Have you participated in any BLM-related protests?

This is poll is made anonymous  so that hopefully we'll get answers from those who might otherwise be hesitant to participate in such a poll.  We talk a lot about this subject so it will be interesting to see how many here have actually participated in them and what is the general consensus on BLM related protests.

“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













Have you participated in any BLM-related protests? 24 votes

Yes, I have participated in a peaceful protest
16% 4 votes
Yes, I have participated in a protest that included violence and or/ vandalism
0% 0 votes
Yes, I have participated in both peaceful and violent protests
4% 1 vote
No, but I support the peaceful protest movements
75% 18 votes
No, but I support the protests that include vandalism
4% 1 vote
No, and I do not support the act of protesting
0% 0 votes
«1

Comments

  • OnWis97OnWis97 Posts: 5,143
    I'm a no but only because of Covid...I'm in St. Paul and I felt a bit bad about not seeing first-hand what was going on but I decided that could do more bad catching and spreading the 'rona than I could do good protesting.
    1995 Milwaukee     1998 Alpine, Alpine     2003 Albany, Boston, Boston, Boston     2004 Boston, Boston     2006 Hartford, St. Paul (Petty), St. Paul (Petty)     2011 Alpine, Alpine     
    2013 Wrigley     2014 St. Paul     2016 Fenway, Fenway, Wrigley, Wrigley     2018 Missoula, Wrigley, Wrigley     2021 Asbury Park     2022 St Louis     2023 Austin, Austin
  • Meltdown99Meltdown99 Posts: 10,739
    No.  I do not participate in protest.
    Give Peas A Chance…
  • Glorified KCGlorified KC Posts: 2,672
    edited August 2020

    OnWis97 said:
    I'm a no but only because of Covid...I'm in St. Paul and I felt a bit bad about not seeing first-hand what was going on but I decided that could do more bad catching and spreading the 'rona than I could do good protesting.
    ^ Same here.  I try to help with donations.


    Post edited by Glorified KC on
    I wish I was a sacrifice, but somehow still lived on.
  • oftenreadingoftenreading Posts: 12,845
    Yes, I have participated in two protest marches and happy to be able to do so. 
    my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
  • jerparker20jerparker20 Posts: 2,501
    edited August 2020
    Yes. I went to one of the protests at the MN Capitol in St Paul the week of the unrest. 1. To show support 2. To see what was happening on the ground. I also went and helped board up businesses and clean up in St Paul the morning after the fires. I had previously lived and worked in that neighborhood and my kids daycare is located there as well. We also donated $ to local groups and to the legal fund for the Oglala Lakota people arrested during the July 4 protest at Mt. Rushmore.
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,033

    OnWis97 said:
    I'm a no but only because of Covid...I'm in St. Paul and I felt a bit bad about not seeing first-hand what was going on but I decided that could do more bad catching and spreading the 'rona than I could do good protesting.
    ^ Same here.  I try to help with donations.



    Same here as well.

    Pre-COVID,  I've participated in protests seeking support for environmental causes and one for the impeachment of you know who.  Post COVID, I'm too susceptible. 
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • PJPOWERPJPOWER Posts: 6,499
    I support peaceful protests.
  • hedonisthedonist Posts: 24,524
    Nope; it’d be unwise with my shitty health. 
  • static111static111 Posts: 4,889
    Everything that happens here in Austin with some level of organization I have been out social distancing of course.  If things get hairy I step away from the violence and try to tell people to cool down.  A couple of cops on motorcycles ran through the middle of the largest protest march right after George Floyd came within inches of my 8 year old daughter had looks of hate and contempt for all of us on their face.  Somehow that was the biggest demonstration in the city and the cops were acting like assholes and there was little to know violence on the part of protestors.  There were quite a few incidences of cops escalating with gas, pepper spray and bean bag rounds.  Being a father to a mixed race kid makes this shit closer to home for me than it does for others.  When I think about the fact that when my mom was growing up my daughters grandma couldn’t drink in the same water fountain and years later here we are peaceful protest and civil rights march after civil rights march and a whole segment is still being marginalized and treated differently it’s a wonder things aren’t worse than they are.  That is why we say No Justice No Peace in the street. You don’t get peace until there is justice for all.  Seeing people justify these cops and these white supremecist militias makes me sick and angry.  And that anyone is more worried about what white middle America voters will think than they are about systemic racism in this country is pathetic.
    Scio me nihil scire

    There are no kings inside the gates of eden
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,033
    If you look at the history of groups of people pursuing a desired outcome by way of unstructured, randomly violent protests in the U.S., the odds are against that action.  At most, the gain is usually  little or nothing, and more often it is loss.  
    Seen it.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • DarthMaeglinDarthMaeglin Posts: 2,604
    I’m among those who can’t/won’t due to the covid situation, but absolutely support the peaceful protests south of the border. If the Toronto chapter of BLM only protested at the U.S. consulate I could see joining them but I don’t see the same racism here in Canada (not at all saying it doesn’t exist however). Since January I’ll admit my views have shifted some having been 50 feet or so from one of our numerous gangland killings. I’d like to see all facets of the issues examined openly and honestly with the goal of progress, instead of zeroing in on only specific incidents.

