What? Have I gotten ahead of myself? Isn't this the Conspiracy Theory du jour?
Ok.Ok. Are the BLM protesters plants from the Hilary Campaign?
Here is my answer.
I do not care. I Do Not Give A Damn. I Do Not Give A Mile-High Flying Fuck.
Even if there was rock solid evidence that this was a Swift-Boating activity paid for and supported by the Clinton Campaign or Clinton supporters I would not care.
The only thing that the Sanders campaign and Sanders supporters have any control over is how we respond. So far it would appear the Sanders campaign is responding in the right way. They have listened. They have started to make outreach efforts to the black community. They have started to diversify within their campaign.
They have politely criticized the disruption of the activists in Seattle but have not condemned the movement. They have said that Black Lives Matter.
They need to do more and I believe they will.
Bernie Sanders supporters on DK? Some of you are fucking up big time.
Loudly fucking up big time. Here's some advise. Respond in the affirmative.
Say yes, Black Lives Matter and here's how Senator Sanders believes and support that simple and important statement of fact... (and please please please, don't just mention his actions as an individual back in the early 60s and leave it at that).
There will be protests (wise or foolish, effective or ineffective). You can't stop that (and as good progressives who believe in the bill of rights you should support that).
There will be dirty tricks, rat-fucking, swift-boating (Some real, some existing only in your fevered imagination) and you can't stop that either.
You can respond in a way that helps or respond in a way that hurts.
You can learn that spouting some Stupid Theory Without A Shred Of Evidence Is A Way That Hurts!
And it is conspiracy theory and it's not allowed on this site and it will get donuts.
Here ends my rant.
And by the way, institutional racism within our police and governments is real and is hurting and killing people of color. It is being documented in way that it never has before and you cannot deny this and its importance.
Profiling people of color is wrong. Using the police to generate revenue off the backs of the poor is wrong. Training police to respond to every threat (real or imagined) with deadly force is wrong. Not holding criminal police accountable is wrong. Disproportionate imprisoning of people of color (in a ever increasing number of for-profit prisons) is wrong. Using the criminal justice system to deny citizens the right to vote is wrong.
And I'm not articulate or informed enough to really talk about this which is why I mostly try to stay silent and listen and ask questions of the people who can talk about this. Maybe some of you should too.
Protesting at a political event may be wise or foolish depending on who you talk to but it doesn't compare to the above.