Given all the events happening, this is a reminder that peaceful protests are the key to change. We are all angry, we are all sad for the people and families being violently attacked, and it is hard to stay cool and calm, but violence reciprocity is not the answer. Channeling Gandhi, and MLK, both who change nations by absorbing violence and standing in their way. Show how they lost the moral high ground, and DO NOT RECIPROCATE!
Also it works:
There are key parameters to the 3.5 percent rule according to Chenoweth. The “figure is a descriptive statistic based on a sample of historical movements.” Thus, it is not necessarily a hard-and-fast law, but rather a solid predictor. Remarkably, most mass nonviolent movements that succeeded did so even without reaching the 3.5 percent threshold. Moreover, durable nonviolent movements are twice as likely to succeed as violent campaigns because people generally reject violence. The 3.5 percent rule does not rely on cumulative participation, but rather participation at a peak event, which usually means a mass nonviolent demonstration. And the demands for change must achieve success within one year as a result of the mobilization.
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For everyday Americans wishing to actively object to the government’s slide toward authoritarian policies, the 3.5 percent rule is a motivational yardstick to measure the likely result of peaceful mobilization.
People-powered movements can increase the chances of pressuring the government to meet their demands, including by building broad, sustained public participation across diverse groups. This is especially true because authoritarian-minded governments try to divide the population and keep them afraid of defiance. When 3.5 percent of a population goes beyond protest to engage in peaceful civil disobedience and noncooperation, these actions disrupt the system and force governmental change. For example, general strikes that affect the economy, boycotts, sit-ins, walkouts, or shutdowns of parts of cities can put unavoidable pressure on political leaders to hear their constituents and resolve the matter.
Chenoweth also states that 3.5 percent participation strongly indicates that there is much deeper support of the movement across society and a sense of inevitability, which can translate into defections from key pillars on the government’s side. For example, leaders from the economic, business, political, cultural, and media sectors become more likely to shift their allegiance to the side of a broad nonviolent mobilization. Perhaps most importantly, effective mobilizations can cause vital defections from police and military forces as well as the members of the political party in power.
So to reiterate:
…People-powered movements are more successful when they can strategically build a broad tent across the political spectrum, avoid violence, and remain relentlessly disciplined. Sharing the risks of defiance, Americans committed to pro-democracy principles can shift the current balance of power and change the trajectory of the nation.
I think what they’re getting at though is that it’s got to be one or the other. Like all respect to Pretti, he’s sparked a huge sea change in terms of the relationship of the administration to the 2A, and some serious pushback (AZ AG for instance). But if he hadn’t had the pistol he’d likely be alive. And if he had used it a minute earlier… Well. So if we’re going to protest, do it in a way that will not be able to be twisted by the media. And if you’re ready to defend your life with a firearm if someone is threatening you (and at this point an ICE agent advancing towards you is undeniably that) then just do it. To be realistic though, if you’re going to put yourself in that position it would be wise to be among a group that outnumbers the ICE agent force.
We’re still in the phase of lone wolf type actors. That will end predictably. But with a group of people it would be a completely different thing. Unfortunately that is also exactly what Trump is fishing for. It’s tactically wise to be armed and with a trained group if you’re going to be facing off with ICE. It’s strategically wise to continue nonviolence until the majority of the population is so disgusted with the government that real pushback has overwhelming popular support.
Unfortunately the strategic move is to continue sacrificing people like Pretti until the public sentiment is so strong that something like the Sterling Hall bombing becomes palatable to most people (or, ideally, the midterm elections throw Trump and his ilk out of office).