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Black Lives Matter Protesters Block SF Bay Bridge.

brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,014
in A Moving Train
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/19/black-lives-matter-protesters-block-san-franciscos-bay-bridge

"Protesters with the Black Lives Matter movement blocked traffic on the westbound span of the Bay Bridge that connects Oakland and San Francisco as part of a long weekend of protests aimed at reclaiming Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy of radicalism.

Shortly after 3.30pm, a caravan of cars slowed to a stop on the five-lane bridge. Passengers in the first line of cars passed chains through their windows and locked themselves to both sides of the bridge, bringing all westbound traffic to a stop.

“Today is the day when we reclaim MLK’s radical legacy,” said April Thomas, who was chained between two cars. “I’m out here for Tamir Rice, Rekia Boyd, for my mother, myself, for Harriet Tubman.”"

This bugs me on a personal level because I have a phobia about being on or crossing bridges. I've crossed the Bay Bridge more times than I can count and it always unnerves me to do so, especially after a section of it fell during the Loma Prieta earth quake. If I had been stuck on that bridge during this protest I probably would have just abandoned my car and walked either back to Oakland or on to Treasure Island.

"reclaiming Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy of radicalism"? Really? Is this how MLK would have done it, or at least where he would have staged such a protest? The bay area is ultra integrated and very low on the race hate scale. Why there? I just don't see how this is going to help race relations in America. If anything, it will only serve to exacerbate racial tensions.
"It's a sad and beautiful world"
-Roberto Benigni











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Comments

  • rr165892rr165892 Posts: 5,697
    I couldn't agree more with you on this Bri,of all places the Bay Area???????

    I rolled my eyes.I believe the BLM is out of touch with society and are forcing an issue that has gotten worse the more they open their misguided mouths.This along with the Oscar boycott and it just makes me wonder what the end game is here.
  • muskydanmuskydan Posts: 1,013
    edited January 2016

    People who may have some sympathy for the cause before that were stuck on the bridge will now see the light and understand how misguided and ignant the BLM movement Really is....I can't say racist since we all know they can't be considered racist..
    Post edited by muskydan on
  • muskydanmuskydan Posts: 1,013
    rr165892 said:

    I couldn't agree more with you on this Bri,of all places the Bay Area???????

    I rolled my eyes.I believe the BLM is out of touch with society and are forcing an issue that has gotten worse the more they open their misguided mouths.This along with the Oscar boycott and it just makes me wonder what the end game is here.

    Spike Lee is pissed that his movies suck as bad as his Knicks the past 10 years. He is so irrelevant now that he needs to pull shit like this to get back in spotlight.
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,014
    The real shame is that racism is still rampant in much of America, and problems such as a disproportionate number of black American males being incarcerated due to racial profiling are still widespread. These problems definitely need to be addressed but I don't see BLM making the kind of moves that will help. And I say this as someone not at all afraid to support so-called radical actions if those actions help move things forward. I do think BLM could make a positive difference and I'm not going to disparage that movement entirely like some are apt to, but I don't see how this particular action is helpful. If I'm wrong, I want to know why.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni











  • hedonisthedonist Posts: 24,524
    What is considered radical action, though? These folks blocked a major thru-way, bridge or not.

    Is busting up local businesses, burning them OK?

    Honest question - to what lengths are these actions acceptable?
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,014
    hedonist said:

    What is considered radical action, though? These folks blocked a major thru-way, bridge or not.

    Is busting up local businesses, burning them OK?

    Honest question - to what lengths are these actions acceptable?

    Dr. King's Freedom March was probably considered radical but the point of that was not to just be disruptive. Any action should have a point and lead to a result. If BLM had held a rally on the steps of city hall and made a lot of noise, that would attract attention and maybe garner some support. Blocking roads and burning building will just piss people off and I don't see how that will help.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni











  • InHiding80InHiding80 Upland,CA Posts: 7,623
    He who fights monsters...
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,014
    InHiding80 said:

    He who fights monsters...

