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Tonight, something big happened in Capitol Hill. Protestors took a page right out of the Black Panther Party Handbook. Let's talk about it.
About 20-30 protestors in all black bloc marched to the East Precinct. No crimes were committed - excluding SPD. https://twitter.com/InterferingR/status/1308642069301194752
About 20-30 protestors in all black bloc marched to the East Precinct. No crimes were committed - excluding SPD. https://twitter.com/InterferingR/status/1308642069301194752
From EP, they marched NB on Pine for several blocks, doubled back, and moved to 11th and Pine.
The whole time they pushed a line of squad cars away. They were surrounded on both sides - pushing one set of cars away (yelling MOVE BACK, SPD-style) while being followed by more.
The whole time they pushed a line of squad cars away. They were surrounded on both sides - pushing one set of cars away (yelling MOVE BACK, SPD-style) while being followed by more.
When they made it to 11th and Pine, a dispersal order was given by a presence of over 15 squad cars. This is AFTER a bike officer threw a blast ball into the crowd without provocation. We'll circle back on this. https://twitter.com/slydesilva/status/1308661728314490881
So, having been giving the order to disperse, the crowd did - by walking up the sidewalk past the officers to 12th and Pine. Infront of the Precinct. There, they held a brief dance party to some flute music and continued the standoff.
Then, they headed SB on 12th, turned right onto Pike, and walked to 11th - where they turned back and shoved the police cars back to 12th. Then, they dispersed for the evening.
SO, how is this a Black Panther Party tactic you ask? Lets get into it.
SO, how is this a Black Panther Party tactic you ask? Lets get into it.
The Black Panther Party began with armed patrols of police officers. The party would arrive on the scene of officers harassing community members, and observe from a safe distance with open carry weapons. This was entirely legal. This confused and enraged police.
Above all else, this proved to the community that they were equals with the police. That when both parties were armed, the police could no longer act without consequence.
This was a recruiting tool.
When community members watched the BPP stop harassment, they wanted to join.
This was a recruiting tool.
When community members watched the BPP stop harassment, they wanted to join.
Tonight, protestors did exactly this. They drew SPD out into the streets and brought them into the community. A minimum of 40 individuals took to the sidewalk to observe the actions of SPD. There were more individuals than protestors.
The protestors successfully made a live demonstration of the foolishness of police officers tonight. They proved them to be cowards and swine who would rather waste resources on a legally gathered crowd than enforce law. FURTHERMORE, they intimidated them.
In this scenario, black bloc served as the open carry weapons the Black Panther Party used. It was a means of intimidation and equalizing. It was to frighten officers into behaving - or further demonstrating their incivility.
Huey P Newton says that we must meet our oppressors in the eye and advance. There is no room for fear - a revolutionary's life is already forfeit. That is what I see here. A meeting of the eyes - and an advance. https://twitter.com/InterferingR/status/1308642069301194752
