"If we desire a society in which men are brothers, then we must act towards one another with brotherhood. If we can build such a society, then we would have achieved the ultimate goal of human freedom."
Bayard RustinTiny Panda Quotes
Quotes by Bayard Rustin
Bayard Rustin (1912-1987) was a pivotal yet often overlooked figure in the American civil rights movement. Born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Rustin's early activism was rooted in his Quaker upbringing and his commitment to nonviolence. As a key advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he played a crucial role in organizing the 1963 March on Washington, advocating for racial equality and social justice. Rustin's legacy as a champion for civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and labor rights continues to inspire generations seeking equality and justice.
9 quotes found
"If we desire a society of peace, then we cannot achieve such a society through violence. If we desire a society without discrimination, then we must not discriminate against anyone in the process of building this society. If we desire a society that is democratic, then democracy must become a means as well as an end."
Bayard Rustin
"When an individual is protesting society's refusal to acknowledge his dignity as a human being, his very act of protest confers dignity on him."
Bayard Rustin"We demand that segregation be ended in every school district in the year 1963! We demand that we have effective civil rights legislation - no compromise, no filibuster - and that include public accommodations, decent housing, integrated education, FEPC and the right to vote."
Bayard Rustin
"I have seen periods of progress followed by reaction. I have seen the hopes and aspirations of Negroes rise during World War II, only to be smashed during the Eisenhower years. I am seeing the victories of the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations destroyed by Richard Nixon."
Bayard Rustin"War is wrong. Conscription for war is inconsistent with freedom of conscience, which is not merely the right to believe but to act on the degree of truth that one receives, to follow a vocation which is God-inspired and God-directed."
Bayard Rustin
"I am an opponent of war and of war preparations and an opponent of universal military training and conscription; but entirely apart from that issue, I hold that segregation in any part of the body politic is an act of slavery and an act of war."
Bayard Rustin"I am a Quaker. And as everyone knows, Quakers, for 300 years, have, on conscientious ground, been against participating in war. I was sentenced to three years in federal prison because I could not religiously and conscientiously accept killing my fellow man."
Bayard Rustin