Protests: A Bridge Too Far?

The Jan 6 MAGA patriots should take notes, they couldn’t even scale a ramp… that had stairs like ten yards away… lol

Quote by ElCoco

I don't know much about how English law works, but some counterprotesters received justice yesterday in Fort Worth.

Armed 'Antifa' militants attacked drag show protesters but ended up getting arrested. One of the counterprotesters allegedly pepper-sprayed the protesters across the street from a drag show in Fort Worth, Texas, leading to three arrests, according to the city's police department.

https://twitter.com/fortworthpd/status/1650634900750364673

 

Black-clad counterprotesters in tactical gear stood outside Fort Brewery and Pizza as the restaurant hosted a drag show Sunday, according to a news release from the Fort Worth Police Department.

 

Protesters for ‘Protect Texas Kids’ demonstrated across the street.

 

Counterprotester Samuel Folks, 20, allegedly went over to the protesters and pepper-sprayed them, subsequently swinging at police when they tried to arrest him. Counterprotester Christopher Guillott, 33, is accused of attacking officers with an umbrella and hitting one in the face as they attempted to handcuff Folks, with both men continuing to resist arrest. A third counterprotester Meghan Grant, 37, allegedly tried to charge past the officers to reach Folks and Grant and subsequently failed to comply with an officer before ultimately being arrested herself, the department reported.

 

Folks was arrested on suspicion of crimes including assault causing bodily injury, while he and Guillott both face a second-degree felony charge for allegedly assaulting a peace officer. Police arrested Grant on suspicion of interfering with public duties and resisting arrest.

 

https://twitter.com/fortworthpd/status/1650634205272080389?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1650634205272080389%7Ctwgr%5E989b84a078e30f16a64678360e381e9d5d008fd3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.westernjournal.com%2Farmed-antifa-militants-attack-drag-show-protesters-end-face-pavement-minutes-later%2F

 

Meanwhile, in other news...

2023 Incidents

• 04/08/23—Cottonwood, AZ—At least 10 members of the Proud Boys, some in tactical vests and face masks, protested a sold-out Arizona Pride Tour drag event. LINK

• 04/05/23—Pasco, WA—Extremists protest an all-ages Disney-themed drag show. LINK

• 04/01/23—Chardon, OH—White nationalist organization the Patriot Front among protesters at a drag brunch at a bar. LINK

• 04/01/23—Chesterland, OH—White nationalist organization the Patriot Front among protesters at a Drag Queen Story Hour at a church. LINK

• 03/31/23—Chardon, OH—Drag-friendly church firebombed by neo-Nazi. LINK

• 03/26/23—Indianapolis, IN—Indy Reads bookstore temporarily closed following a bomb threat targeted the store’s monthly Drag Story Hour. LINK

• 03/26/23—Louisville, KY—Protestors and a bomb threat targeting a Drag Queen Story Time show forced the evacuation of a building. The same event faced online threats from a neo-Nazi group. LINK 

• 03/24/23—Chesterland, OH—The Community Church of Chesterland, which plans to host a Drag Story Hour next Saturday, said its sign and building were vandalized by molotov cocktails Friday night, and that Proud Boys were sending online notices encouraging protests. LINK

• 03/22/23—Prestonburg, KY—An all-ages drag show was canceled after organizers and supporters said they faced online threats of armed protest. LINK

• 03/22/23—Tuscon, AZ—Bookmans Northwest location postponed its Drag Story Hour after a campaign by The Bridge Christian Church to get the event canceled; the Proud Boys offered the church “extra security.”  LINK

• 03/11/23—Wadsworth, OH—Protest at “Rock-n-Roll Humanist Drag Queen Story Hour” in Memorial Park. Two people were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after melees involving pepper spray, the violent use of a flag pole as a weapon, and a protester who pointed an object that looks like a gun at a crowd. LINK.  

