I think it is more productive to disrupt an institution that is not as blatant in its abuse of the country’s political system. I do not believe that we have the time to elect something that offers only the slimmest of possibilities for productive lasting change. However, I could not justify paying gas or a bus ticket just to get arrested in Denver and then in November watch the individuals who I was protesting get elected anyway. Instead, I started preparing months ago to attend the RNC in Minneapolis. Somewhat foolishly, I thought that it would be a productive use of my second week of school. Cause chaos. Whoopee. These preparations ended when a taxi postponed my athletic ability to escape from pursuing police. I was working as a bike courier in NYC where the battle against taxis is far more real than one would like to believe.
Today a friend, who I was going to meet up with in the Twin Cities, sent me a link (http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/08/26-14) that caused me even more irritation at my knee’s ill-timed demise. The video was taken during the first day of the DNC and shows a crowd of demonstrators marching and chanting their way to the convention center. They are cornered by cops dressed in full riot gear who, without fair provocation, start shooting pepper spray.
The power balance is particularly thought provoking. The police are covered head to foot in black battle armor carrying truncheons, shields, and bundles of extremely painful (though efficient) zip ties. Not to mention their guns, pepper spray and tasers.
Then look at the protesters. They are mostly dressed in t-shirts and jeans. The lucky ones have vinegar socked bandanas, but the rest are left vulnerable to the peace enforcing law abiding Denver protection force.
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