Why would protesters on the left wear masks?

[GaryCnf]

103. While I have no sympathy for Black Bloc

This is just silliness.

They do not proudly show their faces like the protestors we purport to support, at least until the make Reagan Democrats queasy, because they are not PROTESTING. They are DISRUPTING. They do not believe the system will work for them so they seek to make sure it does not work at all. Here, where we are joined to make the system work in favor of our interests, it is no surprise they are attacked and mocked.

I disagree with the premise that the system cannot work to dismantle the oppression of global capitalism. The fact that toeholds have been gained in places like Chile where Allende was democratically elected suggests such a dismal view is too extreme. I rise to their defense only because the attacks leveled against them are identical to the racist attacks on BLM for blocking traffic and blanket condemnation of law enforcement and on groups like the BPP for taking up arms against white oppression. Just because disruption and/or violence might be excessive in this setting does not mean it always is.