General Discussion

basselope

(2,565 posts) Sat Mar 12, 2016, 11:35 PM Mar 2016

I'm sorry, I just don't get it. Why protest someone else's rally? [View all]

I am no fan of Trump, Cruz, Rubio, Kasich or even Clinton for that matter.. but in a million years, I would never consider going to one of their rallies for the purpose of causing disruption or protesting.

I would consider taking up residence across the street from the rally with signs.. but to actually go into a campaign rally with the intent to disrupt it... I just don't get it.

I feel like all you wind up doing is reinforcing support for that candidate among the people who were there AND the people who were thinking about the candidate... they see the stuff on TV and they become invested... "they" are trying to stop our candidate from spreading their message. "They" are trying to take my country away from me.

I get protesting a president, a senator, a congressperson who is actually making policy.. but right now this candidate (or any candidate) is just making noise. It may be noise we completely disagree or find incendiary.. but taking over the rally and shouting doesn't change anyone's vote. I feel like it has the opposite effect.

I understand the motivation behind it.. people want to protest a racist, spreading stupidity and hatred.. but I feel like those involved are just giving him a better chance at winning.

131 replies

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I'm sorry, I just don't get it. Why protest someone else's rally? [View all] basselope Mar 2016 OP

You can loudly protest outside, or attend inside in quiet defiance--both are fine. TwilightGardener Mar 2016 #1

The worst part is that he will probably get a bump in the polls ripcord Mar 2016 #72

It's pretty much only recently that the protest have been going on... daleanime Mar 2016 #2

This is a different situation. This is some seriously yourout Mar 2016 #3

If this was up here, he was running for PM and spewing so much hate and I was polly7 Mar 2016 #69

Because the candidate is a lunatic that will do catastrophic damage to the country and world. ohnoyoudidnt Mar 2016 #4

I absolutely agree with you. In normal times and with somewhat normal IsItJustMe Mar 2016 #38

Like they say "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it". ohnoyoudidnt Mar 2016 #40

I hope you are right. n/t Merryland Mar 2016 #57

You need to watch this: Buzz Clik Mar 2016 #5

I'm stuck in a chicken / egg situation here. basselope Mar 2016 #24

The likelihood of Trump being elected is Ms. Yertle Mar 2016 #53

Trump's Chances of "Winning" the election are whatever the Powers That Be truedelphi Mar 2016 #108

I wonder what the PTB think of Trump who may not be as controllable as Bush was. JFKDem62 Mar 2016 #126

Be careful out there, you guys. You are precious to us oldsters. raging moderate Mar 2016 #6

Agreed. On both points: Don't mimic the "monster" and be careful out there. n/t Euphoria Mar 2016 #17

I have to admit, while listening to Trump's horrible, surreal speech today, Cleita Mar 2016 #7

K&R Firebrand Gary Mar 2016 #8

Thanks for some sanity on the topic Albertoo Mar 2016 #9

It only helps him noretreatnosurrender Mar 2016 #10

those involved are just giving him a better chance at winning. RobertEarl Mar 2016 #11

people here having fainting spells over some signs and chanting huh? questionseverything Mar 2016 #21

"trump has the right to say what he wants, but........ socialist_n_TN Mar 2016 #63

Did you and do you support BLM? TM99 Mar 2016 #12

Yes, although I don't think I was on this board at the time. basselope Mar 2016 #27

Easy. I support the things that matter to me cheapdate Mar 2016 #34

He did not mean. deathrind Mar 2016 #56

It's exactly the same principle cheapdate Mar 2016 #70

See, this is why some of us hate acronyms so much. truedelphi Mar 2016 #110

Could not agree more. deathrind Mar 2016 #114

It's the smart/humane people's way of policing society. Gregorian Mar 2016 #13

CNN played a clip earlier today of a young father that lived in the neighborhood where Trump was to jillan Mar 2016 #14

