General Discussion

MineralMan

(149,468 posts) Mon Jun 9, 2025, 03:40 PM Jun 9

247

If you're not able or are unwilling to protest in the streets, please do the actual protestors a favor [View all]

by not criticizing those who are. Each person decides for him or herself how they want to identify in such protests. If you're protesting in public, only you get to determine what message you present in your protest.

For those who are not participating, telling those who are what they should or should not do is nothing but patronizing them. It's presumptuous and will be scorned by those to go out there and take whatever risks there are by being present and making their protest.

You might think you know best what should be done and how protests should be conducted. You do not know and you have no business telling others what is OK and what is not.

If people protest, let them protest as they think best. Don't presume to tell the actual protestors how they should behave or what signs or flags they should carry or how they should dress.

If you think people should protest in a certain way, then go out into the street and protest that way. If you can't or won't do that, then leave those who can and do to comport themselves as they choose.

Thank you very much.

86 replies

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Highlight:

If you're not able or are unwilling to protest in the streets, please do the actual protestors a favor [View all] MineralMan Jun 9 OP

Thank you Keepthesoulalive Jun 9 #1

Hear, hear!! appmanga Jun 9 #2

I'll criticize ForgedCrank Jun 9 #3

OK, Then.. MineralMan Jun 9 #8

Please define "normal people" ZDU Jun 9 #16

It's just ForgedCrank Jun 9 #17

Are you normal? Is that what you're telling us? ZDU Jun 9 #24

It appears that ForgedCrank Jun 9 #27

I wish you the best. ZDU Jun 9 #41

My interpretation of crank's "normal" ReRe Jun 9 #62

hahaha johnnyfins Jun 10 #64

David Huerta was going about his daily responsibilities when ICE agents injured and arrested him Quiet Em Jun 9 #22

Trump has graduated from mere con-artistry to something more ugly and dangerous RVN VET71 Jun 10 #67

Disruption can be very useful unweird Jun 9 #23

It can also be a distraction mzmolly Jun 9 #44

When facing violence unarmed and unprotected, people respond in a variety of ways. Magoo48 Jun 9 #47

How would I respond? ForgedCrank Jun 9 #51

How do you know if these are protesters or Bev54 Jun 9 #55

Ordinary people? Really? We disagree. eom. Magoo48 Jun 9 #56

Which part ForgedCrank Jun 9 #58

This will be a peaceful protest - much like the Hands Off protests. notinkansas Jun 10 #75

I do ForgedCrank Jun 10 #82

Protest without disruption is useless. Iggo Jun 10 #80

If that ForgedCrank Jun 10 #83

I'm just telling you how protests work. Iggo Jun 12 #85

If you think the lessons learned from MLK senseandsensibility Jun 9 #4

Good points. yellow dahlia Jun 9 #33

Exactly! mzmolly Jun 9 #40

I agree, I read the dos and do nots before I protest. I don't have tons of experience with protesting still-prayin4rain Jun 9 #42

I too have protested mzmolly Jun 9 #45

Thanks, yeah - I read everyone's advice/ideas, take the advice that resonates and feel a little still-prayin4rain Jun 9 #46

Couple things: 1. doing what he did still got him killed; Cuthbert Allgood Jun 9 #53

Regardless, these two examples show that people of good faith can disagree about what is the most effective strategy still-prayin4rain Jun 10 #74

Great post - Just finished the Peniel Joseph book - walkingman Jun 9 #5

Agree, if it's 50501 type protests. If it hurts the cause -- meaning more migrants will be deported -- sorry, that's not Silent Type Jun 9 #6

I generally agree - the tone policing as to identification, dress, beliefs, words used is offensive. Ms. Toad Jun 9 #7

This ⬆️⬆️⬆️ yliza Jun 9 #14

If you're too old to protest, write a check to help those that do OutNow Jun 9 #9

I'd guess at least some of us are actually protesting in our communities, and for some of us that means in L.A. LauraInLA Jun 9 #10

Words of wisdom Hekate Jun 9 #11

I'm no longer able to be out there with them, dammit. madamesilverspurs Jun 9 #12

domo Arigatou Gozaimasu YoshidaYui Jun 9 #13

My post was about learning the lessons from the past SARose Jun 9 #15

Except Kent State Was a Turning Point. MineralMan Jun 9 #19

Most people are not pacifists Keepthesoulalive Jun 9 #30

Well said MM. NoMoreRepugs Jun 9 #18

Thank you! Prairie Gates Jun 9 #20

Loud&clear Amen. I just hope that singing is part of the peaceful protests, because singing visually separates the ancianita Jun 9 #21

Excellent post, MineralMan debm55 Jun 9 #25

MineralMan - I have always found your comments to be thoughtful and well stated. You are right on today. flashman13 Jun 9 #26

For now, we have the freedom of speech to comment on... mellow Jun 9 #28

+1. I'm suppose to stay silent (and supportive?) on thee subject of jackasses stopdiggin Jun 9 #32

Very much agree! Kaleva Jun 9 #29

But when you talk about destruction, don't you know that you can count me out! gulliver Jun 9 #31

Thanks! And the idea that I'm not allowed an OPINION or voice .. ! WOW ! -(nt)- stopdiggin Jun 9 #34

I think of Tiananmen square and how powerful a defiant, yet silent protest was most effective. 33taw Jun 9 #35

I think i I had a suggestion for the protesters HuskyOffset Jun 9 #36

I'm glad to see demonstrators Nululu Jun 9 #37

I will be joining a group in my town of Maryville TN TNNurse Jun 9 #38

Thank you! Chi67 Jun 9 #39

BREAKING: SEIU California President David Huerta has just been released from ICE custody LetMyPeopleVote Jun 9 #43

Awwwwwwwwwwww, I could watch that all day. calimary Jun 10 #73

Ooooooooooookay GaYellowDawg Jun 9 #48

Maybe the point is MorbidButterflyTat Jun 10 #78

Oh, I see. GaYellowDawg Jun 10 #84

kick! blogslug Jun 9 #49

Thanks MM, GOOD on ya. Magoo48 Jun 9 #50

But you're OK with scolding allies to the cause relayerbob Jun 9 #52

generally agree - but would be interested hearing TBF Jun 9 #54

"leave those who can and do to comport themselves as they choose." Think I will pass on this kind of protest, thanks EX500rider Jun 9 #57

Good point, MineralMan. Buddyzbuddy Jun 9 #59

Donate? usonian Jun 9 #60

This line of thinking doesn't hold for me EdmondDantes_ Jun 9 #61

as an old guy, with older family, I ain't going anywhere near anything that looks like it might turn ugly... paulkienitz Jun 9 #63

You are so right MineralMan. Thank you. William769 Jun 10 #65

Not a day goes by that we don't protest in the only ways we can. It starts here every morning. And gets disseminated.... usaf-vet Jun 10 #66

I'm more interested in a government I like and legislation I like somsai Jun 10 #68

MY RESPONSE As a RADICAL AND PEACEFUL LUTHERAN Radical Lutheran Jun 10 #69

You get that you are doing the same thing you are criticizing, right? Gore1FL Jun 10 #70

MY RESPONSE As a RADICAL AND PEACEFUL LUTHERAN Radical Lutheran Jun 10 #71

sorry.... cab67 Jun 10 #72

I wasn't aware of that, but the lawsuit against him failed, and he was awarded nearly a million dollars... benpollard Jun 10 #77

It's a shame the lawsuit failed. cab67 Jun 10 #81

I accept your apology. Don't let it happen again. Iggo Jun 12 #86

THIS!! InAbLuEsTaTe Jun 10 #76

Amen C OH Dem Jun 10 #79