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BootinUp

(50,099 posts)

15. Peter Coyote writes

Reply to kacekwl (Original post)

Mon Jun 9, 2025, 09:44 AM

Jun 9

I’m watching the Los Angeles reaction to ICE raids with trepidation and regret. Three years ago I taught a class at Harvard on the “theater of protest”— designed to help people understand why so many protests turn out to be Republican campaign videos working directly against the interests of the original protest.

A protest is an invitation to a better world. It’s a ceremony. No one accepts a ceremonial invitation when they’re being screamed at. More important you have to know who the real audience Of the protestis. The audience is NEVER the police, the politicians, the Board of supervisors, The Congress,etc. The audience is always the American people, who are trying to decide who they can trust; who will not embarrass them. If you win them, you win power at the box office And power to make positive change.Everything else is a waste. There are a few ways to get there.

continued
https://substack.com/@petercoyote1/note/c-124092006

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I would like to know who [View all] kacekwl Jun 9 OP

When you say "not going to work," what does that look like? What do you think the June 14 protest will do? WhiskeyGrinder Jun 9 #1

I am curious also. LisaL Jun 9 #4

The June 14 protests are essential, gab13by13 Jun 9 #6

I know what they are. But I'm wondering what the OP means by saying that the current actions in LA are going WhiskeyGrinder Jun 9 #7

Ah, I see, gab13by13 Jun 9 #10

It's been posted a few times already. WhiskeyGrinder Jun 9 #12

They won't be effective because kacekwl Jun 9 #19

Effective in *doing what.* Changing public opinion? Activating newly engaged people? Building mutual aid communities? WhiskeyGrinder Jun 9 #21

Sorry, not playing today. kacekwl Jun 9 #22

Are you serious ? kacekwl Jun 9 #17

I am. Don't get me wrong, collective action is powerful. But when you say something that's happening in LA means that WhiskeyGrinder Jun 9 #18

lay hands on bad actors and crowd surf them to police IA8IT Jun 9 #2

You mean like are they hired actors? Or just opportunists? bucolic_frolic Jun 9 #3

When you need violence on video to declare martial law, you make sure it happens. Wingus Dingus Jun 9 #5

MIHOP taxi Jun 9 #8

Absolutely. And the very artistic/staged shots of masked men standing Wingus Dingus Jun 9 #9

Yeah, I see where you are going, gab13by13 Jun 9 #11

No, I don't think that was staged. That cop got pissed that he was being filmed, I think. Wingus Dingus Jun 9 #13

They show up in their ghillie suits, undetected and unsuspected. taxi Jun 9 #16

When you get thousands protesting how can doc03 Jun 9 #14

Peter Coyote writes BootinUp Jun 9 #15

50501 type protests are what we need. Unfortunately, trump will gain approval if LA continues like this. Silent Type Jun 9 #20