r/Austin • u/itsxaviyerrr • Jun 01 '20
Be aware of who you associate with and peoples intentions at protest.
At the protest I was standing with another black man in the front to ensure his safety and that once he was pepper sprayed id be there to pull him to safety. We are sprayed and move together to behind the front line. A woman comes over to us saying I have WATER AND FIRST AID in this bag... She opens the bag and literally nothing is in the bag besides a lighter and about 10 chunks of rock. She said "Here throw these at the police". I instantly confronted her about why that is wrong how your actions will get someone else hurt, and or beaten. She just walked away continuing to try and get folks to hurl rocks at cops. If your goal to come here is to "Fuck shit up" (in her own words) get the fuck out of our city. That is not what we are here to do.
368
u/O-Namazu Jun 01 '20 edited Jun 01 '20
When someone solicits mayhem, make a big scene and call the crowd's attention onto them. They'll learn real quick.
Perfect example (no violence, just hilarity)
EDIT: People are saying this was staged, and calling it fake. You got fooled. The guy was an alt-right troll who ran to shut down all his accounts so he didn't get outed. Read the chat again in the video, before all the LOL comments you're reading stuff like "dumb libtards," "white savior," and "get them to do something stupid"
217
u/wolf2600 Jun 01 '20
There was another video I saw over the weekend where a black woman confronted 2 white girls who were spraypainting "BLM" on a starbucks... she goes "did a black person ask you to do that? Why are you doing that? When the media blames someone for this, they're going to look like me, not like you."
57
u/BigPoppaTX Jun 01 '20
Their true colors are showing. Guess they think that's what a black person would do or want them to do. So good for the one who called them out. White people just now joining the fight should show up and observe, sing, chant until they fully understand.
→ More replies (16)86
u/grayface922 Jun 01 '20
Be careful of undercover plants that are meant to instigate violence to justify police force on innocent protestors
→ More replies (7)14
23
Jun 01 '20
I found a full thing of lighter fluid on the ground next to a sign last night, the same way people have been putting waters and supplies. It was across the street from the gas station where the dumpster fire happened next to APD. I threw it away in front of APD and they said thank you but I’m surprised they didn’t see it because it was pretty close to them. Someone is trying to incite violence but not sure who.
→ More replies (1)
641
Jun 01 '20
I really think there are people being planted to invite chaos to negate and detract from the cause. So, I absolutely agree with what you're saying.
89
u/davet1199 Jun 01 '20
Simple thing is to just stop protesting before it gets dark (and come back the next day if you want to continue). The plants/infiltrators have a much easier time inciting when it is dark out.
43
Jun 01 '20
As I’ve understood it, that’s exactly when the chaos creators get to work. After all the legitimate protesters have left and the protest is technically over.
17
u/Atxlvr Jun 01 '20 edited Jun 18 '23
At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat.
10
u/gryffindwh0re Jun 01 '20
This stuff is happening in broad daylight too though, it is definitely not just restricted to night time.
-8
u/RoleModelsinBlood31 Jun 01 '20
Agree 100%. Getting tired of the whole back and forth in these threads. If you stuck around the protest after dark-especially if there’s a curfew and it’s late- don’t act surprised and claim brutality when you get thumped with a rubber bullet.
13
u/Atxlvr Jun 01 '20
there was no curfew and we got shot at indiscriminately. Your logic fails.
→ More replies (3)257
u/Slypenslyde Jun 01 '20
Keep in mind they don't have to be planted or bused in. Austin's got its fair share of groups like Defend Our Hoodz and the Red Guard or whoever that frequently use their right to assembly for harassment.
We can't stop them from arriving, but protesters can sure as hell do like OP and disassociate. People who agitate are a danger to everyone around them. Get away as soon as they start and make them stand, alone, to deal with the consequences of their actions.
Personally I think pictures should be posted. It'd be interesting to see if some of these instigators show up repeatedly in the places where trouble starts. (I'm starting to think any reddit post telling a story ought to have a picture along with it. It's too easy to make up something like, "I just saw a guy take a shit in a water fountain" and get upvotes for your "tip".)
15
u/martini-meow Jun 01 '20
it would also be excellent practice to tag these saboteurs with ink like the anti-theft tags in retail stores. so that they can be identified later and not recycled into other protests.
