This idea of palatable protesting was on my mind a lot yesterday in relation to the two assassinations that took place in MN. We dare not gather without a permit, but they’ll kill us every chance they get.
I think protests that aren’t direct action can be useful entry points to left politics. It just is difficult to be patient with them when direct action is needed. We also must evaluate whether they are actually good entry points or fodder for Instagram stories, as you put it. I have seen several of my friends who are rather apolitical (just disengaged from politics in the real sense, not “apolitical” in a right wing sense) talk about how going to the No Kings protests has made them want to learn and read more. I gifted a subscription to this Substack to one of them, even. Maybe the liberal “protests” aren’t useful for more than that, and we have seen actual attempts at direct action get less media coverage than the No Kings marches, of course. It’s difficult to parse the harm or benefit of them to me.
I suppose part of the gateway argument is that, when the state overreacts, normies get radicalized. Nothing moves a normie to the left faster than being part of a peaceful protest that turns nasty when the cops start lobbing tear gas.
Thank you for putting a lot of the things I was feeling into words. My local 50501 has turned into a Democrat party registration movement and I just wanted to scream at them that they’re part of the problem too. It was a lot of people who came out, blasted some music and waved some sign for two hours and went home. It feels like a lot of energy with no movement or goal. Bringing that many people together in a small town and not having it go anywhere is frustrating.
I saw middle-aged moms in body armor in LA yesterday. The Chicano/Latino community is being disappeared here. The energy is different. I think the fash understand that. They had automatic weapons lining the streets. The soldiers were smiling but those guns weren't holstered.
There's a reason the LA protests are the ones that turned violent, while the cops almost everywhere else were basically just tour guides for the protesters.
It's annoying to hear that the protests weren't enough. You say it yourself here, they allow people from all walks of life to feel welcome and part of the movement. I think it's important for those people to have an opportunity to be seen as part of the movement. Breaks the image that the people doing active and violent protests are radical, because they have an obvious show of support from old church ladies to construction workers. Everyone who came out for No Kings day was implicitly (or explicitly) supporting the violent protesters.
i hear you! but i think we have to be real with each other and newbies that it'll take more than these types of protests. we should also be directing and tasking these folks to be part of ice watches, rapid response, mutual aid collectives etc. we should be going "yes please go to the protest! AND-".
Agreed, I am so frustrated by all these protests feeling like performance. People dressed up in costumes, folks showing up in pretty dresses and makeup that took hours, people bringing their children and dogs for a nice walk. While i suppose it is fine to have sometimes, what is the point if it’s not followed with consistent direct disruption and actions that actually do something? I have a sinking feeling that people have gone home and think “we did it! We hit the 3.5% benchmark and now something will change!” Why? What pressure was actually put on the system? It seems no different than a local festival, parade, or state fair with the amount of real action accomplished. Huge props to the NJ team, would love for that to spread.
I know this is only tangentially related, but the sheer amount of “if we elected Kamala, we’d all be at brunch right now” pissed me off to an incredible degree.
I fear that the complacency and privilege that so many people have for an incredibly shitty status-quo will doom this country.
I think one thing that might be overlooked by organizers is the chance for community building at protests like this. In my own little reddish purple southern town I've actually seen some opinions getting changed because the protests over the detention of an 18 year old who got snatched off the street by ICE. A bunch of people got introduced to a bunch of other people, there's been all kinds of resource sharing and organizing because the nonviolent protests were palatable enough to kick some folks down the pipeline, so to speak
I wholeheartedly agree with your take here. The mass protests across the nation still served a very important role, if not directly with its original intention, but indirectly in that it showcased how each one of our voices do matter and that collectively we hold the bargaining chips that those in power refuse to acknowledge.
50501 is not organic. Multiple independent journalists have investigated this group. It was created by Indivisible, which is deeply connected with the DNC and is also led by a liberal zio couple. It's a controlled opposition operation meant for people to let off steam on their legit righteous anger while not challenging power in any real way, funneling them back to the billionaire-backed democrats instead.
No Kings was scheduled on the NYC voter registration deadline. I don’t know if the 50501 knew about it but I can’t imagine it made getting potential voters registered any easier if they can’t get to their local election board.
Another great piece, and I'll be giggling at "Senator John Fetterman of Israel" for the next 3 hours
“Senator John Fetterman of Israel” lmaooooo
This idea of palatable protesting was on my mind a lot yesterday in relation to the two assassinations that took place in MN. We dare not gather without a permit, but they’ll kill us every chance they get.
