MLK wrote: "Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and establish such creative tension that a community that has constantly refused to negotiate

MLK wrote: "Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and establish such creative tension that a community that has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue" The ironic part is that the state trying to impose consequences are usually part of the tension. The more aggressive that the state responds, the more tension is created. And that eventually leads to change.