Final answer:
Arresting protesters without violence can be bad for a movement since it may reduce media attention and public support, which were both crucial in the civil rights movement for exposing injustices and galvanizing change. Nonviolent movements often rely on the contrast between their peaceful protests and the violent reactions of authorities to garner support, which becomes more difficult when authorities respond nonviolently.
Step-by-step explanation:
Being arrested without violence might be perceived as bad for the movement because it can fail to draw public attention or elicit sympathies as was the case during the civil rights era. Without the shocking imagery of violence against peaceful protesters, there is less likelihood that media coverage will be extensive or galvanize widespread support. The Albany Movement demonstrated that when activists were arrested without aggressive confrontation and without broad public awareness, the status quo could remain unchallenged, as it didn't catalyze the necessary public outcry or political pressure that visible injustice often does.
Moreover, historical nonviolent protests, led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mohandas Gandhi, relied in part on the moral clarity that comes from the stark contrast between their peaceful actions and the often violent responses of authorities. This contrast was crucial for building domestic and international support, illustrating the injustices they were fighting against. Without clear evidence of violent repression, the movement might not garner the same level of support or urgency for change among the general populace or within political structures.
Lastly, the principle that nonviolent movements often need to highlight systemic injustice becomes complicated if those in power respond with apparent civility. By arresting protesters without violence, authorities can suppress a movement's message and momentum, making it more challenging for activists to showcase the need for change, which can be a strategic method for undermining movements designed to rectify social injustice.