• 03/09/23—New York City—Anti-drag panel discussion at a New York Young Republican Club event featuring Roger Stone and Red Scare podcast hosts Dasha Nekrasova and Anna Khachiyan. LINK

• 03/08/23—Royal Oak, MI—A small protest over Drag Queen Story Hour being held at the  lesbian-owned Sidetrack Bookshop was met with a significantly larger group of pro-equality counter protesters. LINK

• 02/25/23—Lakewood, TX—Anti-LGBTQ protesters gathered outside a drag queen brunch at BuzzBrews. The groups held signs reading “stop grooming children,” “defend traditional values,” and “drag the queens out of town.”

• 02/24/23—New York, NY—Anti-LGBTQ protesters showed up at Jackson Heights Library to disrupt a Drag Story Hour event. LINK.

• 02/22/23—New York, NY—Anti-LGBTQ protesters assembled outside of the Queens Public Library to disrupt a Drag Story Hour event. LINK.

• 02/19/23—Tempe, AZ—A coffee shop closed down after receiving a bomb threat during their Drag Queen Story Hour. LGBTQ-owned Brick Road Coffee was the target of heavy online harassment after the event caught the attention of the Proud Boys. The bomb threat was sent over the internet. Police confirmed Proud Boys were “in the area” at the time of the event.U8FYnFQPyoOdeQEk

• 02/18/23—Silver Spring, MD—A drag queen story hour at Loyalty Books was targeted by members of the far-right group the Proud Boys. Protesters reportedly used anti-LGBTQ slurs, including false allegations of grooming, and “graphic accusations.” LINK

• 02/03/23—Orlando, FL— Florida Gov. DeSantis’s administration filed a complaint against the Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation over a showing of Nina West’s “A Drag Queen Christmas” in December 2022. The complaint alleges that the show violated state law for allowing a person to “commit lewd or lascivious exhibition” in the presence of a minor and seeks to revoke the foundation’s liquor license. LINK

• 01/31/23—St. Louis, MO—Urban Fort, a play place for children with a cafe for adults has rescheduled and relocated its book reading event for kids with Drag performers due to death threats. LINK

• 01/28/23—Princeton, TX—Texas Family Project protests drag show at Deffibaugh Community Center. LINK 

• 01/21/23—Cokeville, TN—Extremists in white masks stood across from Hix Farm Brewery, held a Nazi flag, and chanted homophobic slurs. They carried signs, reading “Why do they want an audience of children?”—despite the event being open only to those 18 years of age or older. LINK.

• 01/20/23—Salt Lake City, UT—Proud Boy members protest an all-ages drag show outside Tea Zaanti, a local wine and tea shop. LINK

• 01/14/23—Taunton, MA—People in masks protested outside and inside the Taunton Public Library at a Drag Queen Story Hour. LINK

• 01/14/23—Dallas, TX—Protect Texas Kids (PTK) protested outside a BuzzBrews Kitchen’s Lakewood location drag show. LINK

And in 2022...

A number of 2022 incidents involved violence or weapons. Extremist groups like the Proud Boys, Patriot Front, and local white supremacist chapters were involved in several incidents.

• In Tulsa, OK, this October, security video captured a person smashing the windows of a donut shop before lighting a Molotov cocktail and firebombing the storefront.

• A bomb threat was emailed to a local news station in South Carolina, claiming several bombs were planted at a restaurant hosting drag brunch and threatening to kill performers and attendees.

• About 50 members of the Proud Boys extremist group armed with long guns and in helmets, full face masks and flak jackets protested Drag Story Hour at a church in Ohio.

• Neo-Nazis with swastikas and transphobic signs at a Pflugerville, TX, restaurant hosting a drag brunch.

• Armed protestors, raising hands in Nazi salutes, disrupt a drag bingo fundraiser in Katy, TX.

• Alleged Proud Boys disrupt multiple LGBTQ-inclusive events in Arlington, TX, blocking the sidewalk, falsely claiming attendees were "pedophiles."
  Extremist protesters with a history of recording and photographing children without consent protest drag performances at a restaurant in Houston.

