Advice from Bernice King

Bernice King, daughter of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr, shared a list of tips on Facebook that is preserved in this 2017 article.  What she said still makes a lot of sense:

Amended Post (especially related to #1 below):

Some Wise Advice Circulating:

1.  Use his name sparingly so as not to detract from the issues.  I believe that everyone, regardless of their beliefs, deserves the dignity of being called by their name.  However, this is a strategic tactic.  While we are so focused on him we are prone to neglect the questionable policies that threaten freedom, justice and fairness advanced by the administration.

2.  Remember this is a regime and he's not acting alone;

3.  Do not argue with those who support him and his policies — it doesn't work;

4.  Focus on his policies, not his appearance and mental state;

5.  Keep your message positive; those who oppose peace and justice want the country to be angry and fearful because this is the soil from which their darkest policies will grow;

6.  No more helpless/hopeless talk;

7.  Support artists and the arts;

8.  Be careful not to spread fake news. Check it;

9.  Take care of yourselves; and

10.  Resist!

Keep demonstrations peaceful. In the words of John Lennon, "When it gets down to having to use violence, then you are playing the system’s game.  The establishment will irritate you — pull your beard, flick your face — to make you fight!  Because once they’ve got you violent, then they know how to handle you.  The only thing they don’t know how to handle is non-violence and humor."

When you post or talk about him, don't assign his actions to him, assign them to "The Republican Administration," or "The Republicans."  This will have several effects: the Republican legislators will either have to take responsibility for their association with him or stand up for what some of them don't like; he will not get the focus of attention he craves; Republican representatives will become very concerned about their re-elections.

I met Bernice King when she spoke in St. Louis in 2017 and wrote about it on this blog.  I'd forgotten how she and I just missed being students together at Emory University until I re-read my post just now.