Reply #259: Ok.

[distantearlywarning]

1) They *were* vandalizing. I saw the video of the protesters damaging property, I have friends who were at the location when it happened and blogged about it, and there were interviews with frightened employees who were in the stores at the time who gave testimony about it. I also have a very good friend who is associated with the anarchist movement here in Pittsburgh, and he told me earlier in the week that they were very concerned about out-of-town anarchists (read: NOT agent provacateurs) coming in with the intent to incite police violence and property damage in Oakland and Downtown. In fact, I'll see him tonight, and I'm quite sure that he will tell me that they and riled-up students were responsible for the damage. And in case you haven't figured it out yet, I *live* in Pittsburgh, I am a Pitt student myself, and I live 2 miles from the protest site in a neighborhood that was also a protest target. I'm not just some random person sitting at a computer somewhere in the US making shit up to upset people on DU today.

2) It's not the military, it's the local police force, who have typically been very polite during previous non-violent protests around town in the past and during this G-20. And I don't have a problem with them using non-lethal force to protect property. I hope they do the same thing if the brick-throwers ever come to my neighborhood and start smashing in my windows. I don't think that makes me a fascist, but I guess everyone has the right to their own opinion about such things. :eyes:

3) Let me repeat again, because I don't think you heard me the first time: It is possible to simultaneously disapprove of violent protesters, support the right of non-violent protesters to demonstrate without police harrassment (as they have been able to do in Pittsburgh in the past and a number of times already during the G-20), and criticize the actions of the politicians at the G-20. Just because protesters are bad doesn't make policemen or politicans good. And if policemen or politicians are behaving badly, it doesn't let the bad protesters off the hook either. It's not a dichotomy of good vs. evil. And honestly, no offense, but I think that anyone who can't understand that has a very immature outlook about the world and needs to grow up a little.