Activists are not criminals

Importantly, this website recognises that activists are people who want to create positive and peaceful change. Activists are not violent, anti-social or criminals. Although there are diverse perspectives on activist tactics and how to create real change, activists are not violent people. Nor do activists willingly create violence. Overwhelmingly, activists work to prevent or reduce violence in society and work in ways to minimise harm to people.

We need to remember that the police and state institutions such as the prison system have a monopoly on the legitimate' use of violence and that movements for change in Australia are overwhelmingly peaceful and nonviolent.

Labelling people who break the law as 'devient', 'evil', 'anti-social' and different to ordinary law-abiding citizens is part of the social control functions of the criminal jutsice sytem. In the same way, activists are often labelled or associated with the terms 'criminal' or 'terrorist' . The labelling of certain activists as violent' or terrorist' is a part of efforts to discredit and undermine support for social change and is often used to justify legal repression and police violence.

On the contrary, activists are most often principled people, concerned about issues which affect themselves and others, and reflect the diversity of the Australian community.

Read about the experiences of other activists at Activist case studies

See also Policing Political Protest.