General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: BLM: Feeling a Little Uncomfortable? [View all]ZX86
(1,428 posts)Offending, upsetting, disrupting, and making someone uncomfortable for an hour is not the prize. Any social justice organization should have clear policy goals. Unfocused rage waste time, resources, and good will with allies and potential allies. What does BLM want? Federal law mandating body cameras? Federal training of law enforcement? Civilian review boards? Special prosecutors for police abuse?
You need to have specific, meaningful, and realistically obtainable demands and give opportunity to those receiving demands to respond. Protesting loud, rude, and offensively is a tactic best used sparingly and not be considered a goal in and of itself.
One thing that always bothered me was the post 60's Civil Rights era where B and C list activists and politicians whether addressing small crowds or talking to a local reporter go into a MLK cadence of "Mountain Top" speech on every issue. Doesn't matter whether discussing police abuse or school cafeteria lunch menu. MLK didn't use his loud preaching style everywhere he went and to everybody he talked to. In interviews he came across as soft spoken, reasonable, and intelligent. He knew when to speak like a firebrand and when respectful dialogue is the best tactic.