    Just trying to explain my (anonymous?) answer, lol.
    "The world is full of idiots and I am but one of them."

    10-30-1991 Toronto, Toronto 1 & 2 2016, Toronto 2022
  • dignindignin Posts: 9,336

    Why Violent Protests Work


    https://www.gq.com/story/why-violent-protests-work

    Interesting read.
  • mcgruff10mcgruff10 Posts: 28,499
    dignin said:

    Why Violent Protests Work


    https://www.gq.com/story/why-violent-protests-work

    Interesting read.
    Very cool read.  Thank you for posting.  
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • dignindignin Posts: 9,336
    mcgruff10 said:
    dignin said:

    Why Violent Protests Work


    https://www.gq.com/story/why-violent-protests-work

    Interesting read.
    Very cool read.  Thank you for posting.  
    You bet. It challenged some of my assumptions.
  • mcgruff10mcgruff10 Posts: 28,499
    dignin said:
    mcgruff10 said:
    dignin said:

    Why Violent Protests Work


    https://www.gq.com/story/why-violent-protests-work

    Interesting read.
    Very cool read.  Thank you for posting.  
    You bet. It challenged some of my assumptions.
    Me too.  The author brings up some great points.  I might have to rethink my whole opinion onviolent protests and investigate further. 
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • DarthMaeglinDarthMaeglin Posts: 2,604
    mcgruff10 said:
    dignin said:

    Why Violent Protests Work


    https://www.gq.com/story/why-violent-protests-work

    Interesting read.
    Very cool read.  Thank you for posting.  
    I agree, thanks dignin.
    "The world is full of idiots and I am but one of them."

    10-30-1991 Toronto, Toronto 1 & 2 2016, Toronto 2022
  • Halifax2TheMaxHalifax2TheMax Posts: 39,024
    dignin said:

    Why Violent Protests Work


    https://www.gq.com/story/why-violent-protests-work

    Interesting read.
    This country was founded on violent protests and riots. Jesus, what are they teaching these days?
    09/15/1998 & 09/16/1998, Mansfield, MA; 08/29/00 08/30/00, Mansfield, MA; 07/02/03, 07/03/03, Mansfield, MA; 09/28/04, 09/29/04, Boston, MA; 09/22/05, Halifax, NS; 05/24/06, 05/25/06, Boston, MA; 07/22/06, 07/23/06, Gorge, WA; 06/27/2008, Hartford; 06/28/08, 06/30/08, Mansfield; 08/18/2009, O2, London, UK; 10/30/09, 10/31/09, Philadelphia, PA; 05/15/10, Hartford, CT; 05/17/10, Boston, MA; 05/20/10, 05/21/10, NY, NY; 06/22/10, Dublin, IRE; 06/23/10, Northern Ireland; 09/03/11, 09/04/11, Alpine Valley, WI; 09/11/11, 09/12/11, Toronto, Ont; 09/14/11, Ottawa, Ont; 09/15/11, Hamilton, Ont; 07/02/2012, Prague, Czech Republic; 07/04/2012 & 07/05/2012, Berlin, Germany; 07/07/2012, Stockholm, Sweden; 09/30/2012, Missoula, MT; 07/16/2013, London, Ont; 07/19/2013, Chicago, IL; 10/15/2013 & 10/16/2013, Worcester, MA; 10/21/2013 & 10/22/2013, Philadelphia, PA; 10/25/2013, Hartford, CT; 11/29/2013, Portland, OR; 11/30/2013, Spokane, WA; 12/04/2013, Vancouver, BC; 12/06/2013, Seattle, WA; 10/03/2014, St. Louis. MO; 10/22/2014, Denver, CO; 10/26/2015, New York, NY; 04/23/2016, New Orleans, LA; 04/28/2016 & 04/29/2016, Philadelphia, PA; 05/01/2016 & 05/02/2016, New York, NY; 05/08/2016, Ottawa, Ont.; 05/10/2016 & 05/12/2016, Toronto, Ont.; 08/05/2016 & 08/07/2016, Boston, MA; 08/20/2016 & 08/22/2016, Chicago, IL; 07/01/2018, Prague, Czech Republic; 07/03/2018, Krakow, Poland; 07/05/2018, Berlin, Germany; 09/02/2018 & 09/04/2018, Boston, MA; 09/08/2022, Toronto, Ont; 09/11/2022, New York, NY; 09/14/2022, Camden, NJ; 09/02/2023, St. Paul, MN; 05/04/2024 & 05/06/2024, Vancouver, BC; 05/10/2024, Portland, OR;

