Protestors as Insurrectionists

I don’t like throwing around the term insurrectionists to describe protestors. Certainly protestors want to overturn the established order, and to gain attention they are often colorful, loud and obnoxious in their tactics. They want their message to be heard, to build a critical movement towards change that rejects the status quo.

There is often a lot of coverage of law enforcement at protests to protect property and people. But another very important part of law enforcement is protecting protestors and guiding them along their way. It’s not about censoring their message or otherwise discouraging protests, but instead providing guide rails to protect all involved.

Not only do emotions often get overly hyped up in a crowd fighting for change, many protestors are older due to their greater free time and are at risk of health conditions and injury – everything from heart attacks to sprained ankles – so it’s important to have a government presence to protect all involved. Quick dispatch of ambulances can save lives.

I often thought the biggest mistake of January 6th was come down on the protestors and not the government for failing to protect the Capitol. If there had been a line police officers surrounding the Capitol at the time of the march, protestors would have been deflected. They would have yelled and screamed, been heard and covered on the news, but most everybody who have gone home at the end of day, unharmed, without arrest records, injury or damaged property. Police do make a difference at protests.

As such, I am not that upset about there being extra law enforcement to manage the protests in Los Angeles, even if it can be appear some what menacing to the crowds. But if it keeps order, and helps ensure people can be heard in safe way, that is important. It’s much better if protests are peaceful but loud, as that’s a better way for people to get their messages out.