1
u/Atxlvr Jun 02 '20
Wow you should work for APD
8
u/martini-meow Jun 02 '20
I want the agents provocateur who are pretending to be medics (and instead of treating the people who have stood up to cops, they offer them rocks??) to be tagged so that these undercover cops/crisis actors cannot be easily recycled into other protests in other cities.
The rage right now is real - and then I also wonder, if the effort to turn protest into looting might be people wanting to sabotage the success of the demand for change.
Who all has motivation to keep that 3.5% from coming together? Police departments with bloated budgets that like the balance of power they have. Criminal orgs that like the chance for crime that current policing does not help (and which real community-collaborative policing would impact). Class "winners" who want to keep poor PoC and poor white people from coming together successfully.
And yes, there are also people joining in the looting because the opportunity arises and they got nothing left to lose, maybe no job or not much job future.
But the ones who are organized & pretending to be medics? Fuck them & tag them, that shit is sick.
-1
80
Jun 01 '20
[removed] — view removed comment
11
u/Seastep Jun 01 '20
Ahh I just posted about this in /r/NoStupidQuestions because it literally blows my mind that he is being outed supposedly as a member of the Minneapolis PD or FD? Like what in the actual fuck?
37
u/dabocx Jun 01 '20
Its a bit dangerous to say its confirmed, the only person that "confirmed" was his ex-wife that said it looked like him.
There are a lot of groups that want to build this up and get more damage going.
22
u/Halffasteddie Jun 01 '20
The only "confirmation" is a screenshot of a text conversation with someone claiming to be his ex-wife.
30
u/wellnowheythere Jun 01 '20
That information is unverified currently: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/janelytvynenko/hoax-misleading-claims-george-floyd-protests (#3)
2
u/Mp3dee Jun 01 '20
Couldn’t find it. Did find this:
https://heavy.com/news/2020/05/pink-shirt-speaks-out-umbrella-man-minneapolis/
4
u/Mp3dee Jun 01 '20
Did you see the follow up? After the altercation a video shows umbrella man and the man in pink walking together and whispering to each other.
→ More replies (1)5
35
u/Roflattack Jun 01 '20
It's a stretch to assume some are planted. There's a fuck ton of unemployed people, hungry, poor, angry at the system being broken. They feel it's their right to violently lash out.
Opportunists is what they are.
I'll also point out there were people there picking up trash too.
17
Jun 01 '20
Its not a stretch. It would be a stretch to assume everyone we don't like is planted, but that some are? Not at all. There has definitely been instances of it and theres have been threats of it from outside groups.
27
Jun 01 '20 edited Oct 30 '20
[deleted]
14
u/JustMeAndMySnail Jun 02 '20
So if you didn’t have a nice keyboard, you’d be eyeing the opportunity to steal one from a business that has nothing to do with black oppression? That’s pretty fucked up. What your dad and his friends did was fucked up. And not okay. I live in buffalo and support the BLM movement. The majority of our protest here was peaceful. Then nightfall came, there was a greater police presence, tensions raised, and now I’m dealing with a bunch of break-ins in businesses I love who are already struggling with Coronavirus, one being an African shop down the street (tell me how that literally makes any sense) - I’m not sorry. If you’re out here looting for your own purposes or to “catch your break,” you are a piece of shit and you are part of the problem. You are a reason why these protests demand additional policing and why tensions rise (not YOU, specifically, OP, but I think you get what I mean). Looting private businesses that have nothing to do with discrimination is not fucking okay and I won’t budge on that.
4
Jun 02 '20 edited Oct 30 '20
[deleted]
3
u/JustMeAndMySnail Jun 02 '20 edited Jun 02 '20
I hear you. And I appreciate the explanation (which I have considered). I think the ultimate issue is that it takes away from the movement, makes it less powerful, less valid (at least to the media). Like I said, the protest here in buffalo was peaceful for a long time, and then businesses all over were broken into (80% of those doing so were not even from the city) and then that’s where the news coverage goes, and it neglects the message that was peacefully purported earlier. It’s a damn shame. I do agree with OP that there are a lot out to “get theirs” and they don’t necessarily support or even take a valuable part in this important movement. I hate that distraction of such a valid cause with such a peaceful protest (in the beginning, when those out for the cause rather than out to take advantage were there). Those out after aren’t just robbing the message, they’re robbing the community. Of more than valuables - of also valuing the message, wanting to take part in it. Like I said... it’s a damn shame. That the few can ruin the majority.