• San Antonio concert venue cancels upcoming drag shows for the year, citing threats against performers and staff.
  In Eugene, OR, this October, protesters carried semiautomatic rifles and threw rocks and smoke bombs.

• In the Chicago suburb of Downers Grove, IL, in September, a public library canceled a drag bingo event after receiving a threatening letter that included a bullet and the phrase “more to come.”

• In Memphis, Tennessee, in September, local leaders said Proud Boys were among the armed protesters that showed up to a drag event at the Museum of Science and Industry, forcing the event’s last-minute cancellation.

• In Sparks, NV, in June, children at the town library ran for safety from a Proud Boys protester carrying a gun.

• In Couer d’Alene, ID, in June, police arrested 31 Patriot Front members who had traveled from ten different states armed with riot gear and smoke grenades to protest a Pride event that had been targeted by LibsOfTikTok online.

Quote by ElCoco

There will be less of it if they're given prison sentences, don't you think?

I do.

Depends. or it might just incite more violence. notice the groups cited. Proud Boys. Neo-Nazis. Patriot Front. Not exactly hotbeds of intelligence and common sense. Lots of bigotry and racism, though.

Wow, straight up lies, Maybe tell the truth for once, Idiot.

Violent street protests are a rite of passage in France. Hundreds of thousands take to the streets to protest injustice and proposed regressive government policies, year after year. And it works! The French people really know how to fight for justice. It's kinda sad that Americans just let injustice stand and continue to beat them down just to preserve order and the status quo. Some trouble is good trouble.

Quote by Beffer

Violent street protests are a rite of passage in France. Hundreds of thousands take to the streets to protest injustice and proposed regressive government policies, year after year. And it works! The French people really know how to fight for justice. It's kinda sad that Americans just let injustice stand and continue to beat them down just to preserve order and the status quo. Some trouble is good trouble.

"Vive la révolution!" is of course a treasured part of French culture.

Quote by Beffer

Violent street protests are a rite of passage in France. Hundreds of thousands take to the streets to protest injustice and proposed regressive government policies, year after year. And it works! The French people really know how to fight for justice. It's kinda sad that Americans just let injustice stand and continue to beat them down just to preserve order and the status quo. Some trouble is good trouble.

When leftists fight injustice, they get a full onslaught from the right and even criticism from liberals. It's fucked up.

Peaceful assembly to protest is good. Invite the media. Wave. at passing cars.

But Violence, assaulting cars and drivers, smashing business windows, doors, and looting is not. Setting cars on fire is not. Blocking roads is not. Scaling walls and breaking into buildings is not. Sacking The Capitol is not. Threatening anyone's lives, including members of congress and the vice president is not. Beating people up, Assaulting police is not.

Violent protest is criminal.

Quote by BBC.com

There were Uber and Lyft drivers worried that robotaxis would take away their livelihoods

Like they fucked over the cab companies... it all comes around again.

But where Lyft and Uber created driving jobs (arguably of lower quality) to replace the ones they destroyed, the only people who benefit from robot labor are those who - in marxist terms - own the means of production. It's hard to see what jobs will be created to balance those put in jeopardy. You can throw around the 'luddite' term all you want, but there does need to be an accounting for what new technologies do to the work force, which is the economic lifeblood of society.

Quote by ElCoco

Send all of them to prison. Proud Boys. Neo-Nazis. Patriot Front. Antifa. BLM. You name them. Parole the dopers and other non-violent criminals and lock up the violent ones.

If, only.

Climate protests in the UK are staged mainly by middle class folk with nothing better to do. Their agenda is more a protest against the centre right consensus on new fossil fuel installations rather than the climate per se. If it was that, they would be lying in front of cars in Beijing.

