Mario Savio: "Put your bodies upon the gears"

Mario Savio’s phrase "Put your bodies upon the gears" is a call for active, nonviolent resistance against oppressive systems, specifically in the context of protests against the Vietnam War and racial injustice. The metaphor suggests that individuals should physically position themselves to obstruct and challenge the machinery of authority and injustice, thereby disrupting its functioning. It emphasizes that meaningful change requires personal involvement and collective action—standing up and making oneself a visible obstacle to oppressive forces—rather than passive acceptance.