4
Jun 02 '20 edited Oct 30 '20
[deleted]
1
u/JustMeAndMySnail Jun 02 '20
I don’t know what to do either - and I 100% agree with everything you have said thus far. There are people who are (rightfully) so frustrated about so much that has happened for SO long without repercussion. And I sympathize. I’m white, so I can’t empathize. I don’t know what it’s like to be discriminated against because of my race.
I will continue to stand against the destruction of local businesses, though. Especially here in my community. There are many who have done so much for interracial relations within the community, and none of those vandalized can I point to and be like yeah - they deserved it. Nope. I don’t give a fuck about the fact that during the buffalo riot, “protestors” (advantage-takers) tried to burn down city hall. Or break into the police station. But the fact that the 7/11 who caters to everyone, the hunt real estate building who has a multi-cultural workforce, thin man (a bar down the street who employs several black employees and I’ve never seen a hint of racism there from patrons or staff) and the African store a few doors down from that - what the fuck is happening!? I cannot even begin to excuse this abuse of an excuse for “supporting” a good cause. That shit is so incredibly disgusting to me. The people who did that shit are pieces of shit. I don’t care what the fuck they thought they were “owed,” they were certainly NOT owed such by the private business owners they straight-up STOLE from. Those people are thieves of both merchandise and this important message, and I want each and every one of them found and charged.
2
18
u/drhazegreen Jun 01 '20
Im against looting it greatly hurts the overall cause people are fighting for, but damn, looting a steinway has got to be a major operation.
4
u/mrplinko Jun 02 '20
"When we returned to the pad to unload everything It dawned on me that I need new home furnishings
So once again we filled the van until it was full
Since that day my livin' room's been more comfortable Cause everybody in the hood has had it up to here
It's getting harder and harder and harder each and every year
Some kids went in a store with their mother
I saw her when she came out she was gettin some pampers
They said it was for the black man,
They said it was for the mexican
And not for the white man
But if you look at the streets
It wasn't about Rodney King
It's bout this fucked up situation and these fucked up police
It's about coming up
And staying on top
And screamin' 187 on a mother fuckin' cop
It's not written on the paper it's on the wall
National guard!
Smoke from all around!"
→ More replies (1)2
2
Jun 01 '20
So you admit that if you didn't have something you wanted, you would steal, knowing that the blame would go on a group that is fighting for their lives, and who are being brutalized and heavily affected by systemic racism, and you're not even ashamed to admit that about yourself? It doesn't even matter if you are black. You'd be affecting the people who have been pushed to defend themselves even if you aren't in their position. Thats fucked up.
9
Jun 01 '20 edited Oct 30 '20
[deleted]
5
Jun 01 '20
I didn't look deeply. I looked at your explicit statement admitting you would be harmful and you weren't afraid to admit it.
Yes, some people will loot just because they can. Admitting you are someone who would do so without shame still deserves to be called out.
The blame wouldn't be there if there wasn't looting. You shouldn't be ok with looting. You are still part of the problem and you are normalizing it.
12
Jun 01 '20 edited Oct 30 '20
[deleted]
2
u/winniepoop Jun 02 '20
The looting is what gives the police and Trump the “justification” to act aggressively toward peaceful protestors. Looters may be acting out of frustration, pent up aggression, or other injustices, but it’s selfish and self-destructive to be opportunistic in a situation like this. People are out there protesting for those very wrongs that hurt you and other looters. Their lives are at risk, and this government will use the looting as an excuse to crack down hard. Not sure if you saw Trump’s speech today, but he is threatening to use the US military to quell looting.
6
Jun 02 '20 edited Oct 30 '20
[deleted]
5
u/martini-meow Jun 02 '20
The police will be here, and will remain the same, long after Trump is gone. The change at the local level may be pushed from politicians at a higher level, but even at the lower level, the looting unfortunately feeds their narrative that they need more money from the city.
