This 1964 Harlem footage shows Rustin trying to calm an outraged community, revealing how poverty and police violence undermined the appeal of nonviolence in the urban North.
Bayard Rustin Defies Draft; Goes To Prison
A 1944 article from The Chicago Defender detailing Bayard Rustin’s principled refusal to comply with the World War II military draft based on his conscientious objection rooted in Quaker beliefs and commitment to nonviolence. The article highlights Rustin’s arrest and incarceration, his defense of civil liberties, and his rejection of both war and racial injustice. This early act of resistance marked the beginning of Rustin’s lifelong dedication to pacifism and civil rights activism, showcasing his courage during a period when draft evasion was heavily stigmatized and punished.