I accept your apology. Iggo Mar 2016 #15

Silence will not protect you Rebkeh Mar 2016 #16

People said the same about the Nazis nadinbrzezinski Mar 2016 #18

This is it exactly. dogman Mar 2016 #25

Yup, and a few bernie people in a coaltion of hundreds nadinbrzezinski Mar 2016 #26

The anti-Trump rally was an event posted on Facebook when it was first announced. dogman Mar 2016 #30

YUP... but I found more details on what happened nadinbrzezinski Mar 2016 #31

There's an article online in the Los Angeles Times about how the protest was organized Hekate Mar 2016 #47

LA is closed enough to the invisible barrier nadinbrzezinski Mar 2016 #54

Didn't he end up with MORE coverage as a result? basselope Mar 2016 #28

If you reject the National Socialist comparison, dogman Mar 2016 #32

YES.. Call him out! basselope Mar 2016 #36

you are fundamentally unaware of the purpose of a protest? LanternWaste Mar 2016 #81

Yes, very aware. basselope Mar 2016 #82

Part of the problem is that none teaches nadinbrzezinski Mar 2016 #33

I am not suggesting anyone stay quiet... basselope Mar 2016 #43

You are so wrong. When "they" attain the levers of government power it is TOO LATE. Hekate Mar 2016 #37

Silence is consent, when faced with evil. Hekate Mar 2016 #19

I get protesting, but why bring Bernie signs? LittleBlue Mar 2016 #20

politics should be about human rights and decency questionseverything Mar 2016 #23

Makes one wonder if they were really Sanders supporters Jim Beard Mar 2016 #42

I think the protests were at least partially organized by the Republican establishment. 6000eliot Mar 2016 #45

Bernie and Trump are often covered in the same breath by the likes of NPR, so maybe the protesters Erose999 Mar 2016 #87

If you're polite, you get ignored. Disruption is absolutely necessary. backscatter712 Mar 2016 #22

Yup. Iggo Mar 2016 #29

Has anyone investigated to make sure these are indeed Bernie supporters? n/t xloadiex Mar 2016 #35

"Why didn't Rosa Parks just sit in the back of the bus, I don't get it!11" m-lekktor Mar 2016 #39

No.. no.. no TOTALLY different. basselope Mar 2016 #46

Some speech cannot be tolerated mwrguy Mar 2016 #41

Wrong. Ms. Yertle Mar 2016 #50

+1. Exactly. nt Smarmie Doofus Mar 2016 #55

Well put. 840high Mar 2016 #66

Not entirely true. 1st amendment does not cover ALL speech if it incites social harm. AgadorSparticus Mar 2016 #88

There is a wide difference between banned and tolerated. Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #97

How very fascist. n/t SickOfTheOnePct Mar 2016 #71

And who gets to decide? Abq_Sarah Mar 2016 #130

Because you don't want facism to come to this country? 6000eliot Mar 2016 #44

So take me on this journey... basselope Mar 2016 #48

I don't like it when we 840high Mar 2016 #49

evil triumphs when good people do nothing questionseverything Mar 2016 #64

Quite familiar with that. I feel 840high Mar 2016 #65

his freedom of speech was not denied at worst it was delayed questionseverything Mar 2016 #67

and? I agree - both 840high Mar 2016 #68

Oh... I dunno.... Fascism? TalkingDog Mar 2016 #51

Stopped violent attacks. Crunchy Frog Mar 2016 #116

Yes. Apples and apples. TalkingDog Mar 2016 #117

Stopping people from violently attacking other people vs stopping people from speaking. Crunchy Frog Mar 2016 #120

Thank you. Very kind TalkingDog Mar 2016 #124

Wasn't it scheduled for a university campus? catrose Mar 2016 #52

People don't realize that protesting speeches helps the candidates rather than hurting them Bestuserever Mar 2016 #58

what ever is convenient ? olddots Mar 2016 #59

Agreed. Hold your counter-protest across the street. or even better magical thyme Mar 2016 #60

