From Not In Our Town (https://www.niot.org/unitedagainsthate):
Given the events of January 6, we are presenting action steps and resources for responding to the threat of political violence in the aftermath of the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Last week NIOT shared action steps in the E-News: “Where Do We Go From Here?” Act Locally: A Guide for Building Resilience
The FBI has warned state and local law enforcement about the imminent threat of violence from white supremacists, domestic terror groups and insurrectionists driven by conspiracy theories and the lie that the election was stolen.
What can you do to prepare and respond to potential threats in your community?
Responding and Moving Forward
The Divided Community Project offers advice to city leaders responding to the threat of violence. Watch a recent video offering advice for community leaders facing protests with Thomas Battles, lead mediator, DCP’s Bridge Initiative. Visit our website for a video conversation with DCP leaders Carl Smallwood, Thomas Battles and NIOT Board Member Grande Lum.
Five Ways to Communicate
Ask your city leaders what they are doing to set up a response and communications plan in case of violence and find out what you can do to help. If you are a community leader, find out how you can communicate in a way that reduces tensions and the threat of violence with these resources: messaging guidance for state and local officials amidst the threat of political violence and best practices for communication from Project Over Zero.
Some highlights:
- Continue to promote positive norms and vision. Be FOR something not just against something. Tell the story of what ISrather than what is NOT.
For example: Talk about all the people who worked together from bipartisan volunteer poll workers to elected officials and judges to ensure this election was free, fair and legitimate.
- Show positive action as the norm— in messaging and through examples and actions.
- When you feel you need to talk about negative behaviorsand actions or want to make a statement condemning them, remember that repeating a narrative or talking about actions can make them appear more prevalent/powerful.
- When calling out negative behaviors, use a “norm sandwich”: tell the positive first, then show that the negative behaviors are harmful and aren’t approved of/engaged in by most people, and end on a positive + a call to action.
Remember: Where you see attempts to escalate a situation, sow tension and division, and/or shift the narrative in that direction, it can be tempting to respond and buy into those frames. If you buy into those frames and give them oxygen, you can inadvertently help build a story of division or fuel a narrative you’re hoping to counter. Stay focused on what you are FOR and the types of actions you want to move people towards. Work to build momentum in that direction.
- When you’re rowing in a good direction, keep paddling! If things are calm and good, don’t rock the boat, move to positive stories about your community and keep channeling peoples’ energies and actions towards those stories!
Learn More About Hate Groups Active in the Insurrection
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