A mass protest, in and of itself, is not “nothing”.
It is. What happened on June 14th was technically a mass protest, but it has none of the aspects that make a mass protest effective. In essence, that wasn’t a protest; it was a parade. They can, in theory, be used as a launching point for something more effective, but on their own? Yeah, nothing.
You haven’t noticed the National Guard and Marines being deployed there?
Okay and? They were deployed because ICE wasn’t able to do their jobs, and even now they’re suffering widespread harassment and obstruction. Not getting backlash because you did nothing isn’t the flex you think it is.
Nonsensical general destruction of your neighbors’ property?
No, real obstruction of fascist activity. And, you know, turning out on a weekday. Mass protests work because, aside from the implicit threat of violence, they grind economic activity to a halt. That is simply not what happens when you parade for two hours on a Saturday.
Why don’t you want to say what makes a protest effective?
I can’t find the article now, but I read one yesterday about LA protesters doing things like blocking ICE vehicles, towing them away and making noise outside their hotels so they can’t sleep. They’re actually confronting ICE and LAPD, draining away their energy and reducing the pace of arrests. Here’s an example. Do this on a national scale and Trump’s little Gestapo won’t stand a chance.
Good luck not getting fired.
They can’t fire everyone, but more importantly look up the events of Euromaidan, the various Arab spring revolutions and the recent Serbian (or was it Slovakian?) protests. It’s impossible to overthrow authoritarianism without personal risk; that’s just not how that works. You’re free to choose the authoritarianism instead of the personal risk, but then you can’t claim that you’re resisting, because you’re not; it’s either or.
You’re free to choose the authoritarianism instead of the personal risk, but then you can’t claim that you’re resisting, because you’re not; it’s either or.
There’s “personal risk” and then there’s losing your livelihood.
And there’s getting shot by regime snipers. I’m not trying to make an “others had it worse” argument, but let’s not have any illusions about the scale of action and the amount of risk necessary for America to get out of this. The more you wait the more likely it becomes for this happen in the next protest where you live. Also, as I said, they can’t fire everyone. Maidan and Arab Spring protesters returned to their jobs just fine after their revolutions.
A mass protest, in and of itself, is not “nothing”.
I would argue the opposite. You haven’t noticed the National Guard and Marines being deployed there?
It is. What happened on June 14th was technically a mass protest, but it has none of the aspects that make a mass protest effective. In essence, that wasn’t a protest; it was a parade. They can, in theory, be used as a launching point for something more effective, but on their own? Yeah, nothing.
Okay and? They were deployed because ICE wasn’t able to do their jobs, and even now they’re suffering widespread harassment and obstruction. Not getting backlash because you did nothing isn’t the flex you think it is.
Oh please, do go on, what makes a protest effective? Nonsensical general destruction of your neighbors’ property?
Okay and…that’s bad?
Getting the marines and national guard deployed on you isn’t the flex you think it is.
No, real obstruction of fascist activity. And, you know, turning out on a weekday. Mass protests work because, aside from the implicit threat of violence, they grind economic activity to a halt. That is simply not what happens when you parade for two hours on a Saturday.
You’re using a bunch of general language. Why don’t you want to say what makes a protest effective?
Good luck not getting fired.
I can’t find the article now, but I read one yesterday about LA protesters doing things like blocking ICE vehicles, towing them away and making noise outside their hotels so they can’t sleep. They’re actually confronting ICE and LAPD, draining away their energy and reducing the pace of arrests. Here’s an example. Do this on a national scale and Trump’s little Gestapo won’t stand a chance.
They can’t fire everyone, but more importantly look up the events of Euromaidan, the various Arab spring revolutions and the recent Serbian (or was it Slovakian?) protests. It’s impossible to overthrow authoritarianism without personal risk; that’s just not how that works. You’re free to choose the authoritarianism instead of the personal risk, but then you can’t claim that you’re resisting, because you’re not; it’s either or.
There’s “personal risk” and then there’s losing your livelihood.
And there’s getting shot by regime snipers. I’m not trying to make an “others had it worse” argument, but let’s not have any illusions about the scale of action and the amount of risk necessary for America to get out of this. The more you wait the more likely it becomes for this happen in the next protest where you live. Also, as I said, they can’t fire everyone. Maidan and Arab Spring protesters returned to their jobs just fine after their revolutions.