Disrupt the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade? Good Thing? Bad Thing?

[JDPriestly]

6. Agreed. It would just make those interrupting the parade look like troublemakers.

The goal should be for African-Americans to forge alliances with other groups -- Spanish-speaking immigrants, women, other groups that are denied justice and work within politics to get better prosecutors, better police forces, better judges, better legislators.

Demonstrations make the demonstrators feel good, and they provide opportunities to meet like-minded people. But demonstrations alienate a lot of people who could be allies.

And it is hard to keep demonstrations peaceful.

A march on a weekend that is not Thanksgiving -- say the weekend after Thanksgiving that is silent --- maybe at dusk with each person holding a small flashlight or light in commemoration of Michael Brown and the many people who are attacked by police officers under questionable circumstances would give Michael Brown's cause dignity and cause people to stop and think.

A silent vigil with thousands of people would be more effective than demonstrating amid the noise and gaiety of the Thanksgiving Parade. A silent vigil led by religious and socially conscious leaders perhaps with celebrities in the mix. That would have an effect. It could include leaders of other minority groups who have a tough time with police.

The goal should be to build a stronger movement through alliances with other minority groups.