Absolutely stellar breakdown.

We're in an era where money is power, and it affords you the time, energy, and other resources to mostly ignore anything you want, even laws. While the working class comparatively has little to no control over their few resources, those that organize are doing so because they feel they have no other choice, and it's literally about survival. I'm sure most folks involved in protests have important things to do in their daily lives and they wouldn't be demonstrating en masse unless it was deemed important.

Strength in numbers is all we have, and to understand the scope of an issue, we must organize, educate, and then disrupt and demonstrate if we ever hope to reform or dismantle systems that continue to exploit every single thing with value in this world. We're seeing the consequences of inaction in real time, and guess what? Climate and ecosystem collapse + severe economic inequality is what we get when we do nothing to course correct.

This is the way.

Hear hear!

Hey, that's "Civil" Forfeiture in 2024.

"We have guns and riot gear. Wtf you gonna do about it?" -- Signed, Bullies with Badges

So glad someone other than me is pointing this out!

This article really struck a chord with me. Maybe it's confirmation bias, but I feel so much of the same things described here, and I do see NYC changing as it was told. I love NY for exactly the diverse and no-nonsense, hard-working attitudes that persisted here for decades. All of the color of life that makes NY so unique is rooted in the working class population... And they're being squeezed out of every space, not just here, but everywhere.

This, 100%. Did I have a hard time being called a weird kid growing up? Absolutely. I feel how this might make someone very uncomfortable. I embrace being called weird now after much struggle, and use it as a badge of honor. And currently, that exact flippant energy being used at people who can only parrot hateful things? That's my bread and butter now, baby.

Do. Not. Trust. The. Police.

It's so impossible for me to understand how this is an endorsed action. I know cruelty is the point, but has society been so brainwashed that we're here? I don't believe the majority of us are so morally bankrupt.

In an alternate timeline, the title to this post could refer to the amount of relief for student loan debt, or state grants for humanely addressing the homelessness, lack of healthcare accessibility, and climate crisis, for starters.

I think this comic is supposed to be based in the future.

Seems pretty relevant now as well. Just ask the brave environmental activists with RICO charges in Atlanta, for starters.

RIP Tortuguita

I get into this headspace often, but try to remember that all human systems are subject to being disrupted and dismantled, no matter their power or influence.

This is also implying that common everyday people actually have control or can influence the situation.

Here's why I take issue with this statement:

• this ignores collective/mass action
• this disregards the few government entities that actually do serve public interests, albeit imperfectly

An example of an individual creating meaningful positive change is teachers. Most people have had a great teacher, and larger schools have greater reach and influence, thus an individual with many students over a period of time can make a big difference at the local level. And one of those students can rise to prominence and do further good.

Another is some benevolent nonprofits that seek government funding to maximize their reach and support of the community. Often they're run by one or a small handful of folks. If they're lucky, and prepared, they can affect positive change for many, like community garden organizers.

There can be a large volume of good change from a single person's actions because of influence. Not saying that it's a fast mechanism for change, but I refuse to abandon it. Because although it's likely the only solution we have, it's still one that is fueled by will and daily choice, which most everyone can enact in small and big ways.

Frankly, if we could just put solidarity of the working class first, we outnumber them.