When Reverend James Lawson, key strategist in the Nonviolence Movement in America, passed away in 2024 I, like many who had followed him closely, found great comfort in looking to Kent Wong as Rev. Lawson's heir apparent. They worked together closely, seamlessly. The transition seemed secure.
Then, less than a year later, Kent Wong died suddenly, without warning. I can't speak for anyone else but I know that I felt stunned and a bit lost wondering who in the world would step in to carry the urgent work forward in this time that so desperately needs nonviolence as our path forward.
That's when I stumbled upon Kazu Haga's book: Healing Resistance: A Radically Different Response to Harm and realized within the first few pages that Kazu was taking nonviolence to a whole new level, right where it needs to be to successfully challenge the forces of cruelty and corruption that are taking over our country today.
Leadership at NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change also noticed Kazu's work and we spoke loosely about doing a joint program or training this Fall or in the Spring. Sensing the speed with which we are headed towards a national confrontation, I didn't want to wait and invited Kazu to come now so we could experience his work first-hand and begin to integrate it into the way we meet the violence that is quickly engulfing us.
Kazu's work is key to understanding that polarizing doesn't transform. It opposes. We need to oppose behavior to provide immediate safety, and to use nonviolence to transform those doing the behavior so we can end the war.
Dr. Lo Sprague