The Stop Oil Protesters do more to hurt their cause than to help it. First off, they go out, all wearing neon colored plastic vests (made from oil). Plus stopping & blocking traffic causes the traveling vehicles to have their journey delayed, burning more fossil fuel and introducing more carbon into the air.

Also, they piss off the people who would be sympathetic to their cause.

There are probably a thousand other things they could do that would actually help to stop burning gasoline and diesel fuels, rather than sitting down in the highway, making the masses hate them.

Blocking traffic is illegal, it is very dangerous, and it infringes upon other people's rights. I think they should be arrested, jailed, and heavily fined. Also, sentenced to community service, such as cleaning up the environment, helping at homeless shelters. Maybe put them in waders to get into streams to remove toxic waste and debris. Or build bicycle lanes and paths. Or maybe they should do that to begin with rather than acting stupidly by blocking traffic.

For all the complainers here: they're protesting for your future, and perhaps that of your kids, as well.

Quote by Buz

The Stop Oil Protesters do more to hurt their cause than to help it. First off, they go out, all wearing neon colored plastic vests (made from oil). Plus stopping & blocking traffic causes the traveling vehicles to have their journey delayed, burning more fossil fuel and introducing more carbon into the air.

Also, they piss off the people who would be sympathetic to their cause.

There are probably a thousand other things they could do that would actually help to stop burning gasoline and diesel fuels, rather than sitting down in the highway, making the masses hate them.

Blocking traffic is illegal, it is very dangerous, and it infringes upon other people's rights. I think they should be arrested, jailed, and heavily fined. Also, sentenced to community service, such as cleaning up the environment, helping at homeless shelters. Maybe put them in waders to get into streams to remove toxic waste and debris. Or build bicycle lanes and paths. Or maybe they should do that to begin with rather than acting stupidly by blocking traffic.

If appealing to the humanity of those causing damage was effective, the need for protest wouldn't exist. Historically, change doesn't occur by appealing to the better nature of those causing damage. And the use of resources that already exist isn't a valid argument, being that it wouldn't be the case if more sustainable resources were available for use, which is one of the main points of the protests.

This is appallingly backwards thinking coming from you, Buz.

The same people on this thread are throwing a shit fit that a snooker game was interrupted by climate protestors were in the Kissinger thread fully supporting the mass civilian bombings by the US government. Y’all twisted.

Quote by ElCoco

It's never too late to remind people that their actions have consequences and that antisocial actions have negative consequences. Community service sounds like a good way to harness their enthusiasm!

So when will all the fossil fuel lobbyists, and the politicians they have in their pockets, do such community service? Pushing for more climate change surely is way more antisocial than blocking a road every now and then.

Quote by Ironic

There's misbehavior and then there's illegal behavior.

Ah yeah, of course: the law. The laws are always right… until they are no longer. Then they were wrong all along of course.

The laws that once allowed people to be enslaved. The laws that said black folks counted for less than white folks. The laws that stated that Democracy meant that only (certain) men could vote. Etc. etc.

If the laws are always right, then there'd never be a reason to protest at all, is there? But if there had never been any protest, then the laws would never have changed. And if they never had changed then you'd still be saying that it is alright to enslave people, that only men should be allowed to vote. Etc. etc.

So, even if you ignore the fact that these people protest for your future as wel, then at least be grateful for the fact that protesters like them made it way easier for you to come off less like a racist and sexist douche.

The idea that the law is always right is just the absence of morality.

Quote by Tantaleyes

Add a fine to that and it'll be suitable punishment for their dangerous irresponsibility. If it continues, sooner or later, somebody's going to get hurt.

You mean like hundreds of millions starving to death, wars over clean water, unbreathable air, or a complete collapse of our ecosystem? Yeah, somebody is going to get hurt if everyone keeps ignoring the climate protesters.

