Nonviolent Social Change For Racial Justice – Engage 3.5% of Population

Sister Sue Seeby, Sybil Teehan and Sister Sally Ann Brickner, from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, traveled to Madison on Saturday, May 21^st, for a workshop on racial justice presented by the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice. The skilled leadership team engaged over 100 persons at the James Reeb Unitarian Universalist Church in activities about racial disparity in Wisconsin. The team described Wisconsin’s ranking as the worst state in the nation to raise black children, its high incarceration rate for people of color, the achievement gap between white and black children, etc. WNPJ seeks to transform racial injustice in WI by engaging 3.5% of Wisconsin's population (about 200,000 people) in active and sustained participation to end racism.

Why 3.5%?  Erica Chenoweth, who studied movements of social change over the last two centuries (listen to her Ted Talk), found that if 3.5% of a population engaged in civil resistance political change was inevitable. 3.5% turned out to be a “tipping point” for social transformation. Hence WNPJ has chosen to name its campaign for racial justice in Wisconsin as Racial Justice Tipping Point. 

Fond du Lac’s population in 2016 stands at 43,000 (90% White; 10% People of Color). If 1,230 persons in Fond du Lac were to join WNPJ’s campaign for racial justice, an inevitable and positive change for people of color in Fond du Lac could occur. I believe that this “tipping point” can easily be achieved locally because groups like Ebony Vision, United for Diversity, and the Humanity Project are already committed at some level.

In its statement on Peace and Nonviolence (2002) the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes embraced diversity and committed to eliminate prejudice and discrimination both locally and globally. Therefore, CSA’s Office of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation will collaborate with WNPJ to reach the 3.5% “tipping point” in WI and thereby create an irreversible movement toward racial justice in Wisconsin. You are welcome to join the Campaign!