I think protests that aren’t direct action can be useful entry points to left politics. It just is difficult to be patient with them when direct action is needed. We also must evaluate whether they are actually good entry points or fodder for Instagram stories, as you put it. I have seen several of my friends who are rather apolitical (just disengaged from politics in the real sense, not “apolitical” in a right wing sense) talk about how going to the No Kings protests has made them want to learn and read more. I gifted a subscription to this Substack to one of them, even. Maybe the liberal “protests” aren’t useful for more than that, and we have seen actual attempts at direct action get less media coverage than the No Kings marches, of course. It’s difficult to parse the harm or benefit of them to me.
I suppose part of the gateway argument is that, when the state overreacts, normies get radicalized. Nothing moves a normie to the left faster than being part of a peaceful protest that turns nasty when the cops start lobbing tear gas.
Thank you for putting a lot of the things I was feeling into words. My local 50501 has turned into a Democrat party registration movement and I just wanted to scream at them that they’re part of the problem too. It was a lot of people who came out, blasted some music and waved some sign for two hours and went home. It feels like a lot of energy with no movement or goal. Bringing that many people together in a small town and not having it go anywhere is frustrating.
I’m a simple man. I see a Lolo piece in my email inbox, and I like the piece.
I saw middle-aged moms in body armor in LA yesterday. The Chicano/Latino community is being disappeared here. The energy is different. I think the fash understand that. They had automatic weapons lining the streets. The soldiers were smiling but those guns weren't holstered.
There's a reason the LA protests are the ones that turned violent, while the cops almost everywhere else were basically just tour guides for the protesters.
It's annoying to hear that the protests weren't enough. You say it yourself here, they allow people from all walks of life to feel welcome and part of the movement. I think it's important for those people to have an opportunity to be seen as part of the movement. Breaks the image that the people doing active and violent protests are radical, because they have an obvious show of support from old church ladies to construction workers. Everyone who came out for No Kings day was implicitly (or explicitly) supporting the violent protesters.
i hear you! but i think we have to be real with each other and newbies that it'll take more than these types of protests. we should also be directing and tasking these folks to be part of ice watches, rapid response, mutual aid collectives etc. we should be going "yes please go to the protest! AND-".
Agreed, I am so frustrated by all these protests feeling like performance. People dressed up in costumes, folks showing up in pretty dresses and makeup that took hours, people bringing their children and dogs for a nice walk. While i suppose it is fine to have sometimes, what is the point if it’s not followed with consistent direct disruption and actions that actually do something? I have a sinking feeling that people have gone home and think “we did it! We hit the 3.5% benchmark and now something will change!” Why? What pressure was actually put on the system? It seems no different than a local festival, parade, or state fair with the amount of real action accomplished. Huge props to the NJ team, would love for that to spread.
I know this is only tangentially related, but the sheer amount of “if we elected Kamala, we’d all be at brunch right now” pissed me off to an incredible degree.
I fear that the complacency and privilege that so many people have for an incredibly shitty status-quo will doom this country.
So glad these drop on Sunday mornings so I have something of substance to read in church choir during the toothless sermons
I think one thing that might be overlooked by organizers is the chance for community building at protests like this. In my own little reddish purple southern town I've actually seen some opinions getting changed because the protests over the detention of an 18 year old who got snatched off the street by ICE. A bunch of people got introduced to a bunch of other people, there's been all kinds of resource sharing and organizing because the nonviolent protests were palatable enough to kick some folks down the pipeline, so to speak
Thank you. Being gaslit constantly and consistently by "allies" is honestly the worst.
I wholeheartedly agree with your take here. The mass protests across the nation still served a very important role, if not directly with its original intention, but indirectly in that it showcased how each one of our voices do matter and that collectively we hold the bargaining chips that those in power refuse to acknowledge.
50501 is not organic. Multiple independent journalists have investigated this group. It was created by Indivisible, which is deeply connected with the DNC and is also led by a liberal zio couple. It's a controlled opposition operation meant for people to let off steam on their legit righteous anger while not challenging power in any real way, funneling them back to the billionaire-backed democrats instead.
No Kings was scheduled on the NYC voter registration deadline. I don’t know if the 50501 knew about it but I can’t imagine it made getting potential voters registered any easier if they can’t get to their local election board.