The transportation blockers
So much was going on during the Floyd protests that was even worse than blocking traffic that I hadn’t even recalled that blocking transportation was a major part of those disruptive – but Democrat-approved – demonstrations. But it was, and it began even before the Floyd summer of 2020:
On the last day of January 2020, a self-styled anarchist movement called “Decolonize this Place” swarmed Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal. The few hundred masked agitators wanted to “disrupt” commuting until New York met their demands, including free transit and eliminating all policing in the subway system.
“Decolonize” – sound familiar?
More [emphasis mine]:
Five months after the January 2020 attempted Grand Central shutdown, though, the massive George Floyd protests turned this method of protest into an ongoing tactic. Hundreds of thousands of people with no work or school to go to during Covid-19 lockdowns regularly took over New York’s public thoroughfares, stopping drivers in traffic and taking over public parks — typically with no consequences to the protesters. Though the most violent actors faced federal charges for endangering officers and destroying government property, people who broke lower-level laws were only given “violation” summonses for disorderly conduct, trespassing, or similarly low-level infractions—charges and summonses that local DAs mostly dropped.
No consequences means you get more of the same, and that it might even escalate. Here’s another reason it’s escalated in places such as New York – lawfare on behalf of the demonstrators:
To settle an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit brought against the NYPD over its 2020 enforcement actions, mild as they were, the Adams-era NYPD recently said that it won’t “kettle” marchers—that is, hindering their movement with metal gates to prevent them from moving, say, from a sidewalk to a street, or from a street to a major intersection. And to avoid the excessive-force charges that dogged them in 2020, police now refuse to stop people from blocking roadways, entrance ramps, and major transit centers, instead arresting them only after they’ve blocked a target, have finished with their planned action, and surrender themselves.
Is it any wonder the pro-Hamas group – often composed, I believe, by many of the same people as in the Floyd protests and funded by the same sources – uses the same tactics? The number of demonstrators is much smaller now, because apparently the Floyd cause attracted more dedication than Hamas, at least so far. But the havoc they have wreaked is great.
As the article goes on to describe, neither the NY mayor nor the DA seem to have any interest in cracking down more. Also, the state of New York passed discovery laws a few years ago that made it far more difficult to prosecute crimes and have led to a large increase in dropped cases by overburdened prosecutors. The article I just linked goes into the details, but that’s the gist of it: twisted leftist virtue-signaling gone mad.
This is going to lead to more violent confrontations between drivers and blockers. A good tactic might be to call the police and say that you are being held against your will, which is true. Another response is to ignore the social contract of stopping when someone is in the street. I know this is dangerous to all parties involved, but there should be consequences for their actions. That is one of the major foundations of our justice system.
A few days ago, I saw a link from attorney David Berstein at the Instapundit about attorneys who are willing to represent people who’ve been impeded in these protests. They want to sue them, and their organizers, for RICO offenses and false imprisonment. These events are being organized by deep pockets leftist foundations. They should pay. If they do, they’ll stop.
Tempting as it is to run them over, your life would be ruined.
Don’t really care about their lives.
During the Seattle Autonomous Zone (CHAZ or CHOP) George Floyd democrat encouraged anarchy a young black woman tried to block Interstate 5 through Seattle at night. She was struck and killed by an automobile driven by a black man. Police didn’t remove her from the interstate, they tried to make it safe for the theater by closing entry ramps. Play stupid games and tragedy is not gaurenteed to not happen.
Rachel Correy (Saint Rachel) was killed playing chicken with a D9 bulldozer. Play stupid games and you can get dead. Big machines have blind spots, and don’t stop on dimes …..
Sucks to be the people that voted for Dems.
All of these bridge and road blockers should be arrested and given very harsh sentences; at least 90 days.
From Instapundit – https://twitter.com/i/status/1744849692616184294
A German activist tries to tow a farmer’s tractor away….
Deutsche maroon
From my TEA Party days, I learned that if you protest and interfere with the civil rights of another citizen, it’s a crime.
Generally, local and state governments can and do restrict the time, place, and manner of protest. When protestors interfere with the rights of other citizens to go about their daily business, it’s a public nuisance or unlawful impedance or unlawful obstruction. All crimes in most places.
The TEA Party had to adhere closely to the area, time, and manner of our protests. We had permits and the police monitored our protests closely. Of course, we were operating in a hostile environment to conservative causes. If only the blue city mayors would do the same to these leftist protests, the protests would soon end or at least not be such a disruption for their citizens.
With these semi-pro protestors (yes, they’re paid) what would start to get their attention is five days and $1000 for the first offense with each successive offense escalating – 1 month and $5000 for the second offense, etc.
Law enforcement. It’s what allows life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If only the lefties carted.
Doc Zero (John Hayward) explains WHY the blockers (and all left-wing protest cabals) do things that irritate their victimized populace, and why allowing them to deface and destroy property, and to impede people, unmolested and unjailed supports the underlying goal of the protests: imposing the Terrorist’s Bargain.
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1745088732493918530.html
The leftist protestors are merely following Alinsky’s rule 10.
“10. The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition. It is this unceasing pressure that results in the reactions from the opposition that are essential for the success of the campaign.”
IMO, using law enforcement to relieve the pressure will work. But blue city mayors are in on the scam. So, people are forced to accept the disruption of their lives. Ugh!
A few years back some group decided to chain themselves to the gates and equipment at a building site in rural Australia. The workers responded with cutting torches and gas powered saws, enthusiastically. The protesters couldn’t unhook themselves fast enough!
I think the same thing would work with people gluing themselves to pavement. Bring in jackhammers and gas powered saws, and cut out a chunk of pavement including the glued hand. Then drag them to the shoulder while any others are similarly treated.
No need to rush freeing them from their concrete accessories. Sure, can’t fingerprint them, but it’ll be okay.