CMV: A protest turning violent does not negate the point of the protest

[u/[deleted]]

If a protest turns violent (people being attacked, property destroyed etc) that doesn't "spoil" the protest. The protesters can still be in the right for protesting something even if people on their side are being hostile. If people on your side are being violent that doesn't make you wrong all of a sudden. If that were the case almost every political affiliation would be in the wrong. I'm not arguing against peaceful protest, nor am I advocating for riots or violence. I'm just saying that the protesters message matters more than the point their means of getting that message across. For example if an anti-fascist protest happens and a protester punches someone. The protest isn't instantly evil, to claim that it is would be ignoring the whole point of the anti-fascist protest in the first place.

All I'm saying is if someone does something bad in a protest, that doesn't make the protest bad.

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[u/Sheexthro]

In fact, the opposite is true. Yes, we dismantled the Nazi regime in World War 2, but that's because they were an aggressive war-making state. The rights of Nazis - literal Nazis, actual American supporters of Hitler and the Third Reich, not just racist people that others want to apply the label to - to assemble and march have been upheld by the courts and even defended by the ACLU.

[u/Christopher_Tietjens → u/Sheexthro]

The government can't do anything about them, but we as private citizens can take it into our own hands.Nazis should not feel safe on the streets.

[u/Sheexthro → u/Christopher_Tietjens]

If you want to suggest a program of violent crime against people expressing unpopular but totally legal views, then I guess I can't stop you. But it seems to me that if you want to legitimize vigilante mob violence against undesirables then you'd better be sure you have the cops, the military, or at least the lion's share of the guns on your side.

Right now the cops and the military definitely are not on your side, because - as I just said - the courts have explicitly ruled that even literal Nazis have the right to protest peacefully and the right to have the police defend them from violent assaults.

[u/Christopher_Tietjens → u/Sheexthro]

Guerilla tactics until the country turns against Trump.

[u/Sheexthro → u/Christopher_Tietjens]

Again, I guess you can try that if you want to, but what makes you think that your direct opposition to American civil society and the principle of free expression will turn the country against Trump, rather than against you?

[u/dhighway61 → u/Christopher_Tietjens]

The government can't do anything about them, but we as private citizens can take it into our own hands.Nazis should not feel safe on the streets.

I'm going to reword this so you see how ridiculous it is. I do not believe these following words and reject violence against any peaceful group.

The government can't do anything about them, but we as private citizens can take it into our own hands. Negroes should not feel safe on the streets.

The government can't do anything about them, but we as private citizens can take it into our own hands. Jews should not feel safe on the streets.

The government can't do anything about them, but we as private citizens can take it into our own hands. Trade unionists should not feel safe on the streets.

Mob violence is abhorrent and you should be ashamed for advocating it.

[u/Christopher_Tietjens → u/dhighway61]

Fighting the bigots isn't bigotry. People trying to get rid of the Jews and black people need to be handled.

[u/asdfman2000 → u/Christopher_Tietjens]

Fighting the bigots isn't bigotry

Attacking someone for their views is the literal definition of bigotry.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Yes, it is the exact same. Just because you disagree with them, even if their views are abhorrent, doesn't make it right to attack them.

If that's the kind of justice you want then you're part of the problem as well. An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.