lmao this shit is nuts and an escalation of fascism we haven't seen since the early days after 9/11. After months of fear-mongering about the supposed takeover of all facets of government by MAGA fascists if Trump wins, the fuckin dems went and passed everything they warned us would pass if we didn't bend the knee and back Genocide Joe, I think most leftists (including me) are still too shell shocked at this early stage to realize the full implications of what we've just been hit with, seriously wtf

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[–] JayTwo@hexbear.net 41 points 6 months ago (1 children)

They're protesting peacefully, which they've been told is the only moral and acceptable way

"Peaceful" was always this (intentionally) malleable concept. Nonviolent is better as there's a more solid definition of what counts as violence than what counts as "peaceful" being that it can also mean quiet and easy to ignore.

Anything objectionable to them can cause a protest to not be "peaceful". Not having the proper permits, not dispersing when ordered to, slowing down traffic, being an eyesore, being too loud, etc.

Take this NYT editorial for example: sure they're nonviolent but because of those drums they keep beating their protest isn't "peaceful" because their racket is disturbing the peace.

It tends to be used as a stealth euphemism for "ineffective" as to libs and reactionaries (inb4 "why did you call out the same people twice?") anything they don't like that they're made to notice will harm their believed right to "peace and quiet" and therefore not be "peaceful."
It's also very motte and bailey, changing definition depending on the opinion's popularity with a certain crowd because the MAGA types who yell about the left never abiding by "peaceful" assembly will then claim 1/6 was "peaceful" overall.

[–] FunkyStuff@hexbear.net 32 points 6 months ago (1 children)

It's all a wash anyway, you can't do nonviolent protests. They'll eventually send in the police and inevitably start violent conflict regardless. Anyone who splits hairs over protests needing to be nonviolent is probably not gonna change their mind on the issue and isn't our ally.

[–] JayTwo@hexbear.net 27 points 6 months ago

Fair. And your point has been salient since before we were all born.
Just that "peaceful assembly" is even fuckier a concept since something as anodyne as a drum bullhorn or loudspeaker can apparently break it.