Minsk right now. Absolutely stunning. Reports that the crowd is over 250,000 strong, out of 2M

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Hat tip, Lazycrockett, at Joe.My.God

https://www.joemygod.com/2020/08/acting-dhs-sec-chad-wolf-bucks-trump-we-have-no-authority-to-send-federal-agents-to-polling-stations/#comment-5041918079

Minsk right now. Absolutely stunning. Reports that the crowd is over 250,000 strong, in a country of under 2 million people.

Link to tweet

[The Magistrate]

1. An Awfully Impressive Crowd, Sir

But it is Minsk which has two millions of inhabitants. The country has ten millions. But every fortieth person in the country out in a crowd is impressive.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

15. Thank you for the correction. We are still embiggened. NT

[empedocles]

2. .

[PhylliPretzel]

3. If Trump tries to steal this election . . .

I hope the American people will do the same in every city and town in the country.

[erronis]

4. The country (Belarus) population is closer to 9M.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Belarus

Still a very impressive crowd.

[Fla Dem]

5. Tweet has been removed.

[AllaN01Bear]

6. cant view the pic, too many hoops to go through.

[BadGimp]

7. both links are non-working

[634-5789]

17. yep

[crickets]

8. Wow. Impressive crowd. Good for Belarus! Working links:

Photos

Link to tweet

Polina Ivanova @polinaivanovva
Minsk right now
MINSK RIGHT NOW

Link to tweet

Franak Viačorka @franakviacorka
Minsk never has seen such crowds in its history. Via @tutby

Video

Link to tweet

ranak Viačorka @franakviacorka
More than 250K already at the Independence square in Minsk! It’s more than in 1990 when people protested for Independence.

Belarus will be free.

More
https://twitter.com/search?q=Minsk%20&src=typed_query

[ancianita]

10. Awesome. Thank you!

[Leghorn21]

11. Thanks, crickets- this guy also appears to be on the scene

Protester are now mostly disassembled. Only fraction of them continue to march to the city center, where siloviki are waiting, reports @Belsat_TV

Riot policemen have tried to detain people in the center of #Minsk, Lenina st,
Protesters run away reports @Belssat

Link to tweet

[Leghorn21]

9. That thug is on the scene...looks like this is Belarus TV station?

Lukashenka in a bulletproof vest and with a machine gun thanked his electorate - the security forces. "You're handsome," he said. They promised to be with him "until the end." Video - "Pool One"

Link to tweet

Translation from google translate

[lastlib]

12. WAY bigger than tRump's inauguration.......!

Amazing, the people's desire to overthrow tyrants.

[ancianita]

13. ...

[Moostache]

14. I no longer believe protests matter or influence change in any way...

See THIS?
?1414780001

OR THIS?
?1475175845

AND THESE?
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/5-photographs-from-the-day-the-world-said-no-to-war

?itok=YWMiZQXn

Overall...MILLIONS took to the streets to protest AGAINST invading Iraq, and yet...invade we did, and protests ever since exist in a different space...a meaningless space....a space where the rich yawn and think "let them have their little rallies and signs, but in the end? WE RUN THIS SHIT WITH AN IRON FIST!!!

(Guns? Still a MASSIVE problem in the USA, just waiting for the next mass shooting - which remains inevitable...


Bottom Line?
Without ECONOMIC PAIN brought to the "owner"-class, we get nowhere and nothing.
Power and wealth concede NOTHING without a fight and carrying signs and chanting variations of "Hey-hey, Ho-ho...<insert 'x'> has got to go" is no longer effective for bringing about REAL change.

How many police departments has ACTUALLY reformed and readjusted their pay, their policies or their partnerships in response to this year's protests? The issue is muddied (success to the owners) and people are arguing about defending the arsonists and bombers masquerading in plain sight as protesters as fools like Trump drone on about how terrible the loss of property is.

We need a complete overhaul of our government. A NEW Congress, Senate, President and expanded SCOTUS are the ONLY HOPE and THEN protests against them MIGHT keep them in line temporarily...but not forever. Marching and protesting without taking the blows - as the Civil Rights protesters did, as Indians under Ghandi did, as Americans are utterly loathe to do now - without the price being paid in full, there is no real movement from the ruling class to concede a goddamn thing.

We have to hit them where it hurts, in the WALLET and the PORTFOLIO, or none of this is more than water-cooler talking points.

[TexasBushwhacker]

18. You are correct about hitting them in the pocketbook

Unfortunately, I don't think even that will create lasting change. So what if Jeff Bezos loses half his wealth. That means he'll be worth $100 Billion instead of $200 Billion. Meanwhile, his warehouse workers are getting repetitive stress injuries and can't afford rent in Seattle without doubling or tripling up in a 1 BR apartment.

We don't need billionaires - PERIOD.

[RVN VET71]

16. Is that an army of Russian "volunteers" I hear approaching?

Marching behind tanks and other heavily armed and armored vehicles? Those planes approaching at the horizon, could they be Russian militia fliers coming to the rescue of the soon-to-be-Russian (again) nation of Belarus?

And if they come, if they invade Belarus like Kruschev's Soviets invaded Hungary in 1956, who wants to bet our "president" does nothing? And claims not to have even heard of the trouble in Belarus but wishes everyone there well?