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BootinUp

(49,938 posts)

15. Peter Coyote writes

Mon Jun 9, 2025, 09:44 AM

Monday

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 Monday OP

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

I am curious also. LisaL Monday #4

The June 14 protests are essential, gab13by13 Monday #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 Monday #7

Ah, I see, gab13by13 Monday #10

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

They won't be effective because kacekwl Monday #19

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

Sorry, not playing today. kacekwl Monday #22

Are you serious ? kacekwl Monday #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 Monday #18

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

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

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

MIHOP taxi Monday #8

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

Yeah, I see where you are going, gab13by13 Monday #11

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

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

When you get thousands protesting how can doc03 Monday #14

Peter Coyote writes BootinUp Monday #15

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