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  • mcgruff10mcgruff10 Posts: 28,499
    edited August 2020
    dignin said:

    Why Violent Protests Work


    https://www.gq.com/story/why-violent-protests-work

    Interesting read.
    This country was founded on violent protests and riots. Jesus, what are they teaching these days?
    What was his reply?
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • Halifax2TheMaxHalifax2TheMax Posts: 39,024
    mcgruff10 said:
    dignin said:

    Why Violent Protests Work


    https://www.gq.com/story/why-violent-protests-work

    Interesting read.
    This country was founded on violent protests and riots. Jesus, what are they teaching these days?
    What was his reply?
    If I believed, I’d be able to tell you. Ask Kellyanne CONway or Mike Pencil.
    09/15/1998 & 09/16/1998, Mansfield, MA; 08/29/00 08/30/00, Mansfield, MA; 07/02/03, 07/03/03, Mansfield, MA; 09/28/04, 09/29/04, Boston, MA; 09/22/05, Halifax, NS; 05/24/06, 05/25/06, Boston, MA; 07/22/06, 07/23/06, Gorge, WA; 06/27/2008, Hartford; 06/28/08, 06/30/08, Mansfield; 08/18/2009, O2, London, UK; 10/30/09, 10/31/09, Philadelphia, PA; 05/15/10, Hartford, CT; 05/17/10, Boston, MA; 05/20/10, 05/21/10, NY, NY; 06/22/10, Dublin, IRE; 06/23/10, Northern Ireland; 09/03/11, 09/04/11, Alpine Valley, WI; 09/11/11, 09/12/11, Toronto, Ont; 09/14/11, Ottawa, Ont; 09/15/11, Hamilton, Ont; 07/02/2012, Prague, Czech Republic; 07/04/2012 & 07/05/2012, Berlin, Germany; 07/07/2012, Stockholm, Sweden; 09/30/2012, Missoula, MT; 07/16/2013, London, Ont; 07/19/2013, Chicago, IL; 10/15/2013 & 10/16/2013, Worcester, MA; 10/21/2013 & 10/22/2013, Philadelphia, PA; 10/25/2013, Hartford, CT; 11/29/2013, Portland, OR; 11/30/2013, Spokane, WA; 12/04/2013, Vancouver, BC; 12/06/2013, Seattle, WA; 10/03/2014, St. Louis. MO; 10/22/2014, Denver, CO; 10/26/2015, New York, NY; 04/23/2016, New Orleans, LA; 04/28/2016 & 04/29/2016, Philadelphia, PA; 05/01/2016 & 05/02/2016, New York, NY; 05/08/2016, Ottawa, Ont.; 05/10/2016 & 05/12/2016, Toronto, Ont.; 08/05/2016 & 08/07/2016, Boston, MA; 08/20/2016 & 08/22/2016, Chicago, IL; 07/01/2018, Prague, Czech Republic; 07/03/2018, Krakow, Poland; 07/05/2018, Berlin, Germany; 09/02/2018 & 09/04/2018, Boston, MA; 09/08/2022, Toronto, Ont; 09/11/2022, New York, NY; 09/14/2022, Camden, NJ; 09/02/2023, St. Paul, MN; 05/04/2024 & 05/06/2024, Vancouver, BC; 05/10/2024, Portland, OR;

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  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,033
    edited August 2020
    You want violent protest?  Try these weapons:


    In case you don't have FB, I'll transcribe as best I can through by wrecked hearing:

    ************************************************
    Terry Tempest Williams:
    "How do you turn anger into sacred rage.  For me, I saw a community of people who understood what that meant.  In 1988, the year my mother had passed [from breast cancer due to atomic test bomb radiation], I went down to the Nevada Test Sight after reading Henry David Thoreau's  Civil Disobedience, after reading Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and that mattered to me- to physically cross the line and say now and say yes.  And with a group of women from Utah, with a group of Chivuit people and Shoshone People, Jesuits, and members from [?] , a community of resistors.  We crossed that line at the Nevada Test Site.

