Well, when they get actively repressed for their simple first amendment exercise the cops might just be the radicalizing element for a lot of them. It has historical precident in the lead up to the USSR revolution.
this post was submitted on 15 Jun 2025
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Protests are important but there is literally only one tool the working class have to halt the genocidal machines
Strike
There is another tool, but most people aren't ready for that one either.
The only redeeming value I can see in these spectacles of powerlessness is as cover for well organized subversive activity or as massacres waiting to happen that might galvanize others into resistance once the reality of their situation is made clear to them. In the absence of either, it’s just a liberal church service.
...i think pep rally is a more-appropriate metaphor for performative protest...
I think I can also praise the parts where leftists go to these protests specifically to radicalise people, that's cool.
It will be some "we hear you and we see you" followed with
Ok you done with this little tantrum? Moving on.
i saw a lot of palestinian flags at the one near me so dont knock it too hard
It feels like that because it is like that
My opinion for these types of protests is if they're within walking distance, you should attend because if nothing else, it's good exercise. But if you have to drive 40+ minutes and pay for parking, don't bother. That money is better spend on Palestinian gofundmes.
All those people who are getting shot at and get up every morning to protest despite the military being deployed against them are controlled opposition? This is either defeatism of fedposting
Occupy buildings.
The buildings with snipers on top of them?
Millions(?) of people coming out to protest, and the overwhelming demand is 'replace orange man with another genocidal fascist pls'.
From what I've seen, the demand has been "stop ICE", why are you imagining opponents to shadow box?
Did you go to the protest this post is about? I did, this post described it perfectly. People in the Houston No Kings protest were petting cop horses, thanking cops, chanting "vote them out". You are talking about an entirely different protest that wasn't paid for by the Walmart family.
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Lib protests are good, symbolic resistance is still resistance
symbolic resistance is still resistance
I think that's an interesting take. I can't say I share it, symbolic resistance seems more to me like a distraction from actual resistance.
It sounds like you assume it’s pointless without instant results. Overtaking buildings and doing anything even in the grey area of legal would be a step back.
I was impressed how many people showed up to their first protest ever yesterday. My 67 year old dad went to his first protest yesterday. My non-political, never voted friend went to their first protest yesterday. It brought out a new group of people to stand up.
I was impressed how many people showed up to their first protest ever yesterday.
Ignoring the other parts, I'm not saying this is necessarily a bad thing, but that it's effectively fruitless on its own merit. If your first protest proved pointless, confused, and entirely ineffective, are many people really going to feel empowered to go on to do meaningful actions? Or will they instead feel justified in staying at home and never bothering?
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