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Why do protesters rarely defend themselves? (lemmygrad.ml)

submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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When I see footage of protesters they mostly get tackled, tear gassed, or chased off. And in no way have I ever see them with a gun, knife, or any other form of defense to protect themselves.

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[–] [email protected] 78 points 5 months ago (1 children)

There was a really good video clip of a protestor in 2020, paraphrased: "we came out to protest, then the cops started hitting our heads with batons. we started wearing helmets, so they gassed us. We started bringing masks, so they attack us. Now we bring shields and they call them weapons. Someone is escalating this, but it's not us".

Basically, any evidence that you plan to defend yourself gives the cops, in their mind, cause to attack. Since you planned to defend yourself. Except fire. Cops are scared as fuck of fire. do-not-do-this

[–] [email protected] 10 points 5 months ago

Interestingly the cops have basically admitted it's an arms race and you should stop arming up; I recall advice by a cop telling protestors not to wear body armor, that every time protesters come back with more defenses, the more armed the cops are going to have to be.