    I'll never forget- the officer cinched my wrists.  I was handcuffed.  She frisked my body, moved her hands down my legs, reached my ankle and felt a bulge, lifted up my pant leg, and inside my boot, and retrieved a pen and a pad of paper.  [Terry repeats that last few sentences].  She retrieved a pad and paper, looked at me and said, "And these?".  And I remember our eyes meeting and I said, "Weapons".  

    Our eyes met again, she put them back in my boot, put my pant leg over them, and we continued. 

    There are many different kinds of monkey wrenches.  A pencil, a pen, is one of those. 

    I think about Camus, when he talks about how at some point we have to begin to understand that words are more powerful than munitions."

    ******************************************

    "There are different types of Money Wrenches." 
    Don't listen to me and decide. 
    Don't only read dignin's posted article and decide. 
    Read widely.  Observe carefully.  Think critically.  Choose wisely. 
    Post edited by brianlux on
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • Halifax2TheMaxHalifax2TheMax Posts: 39,024
    brianlux said:
    You want violent protest?  Try these weapons:


    In case you don't have FB, I'll transcribe as best I can through by wrecked hearing:

    ************************************************
    Terry Tempest Williams:
    "How do you turn anger into sacred rage.  For me, I saw a community of people who understood what that meant.  In 1988, the year my mother had passed [from breast cancer due to atomic test bomb radiation], I went down to the Nevada Test Sight after reading Henry David Thoreau's  Civil Disobedience, after reading Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and that mattered to me- to physically cross the line and say now and say yes.  And with a group of women from Utah, with a group of Chivuit people and Shoshone People, Jesuits, and members from [?] , a community of resistors.  We crossed that line at the Nevada Test Site.

    I'll never forget- the officer cinched my wrists.  I was handcuffed.  She frisked my body, moved her hands down my legs, reached my ankle and felt a bulge, lifted up my pant leg, and inside my boot, and retrieved a pen and a pad of paper.  [Terry repeats that last few sentences].  She retrieved a pad and paper, looked at me and said, "And these?".  And I remember our eyes meeting and I said, "Weapons".  

    Our eyes met again, she put them back in my boot, put my pant leg over them, and we continued. 

    There are many different kinds of monkey wrenches.  A pencil, a pen, is one of those. 

    I think about Camus, when he talks about how at some point we have to begin to understand that words are more powerful than munitions."

    ******************************************

    "There are different types of Money Wrenches." 
    Don't listen to me and decide. 
    Don't only read dignin's posted article and decide. 
    Read widely.  Observe carefully.  Think critically.  Choose wisely. 
    The pen is mightier than the sword, Mr. Lux. But I’ve become skeptical due to the lack of reading comprehension and critical reading skills available today in the USA USA USA. It’s one thing to read Thoreau, it’s another to understand it in its time and put it in context for today. 
    09/15/1998 & 09/16/1998, Mansfield, MA; 08/29/00 08/30/00, Mansfield, MA; 07/02/03, 07/03/03, Mansfield, MA; 09/28/04, 09/29/04, Boston, MA; 09/22/05, Halifax, NS; 05/24/06, 05/25/06, Boston, MA; 07/22/06, 07/23/06, Gorge, WA; 06/27/2008, Hartford; 06/28/08, 06/30/08, Mansfield; 08/18/2009, O2, London, UK; 10/30/09, 10/31/09, Philadelphia, PA; 05/15/10, Hartford, CT; 05/17/10, Boston, MA; 05/20/10, 05/21/10, NY, NY; 06/22/10, Dublin, IRE; 06/23/10, Northern Ireland; 09/03/11, 09/04/11, Alpine Valley, WI; 09/11/11, 09/12/11, Toronto, Ont; 09/14/11, Ottawa, Ont; 09/15/11, Hamilton, Ont; 07/02/2012, Prague, Czech Republic; 07/04/2012 & 07/05/2012, Berlin, Germany; 07/07/2012, Stockholm, Sweden; 09/30/2012, Missoula, MT; 07/16/2013, London, Ont; 07/19/2013, Chicago, IL; 10/15/2013 & 10/16/2013, Worcester, MA; 10/21/2013 & 10/22/2013, Philadelphia, PA; 10/25/2013, Hartford, CT; 11/29/2013, Portland, OR; 11/30/2013, Spokane, WA; 12/04/2013, Vancouver, BC; 12/06/2013, Seattle, WA; 10/03/2014, St. Louis. MO; 10/22/2014, Denver, CO; 10/26/2015, New York, NY; 04/23/2016, New Orleans, LA; 04/28/2016 & 04/29/2016, Philadelphia, PA; 05/01/2016 & 05/02/2016, New York, NY; 05/08/2016, Ottawa, Ont.; 05/10/2016 & 05/12/2016, Toronto, Ont.; 08/05/2016 & 08/07/2016, Boston, MA; 08/20/2016 & 08/22/2016, Chicago, IL; 07/01/2018, Prague, Czech Republic; 07/03/2018, Krakow, Poland; 07/05/2018, Berlin, Germany; 09/02/2018 & 09/04/2018, Boston, MA; 09/08/2022, Toronto, Ont; 09/11/2022, New York, NY; 09/14/2022, Camden, NJ; 09/02/2023, St. Paul, MN; 05/04/2024 & 05/06/2024, Vancouver, BC; 05/10/2024, Portland, OR;

