I was the woman surrounded by BLM protesters at a D.C. restaurant. Here's why I didn't raise my fist

[brooklynite]

Washington Post

Why didn’t I just raise my fist?

Last week, I went out to dinner in D.C. with a friend. As we sat outside at a neighborhood restaurant, a group of protesters surrounded our table and demanded that I raise my fist in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. I had marched repeatedly in the past several months in support of their cause, but I refused their demands. That interaction wound up in a viral video that within 48 hours had been viewed more than 12 million times.

Most reactions to the video have been favorable toward me, as many commended me for not giving in to the crowd. There is a strong argument that I should quit while I am ahead. But having been there in the moment and, now, having seen reaction to the video, I have a few thoughts to share.

...snip...

Second, it is never okay to coerce peoples’ participation; that is just bullying. To be clear, this is not an argument against anger, expressed loudly, about terrible things that are allowed to happen. My desire is simply to see the vital energy that anger gives rise to be effectively directed to bring about important, lasting change.

[Crunchy Frog]

2. Did you even bother to read the article?

It's kind of sad to see that authoritarian impulses in this country are not confined to the right wing.

MLK never coerced participation from anybody.

Hitting my ignore button now.

[Ms. Toad]

3. Agreed. (although I'm not hitting ignore). n/t

[Codeine]

4. Wtf are you on about? nt

[greenjar_01]

5. Ooof.

This response is not a good look.

For you.

[cwydro]

7. Are you actually serious right now?

That crowd was totally acting as a mob, no matter their motivation.

Did you even read what she wrote?

[hardluck]

9. This might help you out.

https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034

It's even free on Kindle.

[Captain Stern]

11. Thank you. This is a good lesson to all of us.

I'll take it to heart.

Let's all actually read the articles we are commenting about...before we comment.

Thank you for the valuable lesson.

[nsd]

13. Yikes.

This take ... just yikes.

[Trumpocalypse]

6. Did she note that the alleged BLM protesters

were all white?

[Hekate]

10. I noticed & it was a red flag for me. Were they just misguided youngsters, or were they actors ...

...and provocateurs out to besmirch BLM? She’s right — where were their actual signs, where was their willingness to explain their mission? For me, it was counterproductive enough to raise these questions.

[roman88]

12. There were a few Black activists in that crowd towards the back

But yeah it was VERY WHITE and I always cringe when I see White so-called allies appropriate our anger and make a show of if. It reeks of trying too hard and its very off putting. I don't blame the woman for not raising her fist, she shoulda mouthed off back at them .

[Blue_true]

15. Or maybe those Whites in the group are genuinely ashamed of what their ancestors did and

want social justice as badly as the descendants of their ancestors’ victims. You really don’t know what is in people’s hearts unless you talk to them. Maybe the African Americans who were toward the back knew the White kids’ hearts and were comfortable with having the White kids out front in that instance.

[live love laugh]

17. The continuing embarrassing acts seem to be from nonblack

BLM. That’s suspicious to me.

[roman88]

18. I've interacted with "allies" many times before

Believe me thier hearts are usually not in the right place.

[Crunchy Frog]

8. This sort of thing is getting into Red Guard territory.

Coercing people who are minding their own business into participating in political displays is fundamentally totalitarian in nature.

It's also the sort of thing that R's may pick up on to try to discredit BLM, and try to smear our party with, even though it had absolutely nothing to do with the Democrats.

The extreme right is not the only group in this country with authoritarian impulses.

[Demsrule86]

14. I could not get the link to work so googled what I thought was the article in question...obviously a

mistake...wrong article. However, I have read the real article and still think her response wasn't great. No doubt we will see constant posts about how the movement 'bullies' white people-not helpful. With friends like her...well you know the rest And that is all I have to say about it. I would never have written this and given the right wing racists more fire power.

[GulfCoast66]

16. I did nog see a problem with it, respectfully.

She was put into the public eye not at her own choosing. And in the end said she saw the kids in an overall positive light.

I can sympathize with her. No way in hell would I be forced into raising my fist while just trying to eat supper. Even if I totally supported the cause, which in this case I do strongly.

If there is anyone responsible for making this into a right wing route to attack it was not this woman. It was the stupid kids acting like kids. And her article explains how it quickly became obvious to them and they left in peace.

Have a nice evening.

[Oneironaut]

19. I 100% support BLM, and I agree.

Participation in politics should always be optional. If I were in her position, I hope I would be strong enough to do the same.

I have marched in BLM protests. I was there because I want justice in this country. I would not tell someone they had to go, or demand they make political gestures.

At the same time, I think this is an example of some BLM protesters acting like idiots, and not representative of BLM as a whole or its goals.