protests. She also discusses faith communities, discipline under repression, and joy as a tool for ethical collective action.
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Collective Power Without Violence
- Nonviolent resistance coordinates diverse tactics like protests, boycotts, strikes, and mutual aid to build power.
- It fights injustices and liberates people without using or threatening violence.
Organize Simple Neighborhood Defenses
- Organize neighborhood groups, take Know Your Rights trainings, and learn intervention techniques like using whistles to warn neighbors about ICE.
- Use simple, coordinated tools to protect and stand with vulnerable community members.
Why Repression Can Backfire Politically
- Authoritarians often label peaceful protesters as violent or terrorists to justify repression and create fear.
- Disciplined nonviolent action intentionally exposes such state violence and can make repression politically backfire.