    Nietzsche. Very good!
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni











  • chadwickchadwick up my ass Posts: 21,157
    edited January 2016
    crossed that bridge driving the 18 wheeler fulla seafood. im not a fan of that huge fucking tall bastard of a bridge. nice sharp turn when under construction & trying to get back on the bridge out of SF.

    blocking the bridge & causing traffic to stop & back up on the bridge is ridiculous.

    i would be scared senseless sitting there on the bridge
    I've been known for undoing my seatbelt & rolling down my window when crossing many a bridges.

    obviously not a fan of heights

    in my next life im a ironworker with a 2footer

    Post edited by chadwick on
    for poetry through the ceiling. ISBN: 1 4241 8840 7

    "Hear me, my chiefs!
    I am tired; my heart is
    sick and sad. From where
    the sun stands I will fight
    no more forever."
    Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
  • jeffbrjeffbr Seattle Posts: 7,177
    We had a peaceful, well attended MLK march in Seattle on Monday. I commented to my wife that this was a great march, done respectfully, people listened to their message honoring Dr. King. I thought it was a nice contrast to the idiot #blacklivesmatter demonstrations we've had here, including one where they completely took over the podium at a Bernie Sanders rally, causing Bernie to stand there shrugging his shoulders and it seemed to alienate everyone (including Sanders supporters sympathetic to the #blacklivesmatter cause). Then I saw this march across the bridge there, and it solidified for me that the #blacklivesmatter people are less interested in being accepted, and more interested in causing grief for everyone. To each their own, and perhaps there is an audience for their message, but I don't know many people who respond positively to that type of message.
    "I'll use the magic word - let's just shut the fuck up, please." EV, 04/13/08
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,014
    jeffbr said:

    We had a peaceful, well attended MLK march in Seattle on Monday. I commented to my wife that this was a great march, done respectfully, people listened to their message honoring Dr. King. I thought it was a nice contrast to the idiot #blacklivesmatter demonstrations we've had here, including one where they completely took over the podium at a Bernie Sanders rally, causing Bernie to stand there shrugging his shoulders and it seemed to alienate everyone (including Sanders supporters sympathetic to the #blacklivesmatter cause). Then I saw this march across the bridge there, and it solidified for me that the #blacklivesmatter people are less interested in being accepted, and more interested in causing grief for everyone. To each their own, and perhaps there is an audience for their message, but I don't know many people who respond positively to that type of message.

    It's great to hear about your peaceful MLK rally in Seattle, Jeff. That's the kind of thing that will help move us forward.

    I almost get the impression that BLM is really a subversive group of white racists made up to look blacks who are trying to give African Americans a bad name. I know that's not the case, of course, but the results are similar.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni











  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,248
    edited January 2016
    The movement definitely doesn't seem very selective. They crash Bernie Sanders rallies and protest in San Fran. There are much better things to crash and much better places to protest. It's kind of like these folks suffer from a lack of transportation, so they just do their thing wherever happens to be convenient. :confused: They should be a lot more strategic in their movement. I support their basic reasoning behind it, but they just aren't employing very good tactics. Too bad they don't have someone like MLK to help them out in terms of how to effectively protest and get their point across in a constructive way. As it is now they are shooting themselves in the foot more often than not, which is unfortunate.
    Post edited by PJ_Soul on
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,014
    PJ_Soul said:

    The movement definitely doesn't seem very selective. They crash Bernie Sanders rallies and protest in San Fran. There are much better things to crash and much better places to protest. It's kind of like these folks suffer from a lack of transportation, so they just do their thing wherever happens to be convenient. :confused: They should be a lot more strategic in their movement. I support their basic reasoning behind it, but they just aren't employing very good tactics. Too bad they don't have someone like MLK to help them out in terms of how to effectively protest and get their point across in a constructive way. As it is now they are shooting themselves in the foot more often than not, which is unfortunate.

    Exactly!

    I wish some prominent black folks would come forward and stand up to this group. Nobody of importance should give a crap about what some honky like me says about the subject. I'm not even comfortable with having started this thread. But it is an important issue. I hope some sensible forward thing African Americans will speak out on this issue.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni











  • rr165892rr165892 Posts: 5,697
    brianlux said:

    show previous quotes
    It's great to hear about your peaceful MLK rally in Seattle, Jeff. That's the kind of thing that will help move us forward.

