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Like @kainewkirk's "Democracy Spring" before it, the liberal NGO's have scripted yet another bit of mass-arrest theater to remain relevant and justify their own existences (and generate more fundraising)... https://twitter.com/fabfashionista8/status/1012684805388070912
Let's demystify this insidious and intentionally misleading variety of "direct action," or as they call it "an escalation," because it seems too few really understand how it works...
So these orgs (women's march and the venal people behind it) and other similar orgs (Democracy Spring and the venal people behind it) have to remain relevant in order to generate the funding for which their livelihoods depend (grants & donations)...
This is why the "women's march" (a spontaneous response expertly subsumed as a mere franchise of Justice League NYC/Gathering For Justice) was doing a performative NRA-to-Congress march last year and also why they jumped in front of the Parkland students this year. #MakeHeadlines
Or why their professional friends at "Democracy Spring" did a big "get money out of politics" police-fundraising performance in 2016?, but now those same people are doing whatever yesterday's show was at the Hart Office Buildings...
Anyway, these liberals bank on the fact that the general public cannot discern the difference between their pre-scripted, police-cooperation-choreographed "escalating" arrest performances and genuine state repression...
What happens in *their* mass-arrest events is quite different than what happens when the LAPD kettles and subsequently arrests 300 people in a spontaneous, Justice for Mike Brown march. But it is meant to generate the same headlines & thus confuse rather than make anything clear.
In *their* calculated and police-collaborative, mass-arrest "escalation" events – everything is coordinated directly with the police. Sometimes, they even go so far as to negotiate reduced fees for their arrestees - as the "Democracy Spring" event did.
These orgs generate lists of those "willing to face arrest" long before the event takes place. They workshop NVCD trainings in the run up to their chosen "action," often bringing in celebrity activists to "teach" new participants "non-violent civil disobedience."
"Training" has a few purposes, among them:
1) they generate a feeling of "being a part of something important & transformative" in participants
2) names are given to police, pre-screened for outstanding warrants (arrest volunteers might not know of outstanding traffic tickets)
1) they generate a feeling of "being a part of something important & transformative" in participants
2) names are given to police, pre-screened for outstanding warrants (arrest volunteers might not know of outstanding traffic tickets)
On the event date, collaborating police usually (and often happily) provide on-site processing so arrestees aren't transported to a traditional booking facility. This streamlines the event for "organizers" and police, who don't want to jam up their other repressive functions.
For "organizers," headlines like the above "600 arrested!" are generated. Before, during and after the event – these orgs are firing off emergency emails to their email lists apprising them of their action, the ongoing arrests and other dramatic public relations spin.
These "organizers" will bank (literally) on these headlines for as long as possible, issuing fundraising letters, writing grant proposals and visiting colleges and universities to give speeches on "how to organize."
For "arrestees," a few hours are usually spent awaiting processing – often without zip-ties, cuffs or any hindrance to movement or freedom except perhaps being set aside in a designated area to await signing away culpability for an infraction.
That's why none of these arrests ever generate subsequent trials or go any further than day-of arrests. Do you ever hear follow-ups on Democracy Spring trials? No. Because they are pre-negotiated infractions.
Anyway, it's a self-justifying performance piece that simultaneously 1) generates $ for police and doesn't jam up their other repressive functioning 2) generates press for NGO's for funding/grant writing 3)inculcates neophyte "protesters" in the glorious world of protest theater.
Re-upping for Extinction Rebellion Protest arrest theater https://twitter.com/inthesetimesmag/status/1181242237641990145
Of course they applaud. They probably applaud the police, too, for playing their part in the performance. https://twitter.com/libcomorg/status/1181239221916491778
These people know that polite applause is part of any theater experience...
The theater apparently never gets old to some of you. https://twitter.com/eugenegu/status/1182747064855220224
Take it to the box, Jane.
Related thread from 2016 | https://twitter.com/OLAASM/status/720405392614789120
Related thread where Jason Momoa chumming it up with cops was mistaken for him "taking an arrest" | https://twitter.com/OLAASM/status/1161446130116440064
Another classic from the vault: https://twitter.com/OLAASM/status/719983899976298496
Stop fundraising for the same Capitol Police who murdered #MiriamCarey.
Stop participating in this scam. This isn't "real news." [cc: @TheRealNews] https://twitter.com/dharnanoor/status/1187766662889721856
Ted Danson - joining Jane Fonda before him - is currently standing in front of the US Capitol *politely waiting his turn to hand Capitol Police a donation of between $50-$100.* That's the only part of that story anyone should recognize.
gross thread on celebrity theater arrests https://twitter.com/hcjewell/status/1187745901361676300
Related malpractice https://twitter.com/OLAASM/status/1184530008586489858
Related thread | https://twitter.com/queersocialism/status/1188849676730191873
46 arrests at (negotiated) $50 minimum [the infraction fine is typically $100, but other groups have negotiated it to $50 before] is a $2300/$4600 donation to Capitol police today. Yay. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jane-fonda-rosanna-arquette-catherine-keener-arrested-inside-hart-building-1251455?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR1C0NnJLWe5dihmmq0Wfz9pteW-2lV9yLXmdR4UPnxXS6poaW1twghKmZg
