Not to be a pessimist or anything but I don't know if any good can come from this. By that I mean peacefully amassing in a disorganized manner with signs and chants and marching and trying to convince the police that you have the right to be where you are and do what you are doing is not going to keep them from kettling and systematically arresting you.

The Occupy Movement, the protests in response to police shootings, and the November 5th 2013 protest (especially since it was in DC) have taught us that we are doing something wrong. Indeed we are, because I watched the November 5th march and was just facepalming the whole time.

That march had the largest turnout since the original OWS in NY. At least 1000+ if memory serves me.

What did they do? Marched to the white house, were told that they could not cross the yellow tape, and just stood there taunting and yelling at the cops. A few people crossed one by one over the course of an hour or so that they were there and were promptly and peacefully arrested. Mind you there were all of about 15 cops in front of the white house vs the 1000+ people.




Anyway my point is this has to be different, and given the track record of these "peaceful protests" I would wager that it won't be.

Not saying I don't think we should try it anyway. If I am anywhere near DC on the day, I will surely be there trying to tell people that we need to do shit differently.


It's really a tough call because it's choosing between peaceful acquiescence and subsequent arrest or disorderly/violent organized protest leading to pretty much civil war.