General Discussion

MineralMan

(151,159 posts) Thu Aug 31, 2017, 03:48 PM Aug 2017

Why would protesters on the left wear masks? [View all]

I don't get it. Can someone explain this phenomenon to me?

106 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Why would protesters on the left wear masks? [View all] MineralMan Aug 2017 OP

Some are anarchists and not there to do good. Sneederbunk Aug 2017 #1

Ah, I see. But anarchists are not on the left, as MineralMan Aug 2017 #4

Exactly! People on the left believe in liberal or progressive or socialistic GOVERNMENT -- pnwmom Aug 2017 #47

Agents Provocateurs?? sagesnow Aug 2017 #78

They've been disrupting protests in the Bay Area since the invasion of Iraq wryter2000 Aug 2017 #6

They have been very destructive in Portland. CentralMass Aug 2017 #33

And most are folks who understand the threat of a fascist president and a corrupt AG. Demsrule86 Sep 2017 #100

The ones in masks are there to cause trouble wryter2000 Aug 2017 #2

A mask won't prevent an arrest. MineralMan Aug 2017 #7

Many of the violent right were arrested after the fact wryter2000 Aug 2017 #12

It can create doubt about the identity of an assailant JustABozoOnThisBus Aug 2017 #16

A buddy of mine is a public defender or was a public defender Hassin Bin Sober Aug 2017 #25

In the south the antiKKK laws prevent protesting anything with a mask AngryAmish Aug 2017 #82

violence heaven05 Sep 2017 #104

THIS GaryCnf Sep 2017 #106

They should be kicked out of any demonstration if they are wearing masks. applegrove Aug 2017 #3

Amen. n/t wryter2000 Aug 2017 #10

Seriously... Zoonart Aug 2017 #19

I don't understand what your last 3 words mean. applegrove Aug 2017 #20

I mean costume play... Zoonart Aug 2017 #23

That is exactly what they are doing. applegrove Aug 2017 #29

Sure, but how? Wearing a mask is not a crime defacto7 Aug 2017 #31

Point to them and yell "black block". That was done in previous years applegrove Aug 2017 #37

do you even heaven05 Sep 2017 #105

No but when these masked indvidial show up at protest and burn cars and smash windows of businesses CentralMass Aug 2017 #40

Actually in several places in the US it is illegal to protest while wearing a mask. PoliticAverse Aug 2017 #63

That's good. Wish it were that way in all states. defacto7 Aug 2017 #75

AntiKKK laws certainly make protest masks illegal. AngryAmish Aug 2017 #84

In many parts of the US it is illegal to be protesting wearing a mask. PoliticAverse Aug 2017 #61

but didn't the black bloc wearing masks show up at Berkley last weekend?? riversedge Sep 2017 #101

You do it. They are armed and crazy. AngryAmish Aug 2017 #83

The police should do it. They could demand that they reveal their faces applegrove Aug 2017 #85

Why should the police be arsed to do so? AngryAmish Aug 2017 #86

Are we both talking about the black block on the left? applegrove Aug 2017 #88

because they are edgy, and cool, and F- the Establishment! We are the REAL PEOPLE snooper2 Aug 2017 #5

Cause they intend to cause some havoc jmg257 Aug 2017 #8

Then I don't want to be associated with them. MineralMan Aug 2017 #9

Good choice! jmg257 Aug 2017 #11

Until one is arrested and we find out who they are I am not buying into randr Aug 2017 #13

Bingo! spanone Aug 2017 #15

I don't know, there are some people here defending their violence FLPanhandle Aug 2017 #17

"they are nazis--and they should be destroyed on sight by any means available" Not Ruth Aug 2017 #44

Eradicted??? MichMan Aug 2017 #66

+1 leftstreet Aug 2017 #18

I was in Seattle during WTO (I live here), and the anarchists (as they were termed then) LisaM Aug 2017 #38

They were at the marches to protest the invasion of Iraq before we even invaded wryter2000 Aug 2017 #46

Yes, I went to a couple of anti-war marches before the fact too. Same thing. LisaM Aug 2017 #56

There were a lot of Guy Fawkes masks worn during "Occupy Wall Street" nm MichMan Aug 2017 #67

This message was self-deleted by its author MichMan Aug 2017 #68

The "heroes of the civil rights movement" might not have done anything wrong............. socialist_n_TN Aug 2017 #71

