About Our Logo

The NGL logo was inspired by the gesture known as the “two hands of nonviolence,” a metaphor offered by activist and author Barbara Deming (1917–1984) to illustrate the integrative principle of nonviolence. It reflects a commitment to integrating love and the courage to speak the truth. 

These two hands move as one: one hand is saying no, refusing to cooperate with — and actively working to stop — life-alienating thoughts, feelings, and actions. Simultaneously, the other hand is reaching towards—a commitment to honoring the dignity and humanity of every person, even in the face of life-alienating behavior. Together, they embody nonviolence, rooted in courage, truth and love.

Below is an excerpt from Barbara Deming’s essay, Revolution and Equilibrium;

‘With one hand we say to one who is angry, or to an oppressor, or to an unjust system, “Stop what you are doing. I refuse to honor the role you are choosing to play. I refuse to obey you. I refuse to cooperate with your demands. I refuse to build the walls and the bombs. I refuse to pay for the guns. With this hand I will even interfere with the wrong you are doing. I want to disrupt the easy pattern of your life.” But then the advocate of nonviolence raises the other hand. It is raised out-stretched – maybe with love and sympathy, maybe not – but always outstretched… With this hand we say, “I won’t let go of you or cast you out of the human race. I have faith that you can make a better choice than you are making now, and I’ll be here when you are ready. Like it or not, we are part of one another.” ’