Quote by Tantaleyes

Even though hundreds of millions aren't starving to death, there have been famines throughout recorded history. Maybe that's how you came up with that number. There aren't any wars over clean water, The city I know of with the most unbreathable air is in India, not England, the US or the EU where the protesters are. The countries where the protesters are the countries that have already made the greatest reductions in fossil fuels. To say "the complete collapse of our ecosystem" is just silly, since it's not going to collapse, it's going to change. The only reason you're using collapse is because it fits you scare story that the word's got to change overnight, and it's not going to, and you know it.

The protesters need to learn to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_civil_war#Drought

The only reason you don't like the use of the word 'collapse' is because you don't want to admit that we need to drastically change things.

I'm curious how the protesters are more part of the problem, instead of the solution, than you. Care to elaborate?

Quote by MsStep

Read the Wikipedia section you linked. It doesn’t say the war’s being fought over clean water, only that, in an arid region, securing sources of water gives an advantage.

From your link: “Subsequent analysis, however, has challenged the narrative of the drought as a major contributor to the start of the war.”

You shouldn’t intentionally misrepresent the facts.

LOL. How did I misrepresent the facts? I provided the link that you're quoting from.

Quote by MsStep

Some people know the world’s energy system won’t change overnight without a war, but some people still think it’s possible. We’ve seen the 1,5C limit passed several times, and the 2.0C once this year but these protesters think blocking traffic will improve the situation. It’s that kind of willful stupidity that makes it more difficult to get the support needed.

Talking about stupidity: the 1.5˚C limit is about a long term global average, not "several times" events.

Quote by noll

Talking about stupidity: the 1.5˚C limit is about a long term global average, not "several times" events.

I agree that without protests things never change BUT…

They should find out where the boss hogs live and block their driveways or helicopter pads or paint their yachts. Blocking traffic is inconveniencing people who have no power to do anything besides get to work or school late while the boss hogs just snort it off and keep on doing what they’re doing because those protests don’t affect them. Those climate protests are just affecting people grinding out life and janitors.

Quote by Magical_felix

I agree that without protests things never change BUT…

They should find out where the boss hogs live and block their driveways or helicopter pads or paint their yachts. Blocking traffic is inconveniencing people who have no power to do anything besides get to work or school late while the boss hogs just snort it off and keep on doing what they’re doing because those protests don’t affect them. Those climate protests are just affecting people grinding out life and janitors.

If MLK gave his famous speech at some local KKK chapter's driveway, it would probably have had less of an impact.

It's not a few boss hogs' helicopters that will make the difference. Governments need to act, push for sustainable energy sources and away from fossil fuels. Subsidies that go to fossil fuels need to be diverted to alternatives that make it easier to reduce climate change. Etc.

Quote by noll

If MLK gave his famous speech at some local KKK chapter's driveway, it would probably have had less of an impact.

It's not a few boss hogs' helicopters that will make the difference. Governments need to act, push for sustainable energy sources and away from fossil fuels. Subsidies that go to fossil fuels need to be diverted to alternatives that make it easier to reduce climate change. Etc.

The climate protestors aren’t giving speeches though… the few I’ve heard talk sound pretty stupid too. Just not a great look or protest. Just saying blocking traffic is angering more people that might be sympathetic than changing the minds of people that can actually do anything about it.

Quote by Magical_felix

The climate protestors aren’t giving speeches though… the few I’ve heard talk sound pretty stupid too. Just not a great look or protest. Just saying blocking traffic is angering more people that might be sympathetic than changing the minds of people that can actually do anything about it.

I disagree. Well, not about the speeches though ;P

Quote by Magical_felix

The climate protestors aren’t giving speeches though… the few I’ve heard talk sound pretty stupid too. Just not a great look or protest. Just saying blocking traffic is angering more people that might be sympathetic than changing the minds of people that can actually do anything about it.

Just because you don’t pay attention to them doesn’t mean speeches aren’t given. Surprise, the media companies owned by the hyper wealthy aren’t giving them air time. What a shock.

