Rolling into Georgia around 11:00pm last night, I noticed a full bloom of Trump signs along the state route that carried us down to the farm. This is Trump Country: rural; poorly educated; poor economic prospects; devastated by a quiet drug epidemic, lost jobs and no opportunity.
That anger is real. I get that.
But the protests that are erupting - and will likely only get worse - need to keep in mind that the anger the Trumpenproletariat is feeling, is not much different from the anger that BLM and other groups are feeling. It's not too far from a Trump rally to feeling the Bern, in that sense.
The difference, of course, is that Sanders is appealing to groups he wishes to mobilize to change American politics. Trump is essentially trying to overthrow American politics and all of its norms. Despite being the Socialist Radical, Sanders is working within the existing institutions. Trump is smashing them.
The Counterprotesters need to realize that the biggest favor that they can do is feed into a "both sides are responsible" narrative. The video of the man being suckered punched and then tackled by security is a great example of all that's wrong with Trump rallies. Chicago and Dayton create a theme that it's all chaotic, without holding the man who unleashed the chaos responsible.
The secret to non-violent protest is allowing yourself to get hit and arrested.
Let the cameras do the rest.
1 comment:
I'd prefer some pepper spray to the face myself. Where do I sign up?
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