Tag: Rioting

When protests aren’t progressive

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

When protests aren’t progressive

The best way for progressives to prevent such sentiments from snowballing into a movement that actually could win power is to take an approach rooted in humility. Talk to the protesters, listen to their grievances, promise to discuss options for addressing them with elected and appointed officials.

Such humility will come naturally to a politician hoping to represent the broadest possible coalition of working-class voters. It will appear impossible to someone convinced that every citizen of a certain socioeconomic stratum ought rightly to be an automatic ally and contributor to the present-day iteration of the progressive political project.

H/T: The Most Revolutionary Act

Chief postal inspector tells lawmakers that social media monitoring began after George Floyd protests

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Chief postal inspector tells lawmakers that social media monitoring began after George Floyd protests

Yet now it’s Republicans leading the charge against the USPS, after it emerged that iCOP was monitoring right-wing social media accounts following the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. It’s unclear if news that the program was also tracking protests related to Black Lives Matter will prompt Democratic lawmakers, who have so far been silent about the program, to join their GOP colleagues in asking for more answers.

Related:

The Postal Service is running a ‘covert operations program’ that monitors Americans’ social media posts

House bill would block rioters from coronavirus unemployment benefits

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

A House Republican introduced a bill Friday that would make those charged with violence, looting or vandalism in connection with a protest ineligible for enhanced coronavirus unemployment benefits.

The “Support Peaceful Protest Act” would also make rioters “financially liable for the cost of federal policing,” according to the bill, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind.

House bill would block rioters from coronavirus unemployment benefits