# What should be done about "professional protesters" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 28, 2015, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742 "2015-04-28T20:06:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742/21 "2015-04-29T04:00:52Z")
Who cares about peaceful protesters? Those that throw the first rock should be arrested. The Koreans in LA did it right. a) proved that protesters are cowards & b) were ready to shoot if anyone was really that stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742/22 "2015-04-29T04:38:33Z")
Arrest them and throw them in jail. It is obvious to the meanest intelligence that the only form of speech we can tolerate in this country is speech by billionaires. If these so called citizens have a message they want to share, they can start a hedge fund or something… ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742/23 "2015-04-29T04:41:33Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > “protester” != “riot instigator.” A “professional” protester can keep on protesting until the cows come home. A riot instigator can/should be arrested and jailed whenever possible, whether they are “professional” or not (whatever “professional” means in this context). Right. You or I can do a Peaceful Protest Tour across the USA, Europe and the Pacific Rim hitting every major venue and event where we can stand against whatever injustice it is we’re against and even organizing and educating local branches as to how to do so more effectively. Agitators/instigators/provocateurs should be detained as soon as they engage in the unlawful behavior, and their “tour” interrupted. > [@kayaker](#): > > A professional protester should not be permitted to protest at an Olympic event. Other than that I don’t see a reason to react. FWIW I got it and thought it was clever. But then again I grew up in the Fauxmateur Age. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742/24 "2015-04-29T04:48:20Z")
> [@The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](#): > > And has been mentioned, there’s nothing wrong with legal protest. But if these people are professional agitators and instigators, then build a case against them and throw them in the slammer. I am sure there is a thin line between legal protesters and professional agitators and instigators. I wonder where it is. If these agitators start talking about secession or second amendment solutions, is that going too far? What if they refuse to recognize federal government jurisdiction or authority (being citizens of Maryland) and make violent threats of a range war against the Bureau of Land Management or other Federal Agencies; would this be a step too far? Can you help us map this out JT? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742/25 "2015-04-29T05:43:48Z")
How do I get paid for protesting? ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742/26 "2015-04-29T06:11:53Z")
> [@The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](#): > > And has been mentioned, there’s nothing wrong with legal protest. But if these people are professional agitators and instigators, then build a case against them and throw them in the slammer. do you think we should throw lobbyists in jail? they are agitators and instigators with bottomless checkbooks. they have done 1000 times more harm than protesters ever could. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742/27 "2015-04-29T13:38:18Z")
If they should abandon their supposed obedience to white liberal doctrine of non-violence and embrace Black nationalism, through counter-intelligence it should be possible to pinpoint potential trouble-makers and neutralize them. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742/28 "2015-04-29T13:44:57Z")
From the OP’s link: > [@](#): > > …according to a leading data mining firm that shared its findings exclusively with Fox News. > > The firm, which asked to remain anonymous because of its government work… I know we’re supposed to assume the claim is true but I find this suspicious at best. If the point was merely to get the information out there, presumably they’d have shared their “findings” with everyone. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e79b87/32.png) [@The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Joker_and_the_Thief)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742/29 "2015-04-29T14:22:02Z")
> [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](#): > > I am sure there is a thin line between legal protesters and professional agitators and instigators. I wonder where it is. If these agitators start talking about secession or second amendment solutions, is that going too far? What if they refuse to recognize federal government jurisdiction or authority (being citizens of Maryland) and make violent threats of a range war against the Bureau of Land Management or other Federal Agencies; would this be a step too far? Can you help us map this out JT? The relevant legal standard is that inciting imminent lawless action is illegal. I don’t catch every incident you reference, but pointless blathering about overthrowing the government is generally not illegal since it’s not creating any imminent lawless danger. If it were, those speakers should be prosecuted as appropriate. And Cliven Bundy should have been crushed like the morally bankrupt criminal he was. The government must not tolerate lawbreaking. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742/30 "2015-04-29T14:33:27Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > How do I get paid for protesting? - Go to a town where a black man has recently been killed by local police - Wait for tensions to rise - Find a CVS - ??? - ??? - Profit!!! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742/31 "2015-04-29T14:46:04Z")
