Time to Choose: Nonviolent Coexistence or Violent Co-annihilation?

“We still have a choice today: nonviolent coexistence or violent co annihilation. This may well be mankind’s last chance to choose between chaos and community.” Almost 50 years later and these words from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. still resonate powerfully, as we find ourselves yet grappling with collective political, social and economic violence that seems insurmountable and reminiscent of the time when Dr. King first spoke those words in his speech on the Vietnam War. Politically, voter suppression is on the rise as state legislatures in numerous states are violently seeking to turn back the hands of time and erect tedious barriers to voting. Socially, we see a rise in organized hate crimes, terrorist attacks and mob violence against various minority groups. And economically, the well-being of vulnerable populations is being sacrificed to protect the profit margins of large corporations. We find ourselves in an hour of urgency and we must decide if we are going to heed the wisdom of Dr. King and “organize our strength into compelling power” or condemn our children by ignoring this critical choice…nonviolent coexistence or violent co annihilation​.

Join Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center, and The King Center’s nonviolent leaders, trainers and experts for an insightful discussion on the global state of violence and the relevance of Dr. King’s philosophy and methodology of nonviolence (Nonviolence365™ / NV365™). This session will provide insight on how Dr. King’s commitment to nonviolence enabled him to influence changes in national public policy and lead a world-changing nonviolent movement. We will also explore how these same principles and steps remain relevant in today’s violent climate and examine how to use NV365 to systematically affect social change.

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