I think it’s good when people who usually don’t protest go out on the streets. A lot of those people are willing to learn but even more are very stubborn in their liberal beliefs. In general it’s a good opportunity for more radical groups to reach out to a large part of the general public and teach them some things about follow up steps after the protest. It takes a lot of patience and emotional labour but it can be very fruitful.
While I do not disagree with more pessimistic takes elsewhere in this thread, I think you hit on something important. And to add, liberals who think their free speech is protected and insist on Peaceful! Protest! can get a very rapid political education when their Hands Up, Don’t Shoot! gesture gets them gassed and shot with less-lethals and charged by a hog phalanx just as readily as the protestors who weren’t doing things the approved way.
I think it’s good when people who usually don’t protest go out on the streets. A lot of those people are willing to learn but even more are very stubborn in their liberal beliefs. In general it’s a good opportunity for more radical groups to reach out to a large part of the general public and teach them some things about follow up steps after the protest. It takes a lot of patience and emotional labour but it can be very fruitful.
While I do not disagree with more pessimistic takes elsewhere in this thread, I think you hit on something important. And to add, liberals who think their free speech is protected and insist on Peaceful! Protest! can get a very rapid political education when their Hands Up, Don’t Shoot! gesture gets them gassed and shot with less-lethals and charged by a hog phalanx just as readily as the protestors who weren’t doing things the approved way.