Direct action occurs when a group takes an action which is intended to reveal an existing problem, highlight an alternative, or demonstrate a possible solution to a social issue. This can include nonviolent and less often violent activities which target persons, groups, or property deemed offensive to the direct action participants. Examples of
non-violent direct action (also known as
nonviolent resistance or
civil resistance) can include
sit-ins,
strikes,
workplace occupations,
blockades,
hacktivism, etc., while
violent direct action may include
political violence,
sabotage,
property destruction,
assaults, etc. By contrast,
electoral politics,
diplomacy,
negotiation, and
arbitration are not usually described as direct action, as they are politically mediated. Non-violent actions are sometimes a form of
civil disobedience, and may involve a degree of intentional law-breaking where persons place themselves in arrestable situations in order to make a political statement but other actions (such as strikes) may not violate
criminal law.