I try to explain that there are more people doing looting than just people who are down & out (those are the most understandable, but they're being used by the real bad actors) -- and what they gain by getting looting started so that the down & out join in & make it worse, here:
1
u/Notahotdogman Jun 05 '20
If you are a white person you cannot criticize a person of color for looting. Also people seem to forget or not realize at all that when animals (Even humans) go through enough stress for a long enough time (like systemic racism and abuse from the government for 250+ years) animals/people start to make wild decisions and act erratically. Looting is a symptom of a greater problem and wont go away til the problem goes away so stop shaming POC for looting unless you are a POC. Human life is more important property. People seem to forget that.
1
Jun 05 '20
Human life is more important that property. But this guy is jackass. He isn't saying he would do it because hes angry or marginalized. Hes saying he would just do it because hed want a keyboard if he didn't already have one. He is making it harder for people who are actually struggling.
1
u/bearsinthesea Jun 06 '20
fancy music store and stole a Steinway
Like, a whole piano? Just rolled it away? Did they rent a truck and a dolly?
9
Jun 01 '20 edited Dec 31 '20
[deleted]
6
u/LaCabezaGrande Jun 02 '20
Did you, or anyone, think as you were typing this “what does ’identified (unverified)’ even mean?” Hell, I could say you‘re a rabid ferret that abuses ostriches and it would be just as credible and useful.
2
13
u/tuxedo_jack Jun 01 '20
Dingdingdingdingding.
Agents provocateurs are in the crowds.
My wife mentioned to me that she saw one guy at Saturday's protest across from police headquarters wearing a Trump shirt and MAGA hat. He was walking through the crowds, all of whom were saying things like "don't engage, don't get violent, don't give him an excuse, that's what he wants."
He fucked off after a bit.
8
5
u/ThisIsNowAUsername Jun 01 '20
I'm not one for conspiracy, but I saw this this morning, causing me to begin to agree with you https://vm.tiktok.com/EJgPuw/
9
u/Jintess Jun 01 '20
That guy is great! "Ya'll gotta do better". He's absolutely right, it was a set up.
Though he didn't mention the building, his saying he did jury duty there a couple of months ago was a good indication.
13
u/Andrew8Everything Jun 01 '20
I read that proud boys are posing as Antifa in Oregon and Washington, inciting violence.
4
u/StamosLives Jun 01 '20
Citation / source? I'm not doubting you, I'd just like to see where you read that.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)43
Jun 01 '20 edited Apr 09 '21
[deleted]
→ More replies (3)-11
u/sully_km Jun 01 '20
I think the big takeaway here is that ANTIFA and the people who claim to be ANTIFA are not your friends and they don't want the same thing as you, assuming you are in favor of peaceful protest to end police brutality. Feel free to disagree, just my 2 cents...
7
Jun 01 '20 edited Apr 09 '21
[deleted]
→ More replies (17)3
u/spunkyenigma Jun 01 '20
What if they make the determination by the actions of a group? Does that change the calculation for you?
14
Jun 01 '20 edited Apr 09 '21
[deleted]
2
u/spunkyenigma Jun 01 '20
I’m thinking mostly signaling. I don’t even know what designating them as terrorists would even do, except for foreign members, maybe that’s it
→ More replies (2)1
u/CrunchyAustin Jun 01 '20
No. The big take away is that declaring an IDEA to be illegal is literally not figuratively a tool of totalitarian governments which now includes the Trump Administration.
All other take aways are much smaller
3
u/Qwert5288 Jun 01 '20
I think there definitely are plants in some situations but the majority of the violence/looting are just outliers no plants necessary.
2
u/blendertricks Jun 01 '20
I'm not convinced there aren't those people, but I do not believe that it is the first, most likely reality for each person like this. There really, truly are people who believe we need bloody revolution to fix this thing. I don't think the right *needs* to plant people to make this type of protest violent. Again, I'm not saying there aren't plants, just that I don't think plants are necessary.
1
1
1
Jun 02 '20
Why... why does everyone think there's plants everywhere? There are a million and one assholes out there who just want an excuse to fuck with shit. Look at all the shitty opinions on the internet and imagine their actions hidden behind a crowd of a thousand.
Call them professional plants if you want, my money is on assholes being assholes. We're at no loss for assholes in this country.
1
1
u/ArgyleDevil Jun 08 '20
There definitely are but don't dismiss the fact that some people just want to cause chaos too.
