Black Lives Matter plans to shut down light rail before Vikings opener

[portlander23]

Black Lives Matter plans to shut down light rail before Vikings opener

Black Lives Matter St. Paul is planning a "Shut Down Action" along the light-rail line in St. Paul before the Minnesota Vikings home opener in Minneapolis on Sunday.

The group said it would show support for Marcus Abrams, a 17-year-old with Asperger's syndrome who was forcefully arrested by Metro Transit officers Aug. 31 at the Lexington Parkway station. Abrams, who was injured in the arrest, and his mother will be present, the group said.

Black Lives Matter St. Paul is inviting people to the event to support Abrams "and all of the other children who live with autism and fight against the injustices that continue to plague black women, men, and children."

"We absolutely respect people's desire and right to voice their viewpoints," spokesman Howie Padilla said. "Our priority is to ensure the safety of the communities we serve -- the communities our trains and buses go through as well as the riders on our vehicles."

Padilla said investigation of the Abrams arrest is still underway.

[gateley]

1. I totally agree and am sickened by the racism that has had a resurgence -- or

maybe just been brought to our (non-Blacks) attention more.

But like PETA, I think the ways the group makes its statement is more likely to alienate people.

When I see a horrifying film of animal abuse by PETA, I feel anger -- toward PETA.

I respond much more favorably to the tear-jerker ASPCA spots with the Willie Nelson music in the background. You want to HELP them.

I think when people are so angry that they don't let others IN to help them, they lose their opportunity. Like with Bernie in Seattle -- he would have been one of the best listeners and supporters and tried to learn and forward the cause, but they shut him down and drove him off.

I can't say what it's like to see my family and friends targeted repeatedly and unlawfully, and I might respond the same way. But from my vantage point, I'm not too inclined to wade on in to the hostility.

I know I'll get beat up for this, but I'm guessing I'm not the only one who feels this way.

Pissing off a bunch of rabid football fans isn't the way to gain support, either.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. You should go to bernie's site.

His agenda regarding race relations is actually popular with AA and members of BLM. People here will tell you otherwise, but the Google will clarify a lot of this.

Disclaimer I am not gonna say who we will ultimately vote for and any endorsement will be big money, to make a point

[gateley]

4. Well you know, it's wrong of me to paint that broad brush stroke --

Like any group, there are people within its membership range who agree and who disagree.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Of course. I just pointed out that there is group committed here

to things that are not quite accurate. I am more and more convinced that small group is doing a lot of damage.

[gateley]

19. My statement has nothing to do with Bernie and the AA members.

It's their tactics that I fear will alienate people (white people, natch) from their cause.

If any AA pays attention to Bernie and looks at what he's done, of course they would like him. Don't know why those spokespeople in Seattle treated him as though he was the enemy -- he's not.

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. I did not realize BS the candidate was the enemy

My apologies.

(Some of us can distinguish between partisans, and campaigns)

[gateley]

27. I feel the activists in Seattle treated him like the enemy --

did you get the impression otherwise, nadin?

BTW, I can distinguish between partisans and campaigns, too.

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. And he still overcame that

And came with a solid plan. Will pm you in a sec

[oberliner]

10. Why do you feel anger towards PETA when you see a film of animal abuse?

Would you just prefer to pretend that that sort of thing doesn't happen? Isn't that the problem in both cases?

[gateley]

18. I feel anger because they don't have to shove it in my face --

Do you feel anger when you see the ASPCA's spots because they don't show the abuse so graphically?

And who the fuck are you to imply I "prefer to pretend" that sort of thing doesn't happen. Maybe you should volunteer with me at the two shelters I have and you'll see I wouldn't be able to pretend if I wanted to.

It's like showing aborted fetuses. Not needed.

That's why.

[oberliner]

20. It was just a question

It just seems like the best way to get people to do something about animal abuse is to make people aware of the extent of it, which I think PETA does a very good job of doing.

The average person (not suggesting you) tends to avoid thinking too much about where their food comes from - factory farms and such.

Speaking strictly for me, seeing some of their videos led to me deciding to change my behavior regarding what I eat, so in that sense, I feel like they can be very valuable.

[gateley]

22. Sorry for overreacting --

It's been one of those days and I took it out on you.

I understand, and to be honest, I'm one of the ones who doesn't like to think where my food comes from. I saw a news clip that showed sick cows being bulldozed into wherever they bring them to make them into food. The expose was on the diseased meat, but what stuck with me, and still makes me "snap to" when I think of it, is how they didn't care that they were scaring and tormenting and torturing these animals.

I've come a long way, but have a long way to go. My hat's off to you that you did change your behavior instead of just feeling guilty about it.

[oberliner]

23. No worries

I think I know exactly what news clip you are talking about. Or if not, I've seen something similar.

[mythology]

35. I think if you make people "too aware" you get paralysis

Yes people need to understand abuse exists, but if you show people graphic images of a dog from a dog fighting ring, people are going to get overwhelmed and say "I can't deal with that". It's too big.

I could be wrong, and obviously their approach worked for you, so it's not entirely without merit.

[oberliner]

37. You may be right

But sometimes I do think it helps to get a person to make a change. And I would not just apply this to animal abuse. I would say that there are many awful things going on in the world that most folks ignore until they see it for themselves or connect with it in some personal way.

[XemaSab]

36. I feel like PETA doesn't respect anyone who is less than 100% committed to the cause

I eat eggs, dairy, and honey, and I eat fish about once a month. The eggs come from a co-worker's daughter and a lot of the dairy comes from local places that treat their cows well. I only eat fish that is sustainably caught.

