American maintained its independence though rational interaction. How do you think we developed our system of government? Yes, we revolted against British rule, but to create a political system and government that has lasted took a lot of debate. Tempers flared, but in the end it was argument and debate and compromise that drove the development of the US Constitution and the creation of our government. We wouldn't have been able to maintain independence without a proper government to support us.
Was the woman's suffrage movement burning down buildings and rioting? There was violence that was aimed at them, but theirs was a movement of information, public demonstration, and protest that wasn't fundamentally built upon rioting and destruction.
The Civil war to end slavery, or the Civil Rights movement? Civil Rights were advanced through protest, debate, and political discourse. The violence didn't change the laws or the minds of the population, and the violence wasn't always on the part of those protesting, but those "protesting" the protesters. Violence in and of itself isn't going to create structures or change laws or positively influence public opinion for the most part.
Now if you want to revolt, then violence can be used to accomplish that task, but I am under the impression that an actual revolt, wherein we're seeking the overthrow of the government, isn't really the point outside the nutjob anarchists.
Within the system, that's what's going to change things. In fact, the violence will tend to have the opposite effect. People can be mad, and get into heated debates, but rioting and looting isn't going to bring about a solution to a political means, it may even make it harder. And much of the violence in previous political movements wasn't necessary on the side of those leading the protests, but as intimidation against the protesters; to get them to stop protesting.
What's the end goal here. If it's just to be triggered and scream at police, fine. But there's nothing to come from that end. If they seek to influence the system, perhaps slow Trump's roll as it were, or otherwise influence the government, then they need to politic, not riot.
Violence has been used, can be used; but for very specific things through which it is useful and successful. Outside of that, violence tends to be counter-productive.