    I almost get the impression that BLM is really a subversive group of white racists made up to look blacks who are trying to give African Americans a bad name. I know that's not the case, of course, but the results are similar.
    Come on now Brian,that's a real stretch.The White Rascists are behind BLM.Im sure some on the do no wrong ultra left believe that nonsense.Thats funny shit right there.
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,014
    rr165892 said:

    show previous quotes
    Come on now Brian,that's a real stretch.The White Rascists are behind BLM.Im sure some on the do no wrong ultra left believe that nonsense.Thats funny shit right there.
    It's just a metaphor of sorts. The results of many BLM actions are negative. That's what I'm trying to point out. But you can bet there are plenty of white racists who are eating this shit up big time.

    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni











  • muskydanmuskydan Posts: 1,013
    brianlux said:

    show previous quotes
    It's just a metaphor of sorts. The results of many BLM actions are negative. That's what I'm trying to point out. But you can bet there are plenty of white racists who are eating this shit up big time.

    Let me ask you this, if you didn't know me from anything would you consider me a racist if I thought anyone who actively participates in BLM events are ignorant beings??
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,014
    muskydan said:

    show previous quotes
    Let me ask you this, if you didn't know me from anything would you consider me a racist if I thought anyone who actively participates in BLM events are ignorant beings??
    I would not jump to that conclusion but I would question why you believe everyone involved in BLM is an "ignorant being". I'm guessing there are many young intelligent members of BLM who are frustrated with seeing racism still running strong in America and seeing a disproportionate number of their fellow African Americans in jail and just don't know what else to do about it. And so based on that thought, I would question why you would assume every member of BLM is an ignorant being.

    How does your question relate to what I said?
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni











  • PJfanwillneverleave1PJfanwillneverleave1 Posts: 12,885
    edited January 2016

    image
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdE5bAGIyC4
    Post edited by PJfanwillneverleave1 on
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,014
    And here's another thing. You know what bothers me about the concept of "Black Lives Matter"? The same thing that bothers me about the concept of "All Lives Matter" and "All Hispanics Matter" and "All Asians Matter". What bugs me about that is that I don't know anyone who says things things with other lives besides human beings in mind. If "All Lives Matter" were meant to include elephants and whales and finches and echinoderms and nudibranchs I would be so on board with that!
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni











  • muskydanmuskydan Posts: 1,013
    brianlux said:

    show previous quotes
    I would not jump to that conclusion but I would question why you believe everyone involved in BLM is an "ignorant being". I'm guessing there are many young intelligent members of BLM who are frustrated with seeing racism still running strong in America and seeing a disproportionate number of their fellow African Americans in jail and just don't know what else to do about it. And so based on that thought, I would question why you would assume every member of BLM is an ignorant being.

    How does your question relate to what I said?
    Thank you for answering my question...from my experience I have not met one I would consider a intelligent. I am around them atleast a few times a week. I will still keep a open mind to perhaps discover one that does not have their ass completely up their arse:). If only they would concentrate more efforts on educating the urban terrorists that are killing each other at shocking levels... Levels like the mid 90's. This summer is going to be a complete bloodbath...
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,014
    muskydan said:

    show previous quotes
    Thank you for answering my question...from my experience I have not met one I would consider a intelligent. I am around them atleast a few times a week. I will still keep a open mind to perhaps discover one that does not have their ass completely up their arse:). If only they would concentrate more efforts on educating the urban terrorists that are killing each other at shocking levels... Levels like the mid 90's. This summer is going to be a complete bloodbath...
    My guess is that until the unemployment, poverty and racial profiling ease up the killing will continue.

    I lived in the bay area and San Francisco during the 60's and 70's when a number of black organizations were doing lots of good things for their communities- groups like the original Guardian Angels (I believe the current group is not the same) and black run retail store that carried Black and Brown Stamps and even some of the work of the early Black Panthers before that got bloody. And the spokespersons for African Americans were very instrumental in making positive change- people like Dick Gregory for example. I went to see him speak (I was like one of three white guys in this big crowd but I wanted to hear what the man had to say and no one bothered me). His words were powerful and empowering and made a lot of sense.