Instead of saying, "Hey, thanks for making ethical choices that work for you!" I feel like PETA has the attitude that I am morally equivalent to someone who sits down to a big ol' plate of bacon for breakfast, turkey for lunch, and veal for dinner errrrry day.

The analogy isn't perfect, but I'll say this:

BLM needs to not make the perfect the enemy of the good.

[oberliner]

38. I agree that is true in some cases

However, I will also say that their videos really do have an impact, at least they did for me.

I think the same can be said for BLM to some extent. While they can sometimes rub people the wrong way, they still can help illuminate things that people would prefer not to think about.

[LiberalElite]

39. (My comment is not about undercover videos) IMO Peta

tends to choose the most outrageous stunts to get people's attention so as to get the issue the most attention. I'm not sure it succeeds. I think they overdo it. I'm speaking as a one-time (but now burned out) animal rights activist.

Way back when Rudy Giuliani announced he had prostate cancer, Peta ran an anti-dairy ad in Times Square asking "Got prostate cancer?" I'm pretty sure it had a photo of Giuliani. At that time I was a regular listener of far-left Pacifica radio station WBAI. On day during the morning drive-time show, they discussed this Peta ad. It was all Poor Giuliani - and they hated Giuliani. No mention of dairy, cows, anything related to the actual issue. When a member (presumably) of the general public says Peta just does things for publicity, it's not hard for me to think they may have a point.

[Shandris]

2. I guess Trump's poll numbers must have dropped or something.

Apparently there's a need to give him new converts.

[romanic]

6. A noble cause.

But this is going to go over well with sports fans like a lead balloon over Luxor. Lord please give BLM some god damned sense.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

7. I'm thinking about starting a "Stamp out injustice" campaign.

You know the one, it's where we go around lighting paper bags filled with dog poo on fire on people's doorsteps then ring the bell and hide behind the bushes. Then, when the home owners sees the fire they stomp on it to put out the flames. Then we jump up and shout, "Injustice is crap! You can help stamp it out!"

Everyone will be talking about us! And who doesn't like publicity?

[cwydro]

8. I doubt this will go well.

But I wish them luck.

[portlander23]

9. Coming from Occupy

They don't need to win friends. This tactic is about disruption. It's easy to walk past protesters on the other side of the street. It's another thing when they're in your face. Maybe it's not the best tactic, maybe it is. Not for me to say. I bet that people will have to confront the message.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. When strategically deployed

disruption is effective. It will anger some knuckle draggers, but will will some hearts and minds once they get over their initial shock. This is not occupy, this is the 1960s.

[cwydro]

13. I have to disagree here nadin.

I'm afraid when they mess with football fans, it'll just turn sour.

I'm not a football fan, but I'm guessing most who are heading to a game are going to be pissed when their entrance is delayed.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Why I said when strategically deployed

Sports has way too many risks and too little gain imho. But I do not tell activists who put their neck on the line how to do this. It's got potential as a good photo op though.

And I have been wrong in the past as to what works. The mall disruption here got them a few meetings with city poobahs, and the CRB is indeed under review.

[cwydro]

16. Absolutely agree with you as far as photo op.

I just hate that they may turn some against them who might have been sympathetic.

But who knows.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. As I said, after watching local activists

I am somewhat agnostic, since I am coming at it from my very much point of view.

I have seen things work that I would swear up and down that they will not. I have also seen things that were sure fire to work not.

[Comrade Grumpy]

12. How to make friends and influence people.

I doubt this action will have much positive impact. It may succeed in turning some indifferent people into some irritated people.

If they are unhappy with the Metro Transit Police, might I suggest blocking their headquarters in a civil disobedience action?

Are these the same BLM activists who did that "pigs in a blanket" chant thing? Fox News says thank you very much.

[pinboy3niner]

15. It's one of the ways to get your message out when that is so very hard to do

It will call attention to the Marcus Abrams case and the purpose of the protest.

[Vinca]

21. I can't think of anything that would piss fans off more than not being able to get to the game.

Does BLM intentionally set out to alienate people from their cause?

[Electric Monk]

25. Update: Green Line stops, buses go to transport Vikings fans during Black Lives Matter protest

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) - Metro Transit officials temporarily suspended Green Line light rail service and added buses to ensure fans could make it to the Vikings home opener despite a planned Black Lives Matter protest responding to alleged police brutality in August.

more
http://www.fox9.com/sports/vikings/22237722-story

[NCTraveler]

26. Sorry for the inconvenience suffered from great people fighting racism.

Most of the people who will be inconvenienced would not have had a conscious thought about racism in this country today. POC aren't afforded that right in this country. Football fans, meet Marcus Abrams, brought to you by brave activists.

[Goblinmonger]

28. So is it NFL fans as a whole or specifically Vikings fans that don't care about black lives?

[NCTraveler]

31. No where did I say anything remotely close to that. Nt

[TeddyR]

29. Terrible idea

Just like blocking highways so that people can't get to work or are stuck in traffic for hours. All that does is piss people off and make them much less inclined to support your cause.

[pinboy3niner]

30. EarlG: The American tradition of inconveniencing motorists...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1017&pid=230315

[TeddyR]

33. I'm not talking about congestion

Or stopping traffic to save a fluffy cute animal. Are you opposed to saving baby ducks? I'm talking about purposely blocking traffic and inconveniencing thousands of people in order to attempt to make a political statement. Would you be ok if Republicans blocked your local traffic to protest Planned Parenthood? It's a ridiculous tactic and I don't support it, regardless of the cause. And any group that does it is much less likely to get my support for their cause.

[romanic]

34. This graphic

is pure horseshit.