And when you are not given a platform, you take one. That’s what these protesters are doing. Because if they didn’t you would not be talking about it at all right now. These protests are what drive what little media coverage the environmentalists get.

Everyone in this thread seems to prefer protesting be quietly done far away from where they can see it. Much like I’m sure the latter parts of white America wanted MLK to only preach in churches instead of the streets.

Once again, y’all dumb because you don’t even know the point of a protest. If they wanted an echo chamber they would just form a little internet circle jerk like many of the folks on this thread.

Quote by RowanThorn

Just because you don’t pay attention to them doesn’t mean speeches aren’t given. Surprise, the media companies owned by the hyper wealthy aren’t giving them air time. What a shock.

And when you are not given a platform, you take one. That’s what these protesters are doing. Because if they didn’t you would not be talking about it at all right now. These protests are what drive what little media coverage the environmentalists get.

Everyone in this thread seems to prefer protesting be quietly done far away from where they can see it. Much like I’m sure the latter parts of white America wanted MLK to only preach in churches instead of the streets.

Once again, y’all dumb because you don’t even know the point of a protest. If they wanted an echo chamber they would just form a little internet circle jerk like many of the folks on this thread.

Quietly? I suggested going after their yachts and helicopters… you think that wouldn’t make the news over some dumbass gluing his dick to the wall?

And can you please link to one of these moving speeches?

Quote by Magical_felix

Quietly? I suggested going after their yachts and helicopters… you think that wouldn’t make the news over some dumbass gluing his dick to the wall?

And can you please link to one of these moving speeches?

No, it wouldn’t. These aren’t public places, they are places they will be quietly arrested with much more severe punishments than public actions. There is literally no audience on a rich man’s yacht. Once again, you don’t understand the point of a protest. It’s not for your convenience, it’s to tear your attention away from the corporate owned talk pieces and to hear out suppressed views.

Look up Winona Laduke speeches. They are always great. Dr. redsteer and Lisa Deville are also great orators. But there are literally thousands and thousands of speeches given a year that will never be televised. There were tons of speeches associated with these protests, press releases and information made available. But it’s easier for you to whine that there are no speeches being given than to pay attention apparently. Hell, there are dozens of speeches and information very well comprised on the Don’t Stop Oil website but you would rather complain there is no good public face for the movement rather than actually researching or checking them out.

Would also like to take this moment to remind you gremlins that MLK was considered a terrorist and danger to the American public while he was alive. If y’all were spouting this nonsense when he was alive you would be going on how it’s great that he’s been arrested and how he shouldn’t be breaking laws. Because that’s what makes you comfortable.

Quote by RowanThorn

No, it wouldn’t. These aren’t public places, they are places they will be quietly arrested with much more severe punishments than public actions. There is literally no audience on a rich man’s yacht. Once again, you don’t understand the point of a protest. It’s not for your convenience, it’s to tear your attention away from the corporate owned talk pieces and to hear out suppressed views.

Look up Winona Laduke speeches. They are always great. Dr. redsteer and Lisa Deville are also great orators. But there are literally thousands and thousands of speeches given a year that will never be televised. There were tons of speeches associated with these protests, press releases and information made available. But it’s easier for you to whine that there are no speeches being given than to pay attention apparently. Hell, there are dozens of speeches and information very well comprised on the Don’t Stop Oil website but you would rather complain there is no good public face for the movement rather than actually researching or checking them out.

Would also like to take this moment to remind you gremlins that MLK was considered a terrorist and danger to the American public while he was alive. If y’all were spouting this nonsense when he was alive you would be going on how it’s great that he’s been arrested and how he shouldn’t be breaking laws. Because that’s what makes you comfortable.

I'm literally suggesting terrorism... and you think it wouldn't make the news... Obviously the Just Stop Oil way has only succeeded in making them an annoyance at best and a laughing stock at worst. I mean what has Just Stop Oil inspired you to do besides whine in the forum about nobody listening.