The one at my capitol is a swing and a miss for me. They’re going to have a family friendly drag show and carnival games… Cute I guess…?
I’m not in any way against drag shows or community building events but this moment feels serious and it feels like the organizers have lost the plot on this one.
Protesting evil with wholesome family fun is an interesting idea. Imagine the absurdity of photos of over-reacting fully armed soldiers watching over a street carnival that is protesting the evil path that America is on.
you saying that, not just thinking it to yourself but actually commenting with that, makes you so much better than so many people. especially right now when it’s so easy to become overwhelmed with cynicism
I think every facet of resistance is important. nonviolent demonstrations, public queer pride, art, putting up stickers and flyers, even more direct tactical stuff. they’re all needed at the same time.
Hopefully law enforcement and anti-first amendment alt-right less likely to target family fun. I think it’s a good idea - it’s really just about getting people there.
You are raising an important point. If protests are too “family friendly” you end up with more of a public festival and the state knowing everyone will go home without issues and doesn’t have to take the protest seriously.
Protests need to be large and they need to have aspects for every level of activity and escalation-readiness. If they are only “family friendly” then nothing will come out of it. If they are only “black block” they will lack the mass necessary.
If you don’t feel like your kids are safe, then don’t. It really depends on the city or town. There are towns in Washington that could absolutely have drag events and carnival games and there wouldn’t be any more likelihood of things going wrong than any other event. Seattle is a target city, you might want to think about it. But then again, it’s mostly been peaceful except when cops are cruel.
The one at my capitol is a swing and a miss for me. They’re going to have a family friendly drag show and carnival games… Cute I guess…?
I’m not in any way against drag shows or community building events but this moment feels serious and it feels like the organizers have lost the plot on this one.
Protesting evil with wholesome family fun is an interesting idea. Imagine the absurdity of photos of over-reacting fully armed soldiers watching over a street carnival that is protesting the evil path that America is on.
I think that’s a great idea, it gets the kids involved early in the democratic process. Also, whatever gets people out there.
I’m not ruling out out that it might actually be me who’s lost the plot and I’m just being too small minded/optically paranoid.
you saying that, not just thinking it to yourself but actually commenting with that, makes you so much better than so many people. especially right now when it’s so easy to become overwhelmed with cynicism
I think every facet of resistance is important. nonviolent demonstrations, public queer pride, art, putting up stickers and flyers, even more direct tactical stuff. they’re all needed at the same time.
Hopefully law enforcement and anti-first amendment alt-right less likely to target family fun. I think it’s a good idea - it’s really just about getting people there.
I really like that you take a step back and consider the possibility that you might be wrong. A skill so many of us are severely lacking.
You are raising an important point. If protests are too “family friendly” you end up with more of a public festival and the state knowing everyone will go home without issues and doesn’t have to take the protest seriously.
Protests need to be large and they need to have aspects for every level of activity and escalation-readiness. If they are only “family friendly” then nothing will come out of it. If they are only “black block” they will lack the mass necessary.
I wouldn’t take my kids to an event given the current climate in the US. Some bad stuff is about to go down somewhere, some Tiananmen Square shit.
I’d go myself.
If you don’t feel like your kids are safe, then don’t. It really depends on the city or town. There are towns in Washington that could absolutely have drag events and carnival games and there wouldn’t be any more likelihood of things going wrong than any other event. Seattle is a target city, you might want to think about it. But then again, it’s mostly been peaceful except when cops are cruel.
So, all the time?
May day massacre was just union workers having a picnic with their families. Making protests family inclusive works
Fascists tend to take extra damage from being mocked and belitled, I think this works for that