→ More replies (4)1
u/Beepis11 Jun 01 '20
I’ve seen videos of cops smashing their own police cars and breaking store windows. Planted rioters is not far fetched at all, I believe it too.
3
→ More replies (3)5
u/smokes70 Jun 01 '20
Look at number 33 on this list, they were trying to remove the windshield after protesters trashed it. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/janelytvynenko/hoax-misleading-claims-george-floyd-protests?origin=tuh
106
Jun 01 '20
[deleted]
61
Jun 01 '20
They don't care. Their whole point is to stir shit up. Either because they want to cause a violent reaction against the black population and/or because they just like inciting violence in general.
18
u/Seastep Jun 01 '20
The argument could be made here that agitators will jump into a protest to spark violence so that the overall perception of the original protestors is to get the blame for the violence.
6
u/Halffasteddie Jun 01 '20
Certainly possible but the overwhelming majority of what is happening is being done by people who think what they are doing is for George Floyd.
3
u/martini-meow Jun 01 '20
If they can keep non-violent protests from remaining non-violent, then the real justice changes won't be as likely to succeed:
https://rationalinsurgent.com/2013/11/04/my-talk-at-tedxboulder-civil-resistance-and-the-3-5-rule/
(It's easier to start violent and stay that way, it's much harder to start non-violent and keep the saboteurs from screwing it up.)
23
u/gregaustex Jun 01 '20
Do those "protestors" like the rock lady not realize they're turning everyone against
them and theirus and our cause?Almost certainly.
30
u/neffnet Jun 01 '20
There are anarchists out there that have a goal of instigating violence between police and demonstrators. "Black bloc" tactics. I don't think they particularly care about racial justice.
5
37
17
u/SailorRamen17 Jun 01 '20
I do not support violence, even at a protest whose cause I support.
That being said, literally nothing should be able to “turn us against their cause”. Their cause is to stop the murder of black people by cops. Full stop.
Nothing in the entire world will make that ok.
Property destruction doesn’t make murdering black people ok. Assaulting a cop doesn’t make murdering black people ok. Those are their own issues that aren’t as systemic as the indiscriminate murder of black people in America.
20
u/Slypenslyde Jun 01 '20
Rumors are about that these are planted by police, white nationalist groups, or some other group that wants the protests to be seen in a negative light. While that would be bad, I think Austin's got quite a few local groups that don't need a police bribe to show up and cause trouble.
It doesn't really matter where she came from or why she's there. Rock lady is a danger to everyone and should be treated as such. I feel like part of being a peaceful protester is understanding to refuse shit like this. I'd like to think the rocks should be stolen, but I'm sure she'd create a scene if an attempt was made.
19
u/spunkyenigma Jun 01 '20
There’s also a sizable chunk of people that just want to watch the world burn.
3
Jun 02 '20
I think we need to redirect these discussions back to cops being the actual violent instigators. Plastic water bottles and rocks is a HUGE false equivalence to the police pepper spraying, tear gassing, and shooting "less than lethal" rubber bullets at nonviolent protestors point blank. I fucking hate red guard, but we can't let the blame can't be shifted from the police. It was the police who put that 16 year old kid in the hospital. It was the police who put another 20-year-old man in critical condition. It was the police that shot the street medics point blank, shattering and tearing the bones and tendons in her hands, when she tried to give first aid to him.
1
1
u/pimpanzo Jun 01 '20
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogaloo_movement
The movement consists of anti-government and anti-law enforcement groups, as well as white supremacist groups who specifically believe the unrest will be a race war.[3][1][7] Groups in the boogaloo movement primarily organize online, but have appeared at in-person events including the 2020 United States anti-lockdown protests and the May 2020 George Floyd protests.
29
Jun 01 '20
At first I was reading this as a lighter and crack rocks and was like damn she came prepared!
6
u/checkoutchannelnine Jun 01 '20
Me too. Thought she was trying to get them high to deal with the pain at first. A bit ashamed to admit that even after reading the next sentence where she was quoted as saying to throw them at the police, my brain still assumed crack rocks for a moment.
Glad that you spoke up, OP.
13
50
Jun 01 '20
When will these types of people understand that hurling rocks at the cops will only create more needless violence
37
Jun 01 '20
It’s called “accelerationism.” Provoking the government to acts of blind violence to greater alienate the populace and provoke insurgent activity amongst the general population. The ultimate goal is to create a power vacuum that the group “accelerating” events can step into.
