# This has to stop: extreme actions at political gathering **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 24, 2019, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927 "2019-11-24T19:15:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927/241 "2019-11-27T00:45:05Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Protest on a side walk or in a park then. You don’t have the right to shut down vital infrastructure. Good point. And if you’re going to strike, do it on Sunday and/or after business hours ! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927/242 "2019-11-27T00:49:35Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Protest on a side walk or in a park then. You don’t have the right to shut down vital infrastructure. If you see someone breaking the law, call the police-Don’t publicly encourage others to illegally assault them in response…especially if you happen to be a gutless wonder looking for vicarious and violent thrills. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927/243 "2019-11-27T00:54:47Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > We’re discussing what we can see in the video. As the video starts, the footperson appears to be stepping from the sidewalk/side and he stops in the road/path of the stationary vehicle. The driver of the vehicle is outside the vehicle and returning to the driver seat from the direction of the footperson. We don’t know what’s gone on prior to the start of the video, but it seems likely that there was some interaction between the two individuals since the footperson appears to be speaking and gesticulating to the driver. The footperson is standing still/“blocking the road” for six seconds before being hit by the car. The time period between the driver entering his vehicle and closing the door, and the forward movement of the vehicle into the footperson is less than two seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927/244 "2019-11-27T00:59:17Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > If you see someone breaking the law, call the police-Don’t publicly encourage others to illegally assault them in response…especially if you happen to be a gutless wonder looking for vicarious and violent thrills. Bingo. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927/245 "2019-11-27T01:09:17Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Another of your theoretical answers based on your “presumptions”. > > Making this sort of “presumption” to give every possible benefit of the doubt to people who violently assault protestors is part of the attempted normalization of repression of civil protest that I’m talking about. If he felt threatened, it seems a bit silly to get out of the car, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927/246 "2019-11-27T01:16:56Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Protest on a side walk or in a park then. You don’t have the right to shut down vital infrastructure. Nobody is disagreeing that it’s illegal to break the law by illegally blocking traffic. I entirely agree that people should not break the law. But trying to make such actions sound extra grave by calling traffic “vital infrastructure” is also part of these pro-repression tactics. Conservatives are trying to make it sound as though the illegal traffic-blocking activities of protestors are intrinsically so bad and dangerous that we should automatically **expect** drivers to assault protestors, and consider that the protestors were “asking for it” if drivers do assault them. That, as I said, is just encouraging the public to take on the task of violently repressing civil protest. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927/247 "2019-11-27T01:36:04Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Nobody is disagreeing that it’s illegal to break the law by illegally blocking traffic. I entirely agree that people should not break the law. > > But trying to make such actions sound extra grave by calling traffic “vital infrastructure” is also part of these pro-repression tactics. > > Conservatives are trying to make it sound as though the illegal traffic-blocking activities of protestors are intrinsically so bad and dangerous that we should automatically **expect** drivers to assault protestors, and consider that the protestors were “asking for it” if drivers do assault them. That, as I said, is just encouraging the public to take on the task of violently repressing civil protest. If you are talking about the USA how are you being repressed? ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927/248 "2019-11-27T01:46:02Z")
He was blocking traffic for less than two seconds, which I’m not sure would pass muster. There’s still no evidence from the video that this is a protest, an attempt to block traffic, or that the footperson is an “antifa” or protester of any type. Really, we can make up whatever fantasy we like about what has precipitated this incident. So, I’ll have a go. The guy in the truck is a hardcore Trump supporter and white nationalist. He was driving along when he saw someone with brown-colored skin across the street. He immediately stopped his vehicle in the middle of the road, and went and punched this person while cursing them with racial epithets. He was returning to his vehicle when he encountered the footperson, who just happened to be walking by at the time and who had witnessed the incident. The white nationalist Trump supporter shoulder-butted footperson out of the way, around five feet. Footperson remonstrated with white nationalist Trump supporter as he got back into his vehicle. White nationalist Trump supporter immediately started up his vehicle, and then accelerated forward, driving his vehicle into footperson, pushing him backwards for several yards. Footperson then struck the vehicle twice with his gloved hand. White nationalist Trump supporter got out of his vehicle and gave footperson a beating. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927/249 "2019-11-27T02:04:26Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > If you are talking about the USA how are you being repressed? :dubious: Do you really not understand the difference between the claims _“This is a deliberate effort to encourage the attitude that violently assaulting protestors blocking traffic is normal and reasonable, in order to [exert a repressive effect on acts of civil protest](https://www.aclu.org/issues/free-speech/rights-protesters/repression-peaceful-protest)”_, and _“I personally am presently being repressed”_? Or was that just a consciously desperate attempt at further goalpost-shifting? ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927/250 "2019-11-27T08:09:14Z")
