BLACKSBURG, Va. – Nonviolent activist and author George Lakey spoke in Blacksburg on January 16, 2023, Martin Luther King Day, at the Unitarian Universalist congregational church at 1301 Gladewood Dr. from 6:00-8:00 p.m. according to a news release from Preserve Monroe; the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the New River Valley; the Appalachian Studies Program at Virginia Tech; and Protect Our Water, Heritage, and Rights (POWHR).

Lakey’s topic, “How Martin Luther King Helps us Face Today’s Crisis,” focused on Lakey’s efforts to promote civil rights, his contributions to social/environmental/climate justice, and his most recent books. “Dances with History” and “How We Win.” 

At 85, Quaker George Lakey is still pursuing his career as a direct action advocate for civil rights, peace, LGBTQ rights, labor justice, and the environment. His work began in the 1950s and was developed during the Civil Rights movement as a form of non-violent revolution. He was a trainer for Mississippi Freedom Summer in 1963 and co-authored his first book, “A Manual for Direct Action,” which was adopted by the South at this time.

In 1966 he co-founded A Quaker Action Group (AWAG) which sent him to Vietnam to engage in war protest action. He continued his non-violent advocacy work in the 1970s by providing national leadership to the Campaign to Stop the B-1 Bomber and Promote Peace Conversion, which succeeded in getting President Carter to de-fund this Air Force program. He also co-organized Men Against Patriarchy, a movement promoting anti-sexism for men. Other efforts promoted peace and equality. By 1991 he co-founded Training for Change (TfC), which constructed a new pedagogy labeled as “Direct Education,” which trained activists and NGOs in 20 countries. In 2009, he co-founded the Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT) to develop just and sustainable economies. It forced PNC Bank to end its funding of mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia. For this action, he was arrested, but managed to lead a 200 mile march. Lakey then came out of the closet in 1973 and joined the LGBT movement.

He became affiliated with academic institutions in the 1960s, beginning with Crozer Theological Seminary. He then moved on to the University of Pennsylvania and Haverford College in Peace Studies, and then taught at Temple University, and Swarthmore College. He retired from Swarthmore as a research professor. He was named “Pease Educator of the Year” by the National Peace and Justice Studies Association in 2010.

He is known for his engaging and interactive presentational style and warm interactions with his audience.

Additional Information

Information contact:  Maury Johnson maurywjohnson@yahoo.com; or Anita Puckett anitampuckett@gmail.com /(540) 239-3600.

More about George Lakey

https://www.georgelakeyfilm.com/

George Lakey’s ‘Meeting Our Challenges’ tour

Lakey is also scheduled to speak on Jan. 17 in Durham, N.C, at the Friends Meetinghouse (with The Regulator Bookshop), 404 Alexander Ave, 6 p.m. and on Jan. 18 in Raleigh, N.C. at the Friends Meetinghouse, at 7 p.m.