Many people here don't know the history of the 1960s. They think violence helped produce meaningful reforms. But the 1961-1964 was a period of mass nonviolent activism, voter registration, organizing that helped produce the 1964 congressional sweep that gave us Medicare.

Medicare was signed into law on July 30, 1965. The following month was the first mega riot of the 1960s, the Watts riot in August 1965, scores of riots followed, w/ many on the left embracing racial sectarianism and promoting "burn baby burn."

A lot of people know this image of Bernie nonviolently protesting segregation in 1963 but don't know the history of the group he was working with at the time

Bernie was protesting with the Congress of Racial Equality, which in 1963 had organized many of the Freedom Rides, mass civil disobedience around segregation and later the March on Washington. It was a multiracial, pro-nonviolent group.

But in 1968, the CORE purged all of its white members, embraced black nationalism, denounced nonviolence. Its new leader, Roy Innis met secretly with Richard Nixon to help him in the election #v=onepage&q=roy%20innis%20nixon%20novak&f=false" target="_blank" rel="noopener" onclick="event.stopPropagation()">books.google.com