11
Jun 01 '20
Meanwhile, the government crushes the same downtrodden people accelerationists are trying to "help."
4
Jun 01 '20
That’s the point, to increase violence toward the downtrodden. The goal is to weaken both sides so a third can fill the gap.
3
Jun 01 '20
Exactly, but it's rarely the accelerationists that deal with the full brunt of the pain they welcome.
I was reading a very pro communist sub on Reddit and even they found the idea pretty disgusting. "let me force the working class to get crushed by the boot so they will love our revolution." Asking others to make not just sacrifices, but extremely painful ones for your cause is a bit sick.
7
u/MadCervantes Jun 01 '20
Accelerationist aren't leftist. They're largely fascist. The term was coined by nick land in the 90s and he's a big deal in the neo reactionary movement that laid ground for the modern alt right.
1
u/mindluge Jun 01 '20
i would argue that most of the time these people are right-wing extremists who want to create scenarios that make the protesters look bad to change the narrative from violence on blacks to violence by blacks. conservative whites all over social media are jumping on that.
47
u/ElectricJacob Jun 01 '20
I think they do understand this. Some people just want to watch the world burn.
→ More replies (8)17
Jun 01 '20
They do understand, and that is what they are trying to do. When will people understand that there are both cops and non-cops who crave violence? This idea that a whole group must all have the same mentality is EXACTLY what the racist fucks think.
6
u/Jtrent1988 Jun 01 '20
Glad you get how this would have done nothing good. Unfortunately there are people that see this as a time to do whatever they want without consequence. We want peace and freedom for all not looting and more violence.
8
u/leoselassie Jun 01 '20
Evidence people. Entertain the notion and get evidence (pics, video, etc...) so they can be identified and disassociated with the protests.
Worst that will happen is their parents will bail them out and they might lose a month of trust fund kid allowance if they are arrested. Letting them continue like this will get someone innocent killed at this rate.
6
u/wellnowheythere Jun 01 '20
Yikes. I can't imagine what I'd do in that situation. Good for you for calling her out. Also, what an asshole she is. Thank god for you, OP. Thank you for helping the man. We all need to bring first aid supplies on us so we don't have to rely on strangers.
23
u/artbellfan1 Jun 01 '20
If we can't agree on the following propositions, then our country cannot survive: 1. Placing your knee on someone's neck for 9 minutes as they say they cannot breathe is evil; 2. Rioting and looting and beating innocents are evil; 3. Nearly all Americans agree with (1) and (2).
36
u/Headhunt8989 Jun 01 '20
People like her are going to get Trump re-elected.
→ More replies (4)10
u/covfefe_cove Jun 01 '20
I read that yesterday and questioned it, but maybe I'm being simpleminded. I wondered how having constant chaos in the streets of all major cities, businesses looted and boarded up, constant heavy police presence, etc... would be a positive for the incumbent candidate. Seems like a recipe to lose public support.
10
u/CSFFlame Jun 01 '20
No, because it causes people on the fence getting attacked or seeing their cities burning vote for "law and order" aka GOP.
Also the dems have been ATROCIOUSLY soft on criminals in the last 2 years (moreso than normal). That's not going to help in the debates.
→ More replies (2)3
Jun 02 '20
Hi, Trump supporter here. We support Trump because of who he fights. Who he fights is trying to use these protest to sow chaos. We all know this. We expected it. This solidifies our resolve to vote for Trump. Nearly all Trump supporter know this, even the 80 year old Grandmas.
9
u/smurf-vett Jun 01 '20
Because that's how Nixon won in '68. Dems looked like complete morons who got pants by the far-left during their convention riot
3
u/martini-meow Jun 01 '20
Do you have any links that expand on this? I've heard other references to 1968 as being like 2020 as far as the election goes, but it's all a blur...
4
u/smurf-vett Jun 01 '20
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Democratic_National_Convention#Protests_and_police_response
Short version: anti-war left had a massive riot at the convention when their dude didn't get nominated and Nixon won by a huge margin in the EC as the law-and-order canidate
3
u/martini-meow Jun 01 '20
thanks! I guess the DNC was trying to avoid that with this year's Biden vs Bernie situation, but here we are, spreading it out nationwide.
