These no-longer-young white people have some extremely good advice for activists in any movement involving direct action or interactions with the police:
Woman: Oh hello!
Man: We were just talking about you kids.
Woman: I’m Denise Heberle ...
Man: … and I’m Bill Goodman.
D: Together, we’ve been fighting fascism for over 50 years …
B: … and so much has changed over those 50 years, such as the ingredients to a successful firebomb …
D: … and the glass that bank windows are made of.
B: But there’s one thing that hasn’t changed over 50 years, something that is so important to tell you kids who are new to this movement.
Both: Shut the fuck up.
D: You’re sitting in the police transport van after a protest.
B: Shut the fuck up.
B: In a holding cell with your comrades.
D: Shut the fuck up.
D: Cop knocks on your door.
B: Shut the fuck up.
D: Texting on an unsecured device.
B: Shut the fuck up.
B: Pulled over by the cops after a protest.
D: Shut the fuck up.
D: Cop just asking about your day.
B: Shut the fuck up.
B: Feds call your mom?
D: Tell your mother to shut the fuck up.
B: Now, repeat after me: when the cops come calling, what do you do?
Group of younger people: Shut the fuck up.
The video was brought to us as a public service announcement by the National Lawyers Guild Detroit & Michigan Chapter. Share it with your friends.