So...I know a lot of people are not real impressed with the "No Kings" stuff, and I get it, but....
I think that these protests *as an addition to* serious organizing have a role to play. For one thing, large scale protests all across the country lets people see the *sheer volume* of opposition to Trump. I think this matters for morale if nothing else.
Artemis
in reply to Artemis • • •But also... For some people, No Kings will be the first time they ever participate in a protest, and doing so will make them more likely to participate in other, more focused, protests in the future.
That won't be true for everyone. A lot of people will go home like "patriotic duty done!" But for some this is a first that could lead to more.
Artemis
in reply to Artemis • • •Part of radicalization is realizing that the "proper means" of accomplishing change doesn't actually work, so going to an "ineffectual" protest now could be an important step in progressing some people from liberals to comrades.
They have to first learn what doesn't work in order to understand what must be done.
Artemis
in reply to Artemis • • •Point being: if you don't think "No Kings" is worth your time, you are probably right, but it would *not* be better to encourage people to do nothing at all than to participate in a (very mild) act of defiance.
We *want* people to learn to be defiant. We *want* them to feel that energy. We *want* them to get loud.
People don't just wake up one day ready to take down the system, do they? It's a process. I wouldn't take the protest organizers too seriously, but that's a different story.
hex
in reply to Artemis • • •I remember my first protest. I was there as a photo journalist. Just seeing people get kettled while the police screamed "DISPERSE," or seeing rows of cops with shotguns against maybe a hundred or so people who were just trying to protect a community garden.... Yeah. I was already racially inclined, but that really set it.
I think it's important to warn them. I think they should know that the police will just attack people. I think they should all know that cops get paid extra for riot overtime, so they have a financial incentive to start a riot. But some folks have to see it for themselves.
If it's all peaceful, then great. A mass show that does nothing is still people learning what doesn't work. If the cops attack, then at least folks will get radicalized by their injuries. I hope the damage is minimal.
But either way, telling people not to show up does nothing.
RD
in reply to Artemis • • •RD
in reply to RD • • •CrimethInc. Ex-Workers (@CrimethInc@todon.eu)
Todon.euRD
in reply to RD • • •Flier I'll be handing out
also available in 1-up pdf:
dropbox.com/scl/fi/s9x9jsrga0r…
How did we get here flier 1up.pdf
Dropbox