On Fri, Jul 06, 2001 at 04:52:36PM -0400, Faustine wrote:
Making a few gestures pantomiming paramilitary operations is just plain suicidal. The bottom line is that in a protest-type situation, you're relying on the power of negative PR to keep the police from mowing you down any old time they feel like it. It doesn't matter what color you wear or how tight you march, you're still as vulnerable as anyone else if you don't have some serious, serious gear and training. And is that really the direction you're prepared to go? Think about it.
Perhaps some Black Block types and other Seattlish protesters do have such gear and training, but the ones I've run across (http://www.mccullagh.org/theme/2001-bush-inauguration-highlights.html) do not. Besides, the police will always have more resources and will probably be able to stop you from legally possessing the cooler gear you really need (http://www.mccullagh.org/theme/dem-protests-00.html). -Declan