The big difference is that now when the protesters level charges of physical abuse they’ve got footage of the event and the damage it left on them.
Neither the national guard nor staties should ever be called up simply to dislocate protesters - if it turns violent or there are rabid counter-protesters then I can understand… but mere obstruction doesn’t warrant violence.
to be fair the protesters aren’t really helping their own cause.
the last wave of social protests were maybe 5-10 years ago on sexual assault, and back then protesters knew to keep to public spaces. if you demonstrate on the sidewalk or organise a march you’re exercising freedom of speech.
but the new wave of protest organizers didn’t get the memo or something. when you do shit like block off a highway or occupy a privately-held building, you’re fighting on others’ terms. You annoy the heck out of the public, create ill-will, and give law enforcement the excuse of removing you for trespassing.
the amount of police that showed up is shocking (if there were guns present maybe they would all have stayed home instead?), but removing these protesters was the right move.
The big difference is that now when the protesters level charges of physical abuse they’ve got footage of the event and the damage it left on them.
Neither the national guard nor staties should ever be called up simply to dislocate protesters - if it turns violent or there are rabid counter-protesters then I can understand… but mere obstruction doesn’t warrant violence.
to be fair the protesters aren’t really helping their own cause.
the last wave of social protests were maybe 5-10 years ago on sexual assault, and back then protesters knew to keep to public spaces. if you demonstrate on the sidewalk or organise a march you’re exercising freedom of speech.
but the new wave of protest organizers didn’t get the memo or something. when you do shit like block off a highway or occupy a privately-held building, you’re fighting on others’ terms. You annoy the heck out of the public, create ill-will, and give law enforcement the excuse of removing you for trespassing.
the amount of police that showed up is shocking (if there were guns present maybe they would all have stayed home instead?), but removing these protesters was the right move.