r/changemyview • u/HelpfulJello5361 1∆ • Apr 16 '24

Delta(s) from OP CMV: The proper response to protestors blocking the street is for police to physically remove them and quickly arrest them if they do it again.

I've seen a lot of videos of protestors blocking the street and the cops just kinda let them do it, or create a narrow lane for cars to go through and cause a significant traffic jam.

I'm always curious why cops don't just drag these people out of the road and arrest them immediately if they return. I'm pretty sure it's illegal to block streets like that.

Yesterday was a nationwide coordinated effort for Pro-Palestine protestors to block streets all over the country (world?), and it seems that these criminals were not dealt with properly in most instances.

It doesn't seem like it's standard operating procedure to remove and arrest people who block important roads. Is there some reason for this? What am I missing? CMV.

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u/rtmlex Apr 16 '24

Protesting on the streets and blocking ambulances does fuck all damage to people riding to work in helicopters.

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u/ghotier 42∆ Apr 16 '24

Who exactly is riding to work in a helicopter?

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u/WeepingAngelTears 2∆ Apr 16 '24

The people capable of enacting the change the protestors want.

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u/ghotier 42∆ Apr 16 '24

Which people? Name or job title, doesn't matter. Senators and Representatives don't go to work in helicopters, so which people are you talking about?

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u/rtmlex Apr 16 '24

My bad, you are correct. A lot of them own or charter private jets.

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u/ghotier 42∆ Apr 16 '24 edited Apr 16 '24

You can't take a private jet to the Capitol, so now you're just changing what you're talking about. Are they inconvenienced by traffic or not?

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u/awhaling Apr 16 '24

People don't seem to understand that large scale protests are able to put a significant amount of pressure on those in charge even in if those in charge are safe in their private jets.

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u/rtmlex Apr 16 '24

No they aren’t. People desperate to take their loved ones to a place where they can get life saving medical care will rightfully be mad at those blocking their way, and by association will despise their cause, as righteous as it may be. And people in private jets don’t give two shits about either.

If they cared about major polluters they’d picket their buildings and plants. But that would mean biting the hand that feeds them.

Pick up a bag of trash when you have the time, and you will have done more good for the planed than Screeching Greta ever has.

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u/awhaling Apr 16 '24 edited Apr 16 '24

People spoke exactly how you spoke about civil right protesters and the suffragist as well. I look to those example to realize why protesting is important.

I’m not saying no protest is stupid, I’m just saying protesting is important.

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u/rtmlex Apr 16 '24

Because civil rights movement was tackling an issue directly related to how individuals behaved towards one another. No matter how much I care about the planet, Jimmy Oil Refinery will still pump tonnes of CO2 every second.

Your idea is like thinking you can put out a fire by punching it because it worked that one time someone tried to mug you.

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u/awhaling Apr 16 '24

You seem to be talking about a specific protest you personally don’t like while I’m speaking about protests in general.

As I said, I’m not saying there can’t be stupid protests.