Traveling to protest isn’t illegal. Traveling to incite rioting is. Look for a \*pattern \*of arrests in the cities they pop up in. It will be pretty obvious what their true agenda is. Someone using social injustice to repeatedly riot and loot needs to face serious Federal charges. Because they are crossing state borders with criminal intent. Obviously a random arrest for being disorderly doesn’t count. It has to be a clear pattern of violent incidents (brick or rock throw, punching etc.) or looting. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742/32 "2015-04-29T14:57:17Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > From the OP’s link: > > I know we’re supposed to assume the claim is true but I find this suspicious at best. If the point was merely to get the information out there, presumably they’d have shared their “findings” with everyone. I dunno. Sharing the news “exclusively” with Fox is a damn fine substitute for sharing their findings with everyone, since Fox will dump it out there with their spin, and then everyone else will copy and comment with their own spin. As a news point, it doesn’t matter who gets the scoop. Once it’s out, it’s out. The thing to actually complain about is that the data itself isn’t available for independent analysis, but that’s just business-as-usual. I find it oddly reassuring, in the sense of “things are still how they’ve always been”, that the government has access to the data in order to keep tabs on organized protest movements. Just like they always have. If the FBI stopped [keeping dossiers on peaceful political movements](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COINTELPRO), what would the world come to? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742/33 "2015-04-29T15:04:16Z")
Let’s see: 1. The immediate source for this story is Fox ‘News.’ 2. Fox’s source is an unnamed data mining firm. Yeah, that’s really reliable. Next up: what should we do about unicorns that use their horns to jab people in the butt? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742/34 "2015-04-29T15:17:44Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > … Next up: what should we do about unicorns that use their horns to jab people in the butt? Oh noes!! The unicorns is teh gay. Glenn Beck was always suspicious, what with rainbows appearing so often with them. And now we learn of this butt-affinity. It’s all a plot I tell 'ya. Buy Gold!! ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742/35 "2015-04-29T15:39:16Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > What should be done about “Fox News”? This is the real question. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742/36 "2015-04-29T15:46:32Z")
You know 'It’s these outside agitators causing trouble. Our coloreds is happy" is literally like 200 years old. Seriously. I mean, fuck, King opens “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” dealing with that attempt to dismiss him: > [@](#): > > I think I should indicate why I am here in Birmingham, since you have been influenced by the view which argues against “outsiders coming in.” I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every southern state, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. We have some eighty five affiliated organizations across the South, and one of them is the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. Frequently we share staff, educational and financial resources with our affiliates. Several months ago the affiliate here in Birmingham asked us to be on call to engage in a nonviolent direct action program if such were deemed necessary. We readily consented, and when the hour came we lived up to our promise. So I, along with several members of my staff, am here because I was invited here. I am here because I have organizational ties here. > > But more basically, I am in Birmingham because injustice is here. Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their “thus saith the Lord” far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco Roman world, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town. Like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid. > > Moreover, I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial “outside agitator” idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742/37 "2015-04-29T18:11:32Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > You know 'It’s these outside agitators causing trouble. Our coloreds is happy" is literally like 200 years old. Seriously. > > I mean, fuck, King opens “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” dealing with that attempt to dismiss him: Thanks **Manda** I felt like I was the only one reading it that way. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742/38 "2015-04-29T19:37:37Z")
Just pity them. “Protesting” stopped being an effective tool of social change around 1973. The only ones you ever even hear about involve 100k or more people or violence. The rest may as well not even have taken place, but it doesn’t stop groups from doing it. Feels good, get some fresh air, meet new people, I guess. “Professional” organizers are a different thing, and are usually smart enough not to use useless tactics - “protesting” or random violence. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742/39 "2015-04-30T00:34:35Z")
Was Rosa Parks sincere? Does her act of protest count? Should we go back to segregating the buses because she worked with the NAACP to plan it in advance? ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742/40 "2015-04-30T02:18:27Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > If they should abandon their supposed obedience to white liberal doctrine of non-violence and embrace Black nationalism, through counter-intelligence it should be possible to pinpoint potential trouble-makers and neutralize them. Wake Up! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-about-professional-protesters/718742.md?page=3)