Civil rights advocate Bernice King, daughter of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has issued a stark warning about what she describes as a growing erosion of human dignity in the United States.
She is urging a renewed commitment to the study and practice of nonviolence as a moral and civic imperative.
In a clip shared on Instagram from her recent interview with Truth’s Table, King reflected on what she called “very evil times,” arguing that a cultural shift has “unleashed” behavior that permits people to abandon their “higher selves,” resulting in acts she characterized as inhumane and deeply troubling.
“When we lose sight of one another’s humanity, harm follows,” King wrote in her post. “Dignity is too easily discarded.”
Concerns Over Immigration Enforcement Tactics
During the interview, King cited immigration enforcement as a prominent example of this moral decline. She described scenes of ICE agents forcibly detaining individuals and separating families, arguing that while law enforcement agencies may have a duty to carry out their mandates, there are ways to do so without violating basic human dignity.
“There’s a way to do their job without violating the humanity of people,” King said, adding that it is disturbing when one human being fails to recognize another as deserving of respect and dignity.
Her remarks echo broader concerns raised by civil rights groups and faith leaders who have criticized aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, particularly those that impact families and vulnerable communities.
Nonviolence as a Moral Anchor
King stated that nonviolence is not passive, but rather a disciplined practice that calls individuals and institutions back to ethical action grounded in respect for human worth. She framed nonviolence as both a personal and societal corrective in a time marked by what she described as increasing callousness and indifference.
“Nonviolence calls us back to our higher selves,” she said, noting that it remains central to confronting injustice without perpetuating further harm.
Continuing a Legacy
As the CEO of The King Center, Bernice King has consistently advocated for applying her father’s philosophy of nonviolence to contemporary social and political challenges.
Her latest comments reinforce that mission, situating today’s debates over immigration, law enforcement, and civil rights within a broader moral framework centered on human dignity.
King’s message, shared widely on social media, has resonated with supporters who view nonviolence as an essential guidepost amid polarized national discourse and ongoing debates over civil liberties and human rights.