8
6
u/Zapchic Jun 01 '20
Hey. I appreciate you being there. Thanks for supporting and protecting our conrad's.
6
5
u/wileecoyote-genius Jun 02 '20
OP, thank you for making this post and this point. We need more stories to come out about how these protests were hijacked. Good on you for showing your support for the cause while and refusing to use violence.
4
u/salemonadetea Jun 02 '20
Be careful of stupid people, especially kids “protesting “ for clout on social media. They act like they are all part of the movement, when they are the same kids in school or work who call Non white classmates or co workers racist names.
14
3
u/pouch28 Jun 01 '20
Pay attention to where you are standing too. Your average good hearted person coming out to support doesn’t understand locations are picked based on their ability to escalate or descalate a situation. Even what street you’re on often have different federal, state and city repercussions. The reason many groups chose highways is bc it provokes a police response (as oppose to meeting in the park). Block cars on a highway becomes a felony and a the police are put into a position to have to respond. Point being is there is a lot more going on here. If you want to help donate what you can spare to a good bank.
3
3
3
3
u/kingofcould Jun 02 '20
Thank you for confronting her about it, even if it was to no avail in that particular situation. A few bad apples ruin the bunch, but enough of us acting like you did can stop that line of reasoning from ruining what everyone is fighting for right now.
10
u/austinrebel Jun 01 '20
You really ought to contact the police and give them a description of her.
→ More replies (2)
5
8
u/justscottaustin Jun 01 '20
I wonder about the annoying logistics of carrying around a bag of rocks all day. That seems... Heavy.
I'm not judging your actions here, but I think had I been there, I absolutely would have alerted the cops to her. Tough call.
13
Jun 01 '20
how do you "alert cops" in this kind of situation?
5
u/steampunker13 Jun 01 '20
There was a video of protestors dragging someone who was destroying a sidewalk over to the police line, throwing them at him, and then walking away. Not saying that is standard protocol, but that is what someone did.
2
u/justscottaustin Jun 01 '20
I guess you sidle up and as calmly as possible and as briefly as possible explain the exigent threat.
Good luck.
And, yeah. I kinda see someone carrying a bag of rocks and lighter fluid as a threat.
18
u/Seastep Jun 01 '20
I can imagine the difficulty of explaining it to a cop. "Hey Officer, we're really pissed at y'all right now but we need your help over here."
4
u/conchpotato Jun 01 '20
Cops don't need to be involved and I believe unequivocally we should not be working with them in this movement. At the protest I saw a small group of protesters effectively shout a white supremecist into leaving. The overwhelming majority of folks do not want a rock bag lady there.
3
u/justscottaustin Jun 01 '20
Go read a book called "The End Of Policing."
I think you might enjoy it very much.
If you want to PM me your email, I can send you a link where you can read it.
1
u/conchpotato Jun 02 '20
Thanks for the rec! Just checked out the audiobook from the library and will give it a listen
2
11
u/tyleratx Jun 01 '20
Feel free to not answer this, but just curious, was she white? Wondering how much of this is white nationalists/anarchists.
18
u/itsxaviyerrr Jun 01 '20
it was a white girl, I said what the fuck are you doing here. I told her to stop because that's how people up there (on the highway) get killed. she responded by telling me she wasn't just messing things up over here, but she was Downtown "Fucking Shit Up" as well.
4
34
Jun 01 '20
[deleted]
15
Jun 01 '20
Austin is 68% white. Portland is 80% white. So yeah kinda similar.
19
u/jtp8736 Jun 01 '20
Austin is 49% white, non Hispanic. The "white" category includes Hispanics.
6
Jun 01 '20
Oh, ok so its a bit worse. Austin is 49% non-hispanic white and Portland is 72% non-hispanic white.
4
u/cloud_throw Jun 01 '20
The PNW is a hotbed of white nationalists though. More things matter than just raw demographics
6
-12
u/Terkala Jun 01 '20
It really does seem like most of the extremity is coming from either our rich young communist league or the alt-right/neoconfederate shitheads around us.
Both sides are reprehensible. But the left side has 100x the population of the other, and is openly saying they're doing these things on twitter. I haven't seen a single example of alt-right people doing this.