I remember Bush and "Free speech zones" or "First ammendment zones" Agnosticsherbet Mar 2016 #61

Why DO people protest Klan rallies? Erich Bloodaxe BSN Mar 2016 #62

Do they? basselope Mar 2016 #75

The gay community had a slogan during the early AIDS years. 'Silence = Death'. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Mar 2016 #80

There is a world of difference between silence and disrupting a rally. basselope Mar 2016 #83

Where do you stand on the issue of sitting at a lunch counter where you are not wanted. Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #98

I'm all for it! basselope Mar 2016 #99

No, it didn't disrupt business jberryhill Mar 2016 #105

Protests are not always pretty. Remember the 60's? Nothing pretty about those protests. Those in liberal_at_heart Mar 2016 #73

What is the power here? basselope Mar 2016 #74

The power of the mob. The power of his money. The power of the broadcast media that enables him. Hekate Mar 2016 #79

Do you not understand you are giving him MORE power? basselope Mar 2016 #84

I disagree strongly. He already had that, huckster that he is. Untold million$ in free air time.... Hekate Mar 2016 #85

Disrupting his rally bought him sympathy he didn't otherwise have. basselope Mar 2016 #89

I remember them, do you? jberryhill Mar 2016 #106

I think it is very important to protest the rise of someone you believe is a danger to our nation as Todays_Illusion Mar 2016 #76

Some are just paid political hacks. nt silvershadow Mar 2016 #77

. HuckleB Mar 2016 #78

Two days-plus of this nonsense. I see that you are concerned about Trump. Very concerned. Hekate Mar 2016 #86

More concerned about what people are doing to help him. basselope Mar 2016 #90

To show hate speech has consequences Matrosov Mar 2016 #91

Because he's a flippin' fascist! KamaAina Mar 2016 #92

Agree. And worse than that, it ends up Crunchy Frog Mar 2016 #93

are you white? La Lioness Priyanka Mar 2016 #94

At this point, I think he's just concerned. I feel his concern radiating through my screen... Hekate Mar 2016 #95

What I find funny is how most of the posts here basselope Mar 2016 #102

In what way does it matter? basselope Mar 2016 #100

Trump is not an existential threat to white people. Hence, it matter a lot. La Lioness Priyanka Mar 2016 #104

Trump is an existential threat to America in many ways. basselope Mar 2016 #111

so you say. i say the protestors put themselves at GREAT personal risk to expose La Lioness Priyanka Mar 2016 #113

The guy who showed up in the "just love each other" t-shirt or something similar did very well. basselope Mar 2016 #115

again, i think your race is affecting your perspective on how you view these protests La Lioness Priyanka Mar 2016 #118

It's the passive, non-violent protests that have been the most effective. basselope Mar 2016 #123

Being loud is not the same as violence La Lioness Priyanka Mar 2016 #129

Yes, it is. basselope Mar 2016 #131

Is Ben Carson white? jberryhill Mar 2016 #107

no, but he's also not a democrat confused about protesters at trump events. La Lioness Priyanka Mar 2016 #112

Dumb tactic Macattack1 Mar 2016 #96

gotta express your hate somehow hfojvt Mar 2016 #101

Think about it... peace13 Mar 2016 #103

In 2005 W wanted to cut Social Security Omaha Steve Mar 2016 #109

You would never see Bernie doing that to Trump! B Calm Mar 2016 #119

Why? Well let me see - Hitler rose to power just this way. jwirr Mar 2016 #121

Did you ask that same question about the hecklers at Obama's rallies? MuttLikeMe Mar 2016 #122

Because if you don't stand up to hate, you are doing nothing to stop it. ScreamingMeemie Mar 2016 #125

I disagree.. disillusioned73 Mar 2016 #127

These protests accomplished two things TeddyR Mar 2016 #128