— Feature, Musings —04.15.2024 03:32 PM
My latest: the “grassroots” blockades
Traffic into Chicago’s O’Hare airport, one the world’s busiest: blocked.
Traffic along the busy I-880 mega-highway in Oakland, California: blocked.
Traffic on San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge: blocked.
Traffic on the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge over the Hudson River: blocked.
And, here in Canada – traffic in Vancouver, leading to a critical container port: blocked.
Traffic outside a major federal government facility in downtown Ottawa: blocked.
All around the world, just as they promised to do on April 15: global trade and movement blocked by the Israel-haters.
The pro-Hamas, anti-Israel types would have you believe that all of this – this coordinated, organized global blockade “to free Palestine” – was all grassroots. It was just a group of unaffiliated groups and people coming together, magically, to shut down points and facilities across the West. It was just a few folks coming together to, you know, protest.
Well, that’s impossible.
This writer has been involved in politics for a long time. Organizing a political rally in a single city takes weeks of preparation and a lot of hard work. It takes money.
Doing it around the planet, and effectively shutting down businesses, infrastructure and government services – using glossy, Madison Avenue-quality graphics on your signs and banners? Shutting down capitalism and democracies on a global scale?
That requires money. That requires a directing mind. That requires a plan. Because effective worldwide protests don’t just “happen.” And they definitely don’t just happen because a some Palestine enthusiasts decided to throw something together one weekend.
Check the “A15Action” website, ostensibly put together by an anarchist collective in the U.S. It’s more professional-looking than what most governments or political parties put together. There’s a video that greets you when you click on the site, and a woman’s voice is heard: “In each city, we will identify and blockade major choke points in the economy, focusing on points of production and circulation with the aim of causing the most economic impact,” she says.
“Escalation has become necessary: there is a need to shift from symbolic actions to those that cause pain to the economy. As Yemen is bombed to secure global trade, and billions of dollars are sent to the Zionist war machine, we must recognize that the global economy is complicit in genocide and together we will coordinate to disrupt and blockade economic logistical hubs and the flow of capital.”
Lawyers are provided for those who get arrested. “Graphics and flyers” are offered for download. Contacts are listed, in just about every major city on Earth. Talking points. Media kits. All of it is there – from a “grassroots” pro-Palestine effort.
Well, grassroots it isn’t.
A letter from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ intelligence group was leaked Monday by Iranian dissident Vahid Beheshti. Reportedly written prior to the global blockades by the unit’s Deputy Commander-in-Chief, the letter describes the April 15 lawlessness, and says the objective is “supporting and encouraging Palestinian movements towards the political isolation of the Zionist regime.”
Wrote Beheshti: “[Iran] is very clearly organizing and promoting these actions aimed at destroying our modern society, all the while our politicians continue to appease them, placing our values, stability and public order under great jeopardy.”
Previously, this newspaper has reported that anti-Israel protestors are being paid to protest, in Canada and elsewhere. We have reported that their organizers are trained, connected and skillful in running protests against the Jewish state and Jewish institutions. And that a global web connects these groups and individuals – whose goal isn’t just the destruction of what they call “the Zionist entity.” It’s destabilizing Western democracy, as well.
Don’t believe it? Sound far-fetched?
Then check out what happened in Chicago, Oakland, San Francisco, New York City, Vancouver, Ottawa and dozens of other places on Monday, and ask yourself: could all of this happen without central coordination? Could it happen without a plan and lots of funding?
You know the answer.
And who gave Iran lots of money?
I’m a Jew hater. Try and find me. hacktheplanet@gibson.expert
66.248.200.34
As I’ve commented on here before, fewer and fewer of these blockades are grassroots. Whether it be the pipeline blockades of a few years ago, or the trucker convoy, or these ones – professional protesters have taken root across the world.
Although I suppose my main concern isn’t whether they are grassroots are not. If the blockade is illegal, which most are, then tear them down and arrest everyone involved. So bloody tired of this nonsense.
Peaceful, legal protesting is all fine and good, and a hallmark of a properly functioning democracy.
Protests that are not peaceful and legal should be dealt with by the authorities in a quick and, if necessary, forceful manner.
I don’t care what you’re protesting, if it’s not peaceful and legal then it certainly DOES NOT trump the rights of ordinary people to go about their lawful business.
Reminds me of the convoy – morons
Reminds me of radical environmental activists.
I agree with you both. The trucker convoy was populated by morons who didn’t care about anyone but themselves. The same is true for the pipeline protestors who blockaded, and the environmental protestors who destroy property.
All morons, and all breaking the law when they blockade. Arrest them all.
And yet no emergency act/ seized accounts…….weird, almost like only certain groups are targeted.
Dink,
No question it’s a double standard. No one can credibly deny it.
This is one of the biggest reasons we are in the mess we”re in today. All political parties condemn some and uphold others based entirely on their own political interests. Either all these blockades should be legal and we should just accept rule by mob, or all should be shut down. One seems more logical than the other, but we live in a post-logic society.
Funding only goes so far. Sure, there are always organizers. But if they have those visceral social media friendly images and videos at the ready (and everyone always does), young people will jump headfirst into a protest with very little egging. They did it on behalf of Israel after October 7th too. Nobody wants to see human suffering, and these folks are naturally appalled by anyone who tries to tell them “but THIS batch of human suffering is different, and necessary, and valid!” Context is irrelevant to them. Not that context SHOULD matter much when we’re talking about a conflict where rape, infanticide, and mass starvation are considered valid weapons by various combatants and supporters. It’s all sick.
26 million globally marched after George Floyd’s lynching by Minneapolis cops. Not sure how many of them were paid, but I’m wagering it was a small fraction.
Professional protestors, those who are being paid cash and expenses above say $100, should have legal obligation to self identify. All protestors, including strikers, should also incur personal fines for blocking infrastructure, access to government services or directly impacting access to residences or businesses.
Doug,
It’s in the interest of unions to behave properly and respectfully. Otherwise, it’s injunction time with crystal clear conditions that only a fool would violate.
As long as strikers face the same legislation as protestors.
I’m against all protestors and strikers always as:
1) If I cared about their cause, I’d already know more about it than them, so they are not building awareness
2) Who do they think they are to inconvenience others?
3) Angry mobs stir up emotions, rather than rational thought
Seems there are a lot of alter Judenhasser’s out on the streets