    Where are people like these today? Maybe I just don't know about them.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni











  • PJfanwillneverleave1PJfanwillneverleave1 Posts: 12,885
    ^^^
    Well you have the will and jada smith family.
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,014
    PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

    ^^^
    Well you have the will and jada smith family.

    Yeah, they're cool I guess but not exactly what I would call social activists or reformists.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni











  • PJfanwillneverleave1PJfanwillneverleave1 Posts: 12,885
    ^^^
    Not so sure about that.
    Here out of nowhere we have his wife "a celebrity", going after the jugular of a perceived injustice.
    Her own race is wincing.
  • ldent42ldent42 NYC Posts: 7,859
    Here you go b-lux. There's a guy holding a "horses lives matter" sign
    http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2016/01/19/mayor-may-have-put-the-cart-before-the-horse-in-announcing-carriage-deal-in-central-park.html?cid=facebook_NY1
    NYC 06/24/08-Auckland 11/27/09-Chch 11/29/09-Newark 05/18/10-Atlanta 09/22/12-Chicago 07/19/13-Brooklyn 10/18/13 & 10/19/13-Hartford 10/25/13-Baltimore 10/27/13-Auckland 1/17/14-GC 1/19/14-Melbourne 1/24/14-Sydney 1/26/14-Amsterdam 6/16/14 & 6/17/14-Milan 6/20/14-Berlin 6/26/14-Leeds 7/8/14-Milton Keynes 7/11/14-St. Louis 10/3/14-NYC 9/26/15
    LIVEFOOTSTEPS.ORG/USER/?USR=435
  • callencallen Posts: 6,388
    edited January 2016
    Saw thread topic and tried not to enter knowing I'd read about all the inconveniences experienced by the poor white males by those darn coloreds expression their grievances. They should just sit in the corner and suck it up. But I did. Jeese.
    10-18-2000 Houston, 04-06-2003 Houston, 6-25-2003 Toronto, 10-8-2004 Kissimmee, 9-4-2005 Calgary, 12-3-05 Sao Paulo, 7-2-2006 Denver, 7-22-06 Gorge, 7-23-2006 Gorge, 9-13-2006 Bern, 6-22-2008 DC, 6-24-2008 MSG, 6-25-2008 MSG
  • Indifference71Indifference71 Chicago Posts: 14,892
    callen said:

    Saw thread topic and tried not to enter knowing I'd read about all the inconveniences experienced by the poor white males by those darn coloreds expression their grievances. They should just sit in the corner and suck it up. But I did. Jeese.

    And I tried not to enter this thread because I know I'd see stuff like this. Because when you're white, everything is perfect and you can't complain about anything.
  • callencallen Posts: 6,388
    edited January 2016
    Indifference71 said:

    show previous quotes
    And I tried not to enter this thread because I know I'd see stuff like this. Because when you're white, everything is perfect and you can't complain about anything.
    Let's see whites complaining bout being inconvenienced and blacks complain of being shot and discriminated against. Yeah same thing.

    Poor white people have it sooooo hard.
    10-18-2000 Houston, 04-06-2003 Houston, 6-25-2003 Toronto, 10-8-2004 Kissimmee, 9-4-2005 Calgary, 12-3-05 Sao Paulo, 7-2-2006 Denver, 7-22-06 Gorge, 7-23-2006 Gorge, 9-13-2006 Bern, 6-22-2008 DC, 6-24-2008 MSG, 6-25-2008 MSG
  • Indifference71Indifference71 Chicago Posts: 14,892
    callen said:

    show previous quotes
    Let's see whites complaining bout being inconvenienced and blacks complain of being shot and discriminated against. Yeah same thing.

    Poor white people have it sooooo hard.
    So white people can't have problems. Gotcha. Thanks for the reminder on why I try to avoid AMT.
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,014
    ldent42 said:

    Here you go b-lux. There's a guy holding a "horses lives matter" sign
    http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2016/01/19/mayor-may-have-put-the-cart-before-the-horse-in-announcing-carriage-deal-in-central-park.html?cid=facebook_NY1

    Haha!

    I mean "neigh! neigh!"
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni











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