3. WHAT IS BACKFIRE AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

How do we shift the balance of power when intimidation, threats, and abuse are used to silence voices and block participation? Part 3 of this training dives into the strategies that communities have used throughout history—and still use today—to expose injustice and make harmful tactics backfire. From the Selma to Montgomery marches to present-day organizing, we’ll explore how people have used five time-tested principles to reveal abuse, validate the dignity of targets, reframe the narrative, redirect energy away from official channels, and resist intimidation. Through case studies, modern-day examples, and practical tools, this session offers a roadmap for how we can push back against the systems and structures that enable oppression—and build the support, strength, visibility, and solidarity we need to win.