Maybe we should stop assuming that the guy who hedged for like a page on whether or not Heather Hayes was responsible for her own murder at the hand of neo-nazis has anything of value to say on… …anything. At all. Seriously, just stop responding to him. He’s a fucking tool and the sooner everyone stops reading and quoting what he says, the better. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927/251 "2019-11-27T10:22:07Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Maybe we should stop assuming that the guy who hedged for like a page on whether or not Heather Hayes was responsible for her own murder at the hand of neo-nazis has anything of value to say Sadly, there are enough Dopers for whom that behavior would not be particularly out of character that I’m not sure whom you’re referring to by this. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927/252 "2019-11-27T10:23:31Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > An Antifa guy tried blocking someone’s car, smacks the car with a bat or pipe. It did not end well for him. > > [Protester Tries to Block a Car and Assault Someone, It Doesn't Go Well (Seriously) [UPDATED] – RedState](https://www.redstate.com/bonchie/2019/11/23/antifa-member-tries-block-car-assault-someone-doesnt-go-well-seriously/) [Redstate.Com](http://Redstate.Com) again. My, oh my; it is to pity. Attacked by car, antifa responds aggressively. My; what a scandal! _**[Redstate.Com](http://Redstate.Com)**_ — I can’t get over the irony of the citation! Are you and your ilk even vaguely self-aware? Your leader has called for right-wingers to be violent and you get constipated over one antifa??? My. I know the right-wing and white nationalists hate a lot more types than just Muslims, but one Googles as one can: [Here’s a list of Islamophobic incidents in the U.S.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Islamophobic_incidents#United_States): > [@](#): > > … Shooting … > … Shooting … > … Melee attack … > … Melee attack … > … Arson … > … Burning Qur’ans … > … Stabbing … > … Attempted car bombing … > … Melee attack … > … Shooting … > … Vehicular attack … > … Shooting … > … Attempted attack … > … Melee attack … > … Shooting … > … Melee attack … > … Shooting … > … Shooting … > … Stabbing … > … Arson … > … Attempted car bombing … > … Vandalism … > … Melee attack … > … Vandalism … > … Melee attack … > … Melee attack … > … Melee attack … > … Melee attack … > … Stabbing … > … Vandalism … > … Melee attack … > … Vandalism … > … Vandalism, attempted arson … > … Melee attack … > … Vandalism … > … Vandalism … > … Shooting … > … Shooting … > … Melee attack … > … Attempted arson … > … Melee attack … > … Melee attack, stabbing … > … Melee attack, stabbing … > … Bombing … > … Melee attack … > … Melee attack … > … Arson … > … Vehicular attack … But as long as your ilk has petite Yvette Falarca pushing a neo-Nazi to point to, you’re happy with “Tu quoque. You too!” Right-wing hypocrisy makes me sick. And … _**[Redstate.Com](http://Redstate.Com)**_ :smack: No; I guess you really aren’t even self-aware. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927/253 "2019-11-27T10:24:38Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Sadly, there are enough Dopers for whom that behavior would not be particularly out of character that I’m not sure whom you’re referring to by this. Well it applies to all of 'em, so… ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927/254 "2019-11-27T13:19:34Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Maybe we should stop assuming that the guy who hedged for like a page on whether or not Heather Hayes was responsible for her own murder at the hand of neo-nazis has anything of value to say on… > > …anything. At all. Seriously, just stop responding to him. He’s a fucking tool and the sooner everyone stops reading and quoting what he says, the better. Can we still laugh at/mock him? ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Kearsen1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen1)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927/255 "2019-11-27T13:28:46Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …you don’t even know what fucking side I’m on. You don’t fucking get it. > > Is the video real? Was is staged? Was it an attempt at a viral prank? Russian propaganda? Road rage? An actual real protest? Where was it filmed? Who filmed it? What city? > > No we fucking don’t. We know nothing about the video except what the original twitter poster claimed (that it was Extinction Rebellion/Antifa) and what Red State speculated (“This is likely just a regular, Antifa anti-capitalist”) > > That is all we KNOW. Until you can show the provenance of the video all that it is is a video. It shows and demonstrates nothing. What are we discussing? Are we discussing a video? What we aren’t discussing is the validity of the video. I made no mention of Antifa. I mentioned what the threshold for “should face criminal charges” was. Which you still haven’t met. ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Kearsen1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen1)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927/256 "2019-11-27T13:31:55Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > If the pedestrian had instead been in a car and had blocked the road, should the other guy have used his vehicle to ram the car and push it out of the way? What if it had been a tank. He wouldn’t have hit it then! What if it was an airplane? What if it was a squirrel? We aren’t talking about what ifs. ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Kearsen1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen1)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927/257 "2019-11-27T13:32:56Z")
> [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](#): > > No, you don’t. You really, really don’t. For all we know this could have been performance art with all sides in on it and either Jaime Kennedy or Ashton Kutcher sliding their smarmy asses on out from the sidelines after yelling “cut”. > Show me a name. Show me a police report. Show me Verifiable Facts or get lost. Again. The entire discussion revolves around this video. We are discussing THIS video. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927/258 "2019-11-27T13:49:34Z")
> [@Kearsen1](#): > > Again. The entire discussion revolves around this video. We are discussing THIS video. We talked about the video. Unless you can come up with more factual information about that video, it is more interesting to talk about your obsessive need to latch onto dubious ficts to support your beliefs. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927/259 "2019-11-27T14:00:01Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Can we still laugh at/mock him? I just don’t see the point, because he’s looking for a reaction. Mocking is a reaction. Silence is not. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927/260 "2019-11-27T14:06:25Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > I just don’t see the point, because he’s looking for a reaction. Mocking is a reaction. Silence is not. Fair enough. But many people “looking for a reaction” get angry when you simply point and laugh at them instead. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-stop-extreme-actions-at-political-gathering/843927.md?page=14)