Riots in Seattle woot!

[CrimsonFox]

More weird protesters out protesting downtown. These were dressed like ninjas and carrying poles, bashing in car windows and smashing store front windows. Also fired paintballs and smoke bombs.

[CrimsonFox]

Tourist's car windows smashed | www.kirotv.com

[CrimsonFox]

Raw: Black-clad protesters attack Niketown | www.kirotv.com

[Young Drachma]

Happy May Day, natch.

[Grover]

Must be Derek Rose supporters.

[CrimsonFox]

The money shot!




One of the Nike vandals was wearing Nikes Fail protester is fail.

[Rizon]

Was watching the Oakland protests. Saw some dude with the Anonymous mask on an iPad and a group of kids smoking weed in the middle of an intersection. Nothing says FUCK THE MAN like blogging on an iPad and smoking weed!!! No doubt all those corporate big wig types are going to turn in their suits tonight and end their capitalistic tyranny!!! POWER TO THE PEOPLE OCCUPY!!!!

[dawgfan]

FFS

These idiots never seem to learn that allowing anarchist/vandals/violence-junkies to dominate proceedings only serves to allow 90% of the public to dismiss whatever legitimate reasons were initially behind the protest march. I guess there's some idiotic thought that any kind of awareness is good, but I disagree - most people aren't going to care what the protest started off as, and if they do, most will simply associate violence and vandalism with that cause which only serves to undermine said cause.

*sigh*

[molson]

In Boise it's been reduced to a battle with the local authorities over city camping regulations. That's the entire movement now. Perhaps with a lot of sacrifice and a little luck, future generations will be able to more freely camp out in city parks.

[Rizon]

Originally Posted by Rizon

Was watching the Oakland protests. Saw some dude with the Anonymous mask on an iPad and a group of kids smoking weed in the middle of an intersection. Nothing says FUCK THE MAN like blogging on an iPad and smoking weed!!! No doubt all those corporate big wig types are going to turn in their suits tonight and end their capitalistic tyranny!!! POWER TO THE PEOPLE OCCUPY!!!!

This along with chants of FUCK DA POLICE! and GO HOME! directed at police.
If only they put that much effort and energy into making my latte in under 3 minutes, we'd be totally coo.

[CrimsonFox]

Thanks, protesters, for reminding me! I need some shoes...

[Lathum]

It is a sad little gathering.

I hope it doesnt affect my commute home

[Rizon]

Occupiers in SF just took over a vacant building.

Should end well.

[jeff061]

Originally Posted by dawgfan

FFS

These idiots never seem to learn that allowing anarchist/vandals/violence-junkies to dominate proceedings only serves to allow 90% of the public to dismiss whatever legitimate reasons were initially behind the protest march. I guess there's some idiotic thought that any kind of awareness is good, but I disagree - most people aren't going to care what the protest started off as, and if they do, most will simply associate violence and vandalism with that cause which only serves to undermine said cause.

*sigh*

They don't protest for change. They protest because they are bored.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Lathum

It is a sad little gathering.

I hope it doesnt affect my commute home

shouldn't. It's pretty much over now.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Rizon

Occupiers in SF just took over a vacant building.

Should end well.

gee, that'll show em...

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by jeff061

They don't protest for change. They protest because they are bored.

That and because they actually want to break things.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by jeff061

They don't protest for change. They protest because they are bored.

Well, boredom is the number one cause of stupidity.

[Rizon]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

gee, that'll show em...

It probably has WiFi so they can blog from their iPads.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Rizon

It probably has WiFi so they can blog from their iPads.

and they probably rented the building

[Chief Rum]

This has no bearing on the thread subject, but the May Day mention reminded me that Whacking Day is almost here! (May 10)

So get working on your whacking sticks.

[jeff061]

Everyday is whack day in my hood.

[digamma]

Originally Posted by jeff061

They don't protest for change. They protest because they are bored.

King Missile maybe said it best:

if what I'm saying doesn't make any sense
that's because sense can not be made
it's something that must be sensed
and I, for one, and incensed by by all this complacency
why oppose only when there's a war?
why defend the clinics only when they're attacked?
why are we always reactive?
lets activate something
lets **** **** up
whatever happened to revolution for the hell of it?
whatever happened to protesting nothing in particular, just
protesting because its Saturday, and there's nothing else to do?

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

shouldn't. It's pretty much over now.

there is actually a pretty big rally planned for 5:00

[Lathum]

from the police timeline in the Seattle Times

•At 12:43 p.m., we have reports of local “superheroes” engaging with “Black Bloc” to defend courthouse.

[Rizon]

Originally Posted by Lathum

from the police timeline in the Seattle Times

[JediKooter]

All I know is, gas is finally below $4 here.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by jeff061

They don't protest for change. They protest because they are bored.

As long as by "they" you mean the few idiots that use the cover of a reasonably protest as an excuse to act like idiots. Many that protest actually believe in meaning behind the protest and are taking time away from school or work to participate.

[jeff061]

are taking time away from school or work to participate.

I think this is an extreme minority.

[DanGarion]

If they really wanted change they would storm city halls and state capital buildings with guns. They really don't try that hard in my opinion.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by jeff061

I think this is an extreme minority.

In the case of this protest, a significant portion consisted of students at Seattle Central CC. I'd bet that quite a few UW students also participated. When I was at the UW, there were a number of protests consisting primarily of UW students demonstrating against the first Iraq War.

You're right that most people with a job aren't taking a day off to participate - most that have jobs are participating only if they happen to have that day off, or their shift allows them to participate because they are done for the day or don't start until later.

Given the current economy, I'd bet that quite a few people that have found themselves laid off and out of work are also participating - that's a significant backbone of the Occupy movement.

But if you really want to think that most protesters are just bored hippies with nothing else to do, feel free to buy into that stereotype...

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by Matthean

Well, boredom is the number one cause of stupidity.

I was going to blame McDonalds but yours works too.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by JediKooter

All I know is, gas is finally below $4 here.

Of course it is. We had our vacation a couple of weeks ago while taking the kids to LegoLand and paid the lovely $4.25/gallon. I would have expected prices to go down considerably immediately upon my exit back across state lines into Arizona.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by Lathum

from the police timeline in the Seattle Times

Seattle has one of the more known real people superhero organizations.