Good point wryter2000 Aug 2017 #74

Yeah, becausing it was illegal for blacks to vote or sit where they want on a bus GulfCoast66 Aug 2017 #87

Martin Luther King was arrested about 30 times for protesting. He even wrote a book in jail. n/t PoliticAverse Aug 2017 #92

I agree entirely... Zoonart Aug 2017 #21

You mean like the bike lock professor? metalbot Aug 2017 #43

+1 uponit7771 Aug 2017 #59

It started in Europe leftstreet Aug 2017 #14

Aren't they breaking the law? ProgressiveValue Aug 2017 #22

In some states, yes Lee-Lee Aug 2017 #27

Of course they can cover their faces -- many of the KJKKers in CVille did obamanut2012 Aug 2017 #34

Depends on the state. Good try saying that the laws are the same everywhere. Epic Fail. X_Digger Aug 2017 #90

Defining them as on the left is a convenient way for reporters or those on the right Dyedinthewoolliberal Aug 2017 #24

Its the "Black Bloc" strategy Lee-Lee Aug 2017 #26

lulz obamanut2012 Aug 2017 #32

Kind of like these guys, gunz and all -- Hoyt Aug 2017 #48

Those guys are a lot less organized Lee-Lee Sep 2017 #93

Given the angry, heavily armed, bigoted people they are protesting, they might be for safety. LonePirate Aug 2017 #28

That's what I heard zipplewrath Aug 2017 #41

Because the ones with masks are cops obamanut2012 Aug 2017 #30

+1 MrsCoffee Aug 2017 #53

DU's former antifa black bloc member answers many of your questions Not Ruth Aug 2017 #35

Because masks are scary. nt LexVegas Aug 2017 #36

Mostly an affectation by young punks looking for fights. Warpy Aug 2017 #39

I'm not sure how smart that is. ProgressiveValue Aug 2017 #49

Police have been out of control and use these things on peaceful crowds Warpy Aug 2017 #52

I remember them. ProgressiveValue Aug 2017 #57

There are a number of reasons mythology Aug 2017 #42

It is part of the uniform, a way to distinguish themselves from the opposition and the sheep Not Ruth Aug 2017 #45

nah bonemachine Aug 2017 #54

Facial recognition technology. n/t Coventina Aug 2017 #50

I believe the history of the mask/helmet black bloc tactic was to avoid police harassment/arrest aikoaiko Aug 2017 #51

Some might be police personnel. guillaumeb Aug 2017 #55

Because they are "special" and doing something very "special" & "sincere" & they mean "well" Madam45for2923 Aug 2017 #58

Typical DU Pearl-clutching. maxsolomon Aug 2017 #60

THIS socialist_n_TN Aug 2017 #73

Realistically... forgotmylogin Aug 2017 #62

STAY PEACEFUL. Peaceful protest is the only way to be take seriously and be truly heard. Not Ruth Aug 2017 #70

A bandanna doesn't stop either smoke or tear gas. X_Digger Aug 2017 #91

I've come up with: "No Face, No Place!" Expecting Rain Aug 2017 #64

To not be tracked by the Fascists in the Trump Administration? WinkyDink Aug 2017 #65

I remember a lot of Guy Fawkes masks worn by "Occupy Wall Street" nm MichMan Aug 2017 #69

That got played out fast. Tommy_Carcetti Aug 2017 #72

I'm someone who did it. I can give you my reasons. politicat Aug 2017 #76

Thank you for your service dembotoz Aug 2017 #79

+1 bigtree Aug 2017 #80

Appreciate the insight - that was tremendously enlightening! bullwinkle428 Aug 2017 #89

Absolutely brilliant response. Thank you. (eom) CanSocDem Sep 2017 #94

I find your posts very interesting grantcart Sep 2017 #96

I can only talk about my local community. politicat Sep 2017 #97

Tear gas: the police are NOT liberal's friends. Nevernose Aug 2017 #77

Antifa is not bloc; bloc is not antifa. politicat Aug 2017 #81

Why not? alarimer Sep 2017 #95

Antifa activities now classified as domestic terror violence by feds Not Ruth Sep 2017 #98

They are being targeted by Sessions justice department ...recently he got a court order for every Demsrule86 Sep 2017 #99

becasue wearing white sheets is being done already..... beachbum bob Sep 2017 #102

While I have no sympathy for Black Bloc GaryCnf Sep 2017 #103