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  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,033
    brianlux said:
    You want violent protest?  Try these weapons:


    In case you don't have FB, I'll transcribe as best I can through by wrecked hearing:

    ************************************************
    Terry Tempest Williams:
    "How do you turn anger into sacred rage.  For me, I saw a community of people who understood what that meant.  In 1988, the year my mother had passed [from breast cancer due to atomic test bomb radiation], I went down to the Nevada Test Sight after reading Henry David Thoreau's  Civil Disobedience, after reading Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and that mattered to me- to physically cross the line and say now and say yes.  And with a group of women from Utah, with a group of Chivuit people and Shoshone People, Jesuits, and members from [?] , a community of resistors.  We crossed that line at the Nevada Test Site.

    I'll never forget- the officer cinched my wrists.  I was handcuffed.  She frisked my body, moved her hands down my legs, reached my ankle and felt a bulge, lifted up my pant leg, and inside my boot, and retrieved a pen and a pad of paper.  [Terry repeats that last few sentences].  She retrieved a pad and paper, looked at me and said, "And these?".  And I remember our eyes meeting and I said, "Weapons".  

    Our eyes met again, she put them back in my boot, put my pant leg over them, and we continued. 

    There are many different kinds of monkey wrenches.  A pencil, a pen, is one of those. 

    I think about Camus, when he talks about how at some point we have to begin to understand that words are more powerful than munitions."

    ******************************************

    "There are different types of Money Wrenches." 
    Don't listen to me and decide. 
    Don't only read dignin's posted article and decide. 
    Read widely.  Observe carefully.  Think critically.  Choose wisely. 
    The pen is mightier than the sword, Mr. Lux. But I’ve become skeptical due to the lack of reading comprehension and critical reading skills available today in the USA USA USA. It’s one thing to read Thoreau, it’s another to understand it in its time and put it in context for today. 

    Lack of reading skills in America?  Oh my god, my friend- don't get me started!
    I won't discount acts of vandalism as a possible route to achieving the goal, but I stop at harming other people.
    A good example is set by Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and organization that has at times been mis-labled as "terrorist"  (they are not).  There motto:  "Do no harm to others."
    I personally stand firm by that. 
    Other must choose their own road, but it concerns me that those roads are often chosen with little forethought. 

    I'm not convinced that the violent path is the most sought out.  It's easy to type about it, but look at the poll results thus far.  Most people here have not participated in that kind of thing or seen the horror.  I have seen it.  It sticks in your brain and soul.  No thanks.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • Meltdown99Meltdown99 Posts: 10,739
    edited February 2022
  • Meltdown99Meltdown99 Posts: 10,739
    Wtf
    Give Peas A Chance…
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,033
    Yeow... I'm all helping kids learn to be accepting and non-prejudicial- you bet!- but not to use them as protesters.  That is totally dishonest and disingenuous.   
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • mace1229mace1229 Posts: 9,367
    Looks like a private school. Also don’t think you can record and post kids at school without parent permission. So I’m wondering if all parents were informed and okay with this, or they just didn’t care about child laws?
  • kids chanting "black lives matter"....how awful
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)
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  • Spiritual_ChaosSpiritual_Chaos Posts: 30,525
    edited February 2022
    Kids showing support for human lives. 

    My god. 
    Post edited by Spiritual_Chaos on
    "Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
  • oftenreadingoftenreading Posts: 12,845
    Who says they were forced? I'll take that with a huge grain of salt. Someone posting this has an agenda.

    Would the poster be as outraged if the kids were holding pro-environment signs and chanting "Save the trees"? 
    my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
  • Who says they were forced? I'll take that with a huge grain of salt. Someone posting this has an agenda.

    Would the poster be as outraged if the kids were holding pro-environment signs and chanting "Save the trees"? 
    You think a 5yo has the brain capacity to understand what they are really doing?
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