No Kings Protest

(Above:  Selfie at the No Kings Protest in Pendleton, South Carolina.)

As I type this blog entry, I'm multi-tasking.  Why?  Well ... apparently the nineteen second video I shot and posted to Facebook during the No Kings Protest has gone viral (or at least "viral" in my experience).  It has been viewed more than 11,000 times (and counting) in less than twenty-two hours.  I've deleted dozens upon dozens of negative comments (always angry, generally hatefully with personal accusations, and often with misspelled words).

I've clicked on the profiles of some of these people.  They might not be real. I'm not exactly sure how to distinguish a bot from a live human being but there are a few clues.  Many of these profiles have been created within the last year, show no posts, have few if any listed friends, and list only very small towns as their home location.  The images used are rather generic.  The comments posted are often the same as those posted by others with similar Facebook pages. 

I've blocked so many "people" that I've lost count ... especially since my account only showed one blocked person before yesterday.  (It was quilter who continued to leave very upsetting comments on my Grave Rubbing Quilt series that flourished a decade or so ago.)  

I've deleted more than one hundred of these negative comments.  I've also spent more time than usual "liking" all the No Kings Protest videos and photos that have popped up on my page.  This is the least I can do. I truly believe the words on the sign in the above image.  I can't allow myself to "do nothing".  So ... I'll keep monitoring my video.  I'll continue to block the profiles the leave nasty messages (whether they are "real" or a "bot") and I'll just hit that delete button on the words.

Yesterday was an opportunity for people like Steve and me to express our feelings about the dangers to our democracy.  It was important.  I'm glad we went.  I'm especially happy to see so many others out protesting peacefully with us.  We live in Lindsey Graham's backyard, a very red landscape.  My hope is that those reconsidering their support for the administration know that switching sides will not be a lonely place.  There are plenty of us here in South Carolina's Upstate!  More pictures below!  Now ... time to check that video!

 

Since starting this blog post, Steve and I had lunch.  Then dozens more Facebook profiles were blocked and their mean-spirited comments were deleted. The video passed 16,000 views.  Gosh, that's a lot!