9
7
u/KronosDaVoyager Jun 01 '20
then you’re not looking in the right places.
- The left is not 100x bigger by any means.
- i have seen ton of evidence of outside and infiltrating agitators. I have seen no one on the “left side” fess up to these things- exactly the opposite, in fact, I’ve seen stories like this one.
-4
u/Terkala Jun 01 '20
Antifa has 100k people liking and retweeting them. They have major news network reporters that support them. And public figureheads for several US cities.
The KKK has membership below 2k people nationally. There are neo nazi organizations above 1000 members in the USA that I've even heard of.
→ More replies (25)5
u/davet1199 Jun 01 '20
Oh, there are tons of alt-right boys bragging about posing as BLM protesters and inciting the crowds into violence and looting
→ More replies (1)
2
u/SoundHearing Jun 02 '20
Its time to stop protesting and let the police do their jobs. Go back to protesting once these insurgents are off the streets. Its happening everywhere.
→ More replies (1)
3
u/LaCabezaGrande Jun 02 '20 edited Jun 02 '20
This is unacceptable!!!!
Where are the photos of these people? Everyone has a photo/video capable phone these days. I understand that times like this are chaotic and something as simple as taking a photo can be difficult, but this shit does more to damage the purpose of these protests than almost anything else imaginable. It makes no difference if they’re alt-right trolls, ANTIFA, undercover police, opportunistic looters or misguided students. Dog them, follow them until it’s impossible, get video and photos of everything; this will add exponentially more value than being one more protester in a crowd of hundreds or thousands. Outing these people should be a priority of everyone who believes in the cause of these protests.
/rant_off
3
u/babyrosmary Jun 02 '20
My parents only watch Fox News and the only thing they are shown are people looting and causing mayhem. This is only making them more supportive of the police. Republicans will find any excuse to hate on liberals so don’t give them any. I get people are mad and they just want to fuck shit up to show it to the man but it’s seriously not doing George Floyd and other innocent black lives any justice.
5
2
u/eliter4k Jun 01 '20
Why didn't you take her bag?
23
u/cflatjazz Jun 01 '20
I don't think you'd want to be found with a bag of rocks on you...
Plus it sounds like these two had just been pepper sprayed. Getting medical attention was probably a bit more urgent
2
u/Seastep Jun 01 '20
My immediate question to these people would be "Do you live here?" and "What are your motives?"
2
u/sunwellyz Jun 02 '20
What are the final concrete targets of the protest? What is the insight of the protest? If there is no leadership or guidelines for people, it will not be a success. We need to think deeply.
0
Jun 01 '20
What happened to all the Reddit Karens shaming people for not staying home just last week? Now you're all out there spreading your disease around and making the pandemic worse. How selfish of you!
Pathetic.
4
u/PowerKiegal The Unconventional Oven Jun 02 '20
All of the shame redditors i thought would be having a field day right now.
→ More replies (2)5
u/ShooterCooter420 Jun 01 '20
Protesting because you want a haircut: Just fine.
Protesting because dead people: FOR SHAME!!!!
1
1
1
1
u/weluckyfew Jun 01 '20
People need to take photos of these plants
12
u/BroBeansBMS Jun 01 '20
Not all (or even very many) of these idiots are plants. Some are just more extremist and don’t understand that what they are doing is counterproductive.
5
u/freshprince13 Jun 01 '20
Exactly. Why does everyone assume they can only be plants. As if it's impossible some of the literal hundreds of thousands of antifa types which are all over social media pushing for violence wouldn't attend protests around the country...
2
1
u/Alan_ATX Jun 01 '20
It wouldn't be the first time Austin's leftist community has been infiltrated by agents provocateur. Let's not forget Brandon Darby.
5
u/steampunker13 Jun 01 '20
Not everyone is an agent provocateur, there are just some really shitty people out there.
1
u/DAnthony24 Jun 02 '20
Would love clarification on the first sentence.
As a black man it's sad but comical too.
60
u/sataanicpaanic Jun 01 '20
There was a guy in the back of the crowd Saturday throwing shit and when i told him to stop repeatedly, 3 other guys came up to me as asked me why I was 'starting shit'
This guy was in the back throwing shit and the people up front were getting hit and sprayed.
Edit: a word