Protests aren't about sending a message to the government. The government doesn't give a shit and will not listen. Protests are about sending a message to the people, about signaling what should be accepted and what should not. Protests are about spreading an idea, about leading by example, about signalling to others "hey, you're not alone in your discontent!"

I think the very word "protest" is wrong. They aren't protests. They're demonstrations.

The anti-ICE demonstrations will not convince an evil government to stop abducting people. But they do send the message to everyone else that we don't have to and in fact should not let ICE abduct our neighbors. The anti-genocide demonstrations were never going to stop genocidal western governments from helping Israel slaughter civilians, but they did help spread a message around the world that people need to do something to try to stop it.

I feel like I should have known this already.

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[–] spectre@hexbear.net 18 points 1 month ago

This is correct. Also lost on Americans due to rampant liberal/individualist brainworms is that the "demonstration" ought to be a demonstration of the will, courage, and discipline of your organized group or movement.

I don't particularly care about the property destruction, it's great energy, but what would be more threatening is if it were performed in an organized manner, in a way that demonstrates clarity of intent. It is a level up to have "approved targets" and to only have those ones hit. Or possibly none at all, if the situation calls for it.

I don't say this out of a particular sympathy for a small business tyrant, or because it is a necessity to be nonviolent. It is because it would be a demonstration that the group means business and you can't stop us. Maybe today we're going to bust up the bank of America's windows. Maybe next time we are gonna go in there and try and rob the place, or if there's a small business that is known for harming it's workers or the community they could be a target. Maybe next time we go full non-violent to demonstrate that we are perfectly capable of a liberal "peaceful protest" if we want to be, but when we do other actions it is for a reason, and we are happy to explain why.