Residents in San Quentin embarked on a 66-day journey to nonviolence by focusing on 66 principles of nonviolent choices and actions. The concept originated with the grassroots campaign by the Association for Global New Thought.
Recognized internationally, the season of nonviolence commemorates the period of 64 days between the anniversaries of the death of Arun Ghandi (January 30) and Martin Luther Kings Jr. (April 4). According to AGNT, habit formation takes 66 days, and so they added two days to their program.
“Nonviolence for me means giving up the need to be right,” resident John Goldberg said.
Residents who participated said each of the 66 days highlights a specific personal characteristic, action, or skill that emphasized simple acts. The implementation of these practices brought them healing and transformation while strengthening community, they said.
According to AGNT, these peacemakers had a vision for an empowered and nonviolent world that moved in a direction of peace through daily nonviolent choices and actions. The journey took place in three 22-day sections of personal change, interpersonal change, and community.
By first focusing on personal change, residents said they learned to show compassion within themselves and to build purpose to speak and act with respect and honor. One of the values—integrity—AGNT defined as “if faced with a choice, listen to your conscience.”
Resident Dennis Jefferson said nonviolence to him meant to act in a certain way that would help persons around him to feel safe— not just physically but by upholding boundaries, wellness, and peace of mind. “I try to be mindful of how I come across with people.”
He said he felt committed to service for anyone, regardless of race, because of our common humanity. The principles of equality, service, and acceptance resonated with him the most. He said he focused on equality because he believed that many underrepresented persons here deserved respect, appreciation, and acknowledgement.
AGNT said the day 23 to 44 focused on interpersonal change through respect, generosity, listening, patience, and mindfulness.
For two days during the month’s long journey, Goldberg embraced humility and forgiveness. He said he used to struggle with resentments and grudges, often wanting to exact revenge. He said he believed nonviolence provided him with a resolve to absolve persons who he felt had harmed him.
“Humility is important because I have always worried about what others thought of me,” Goldberg said. “Now the name calling and challenges to fight end with me, the violence stops here.”
By focusing on community, the third sequence of principles challenged participants to stand for truth through honor and dignity, according to AGNT. Some of these principles embraced responsibility, intervention, respect, and equality.
Resident Ramon Fritz said the principle of integrity resonated most for him because he used the value as a tool to hold himself accountable. He said he used to deflect blame and disregard his fault in actions that affected others.
“Now I recognize the ripple effect and the harm of my actions, which impacted others in my community and those I have victimized,” Fritz said.
“Nonviolence is based on the assumption that human nature… unfailingly responds to the advances of love,” said Gandhi.
