Organizers postpone Google protest marches, citing 'alt-left terrorist' threats

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post




By Elizabeth Dwoskin August 16 at 2:32 AM

SAN FRANCISCO — Organizers of a free speech protest planned at Google locations across the United States said late Tuesday that the marches were postponed because of threats from “left-wing terrorists.”

“The Peaceful March on Google has been postponed due to credible Alt Left terrorist threats for the safety of our citizen participants,” organizers wrote on a blog post on the protest’s website.

The postponement of Saturday’s rally comes on the heels of bloody clashes in Charlottesville in which a man who was reportedly a Nazi sympathizer allegedly crashed into a crowd of activists, killing one person and injuring 19. On Tuesday, President Trump used the term “alt-left” and said both sides were to blame for the violence.

The rally’s organizer, Jack Posobiec, is an alt-right activist and self-described “reality journalist” who used conspiracy theories to galvanize Trump supporters during the presidential campaign, including the infamous “Pizzagate” rumors of child trafficking.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/organizers-postpone-google-protest-marches-citing-alt-left-terrorist-threats/2017/08/16/1a62a248-824b-11e7-ab27-1a21a8e006ab_story.html

[jalan48]

1. Looks like the whole "Alt Left" thing is taking on a life of its own.

It's sad that we allowed it to take place here and now we can see the results of helping spread the right wing's false equivalency. Where did it come from?

[DetlefK]

2. Do you remember when "fake news" used to mean something?

Then the Republicans and their deplorables turned it into a catch-all term for anything they don't like and suddenly "fake news" was everywhere.

[riversedge]

7. It has had and does have the bully blowhorn of Trump in WH to help it along

[jalan48]

11. So, you think Trump is the reason it's been used here on DU?

[bettyellen]

31. No but he exploits others catchphrase and ideas all the time.

He did the whole jobs will solve racism thing too.
His material has always been cribbed from "both sides, both sides".

[pangaia]

3. TGhe bad guys are very, very good at getting a their 'messages' out.

The intentional fantasy becomes the 'truth.'

[barbtries]

4. Show me one

"Alt Left" fuck you!
They bring the violence. there is no fucking equivalency. if ANTIFA activisits showed up with sticks it was to defend. Nobody died at their hands!
This shit is getting to me!

[riversedge]

9. and it is only going to get worse after Trumps vile words yesterday.

[barbtries]

19. i agree.

i wish i didn't, but i do. it will get worse before it gets better. gotta keep our eyes on the prize.

[ProgressiveValue]

17. "...to defend themselves".

Antifia's reasoning is the same "reasoning" Trump supporters use to bring guns; "to defend themselves if any on the left attack them". If both sides bring weapons, even if one side is bringing bats while the other guns, it will eventually blow.

[barbtries]

18. you wanna push a false equivalency

i don't bother with you. blocked.

[Judi Lynn]

23. Nice try. n/t

[Hortensis]

47. Say "anti-FASCIST." Don't use their terms or abandon this one's honest meaning.

Liberals and most Democrats ARE the nation's anti-fascists. All those who use "antifa" to mean we are fascists are supporters of fascism, whether they know it or not, and of course some know perfectly well. If you are using that term the way those who invented it mean it to be, you may have accidentally turned left on your way to a different forum.

[Maxheader]

5. Never been

privy to an alt left inner sanctum, get together.
But after years of dealing with rightwinger
'leaders', that screw Americans over.
Governors in states reject medicaid expansion.
I've read passionate editorials by both. My
gut feeling is the 'right' doesn't care about
helping seniors, or poor people with health
problems. Theres a news blip for ya..(sarcasm)
Military actions started by rightwinger prezs'.
Goaded by advisors into taking this worst
of all path to solve our foreign conflicts.
All this shit...cutting funding for schools. Not
really addressing the 2nd amendment, global
warming. Just another fuzzy science thing
for conservatives.
All this and I can see lots of angry people looking
to do something about it, and not at all surprised
that an alt-left movement is here.

[DetlefK]

6. I guess, those threats are as real Anonymous hacking the Daily Stormer.

[Not Ruth]

8. Good that they cancelled

[riversedge]

10. "The rallys organizer, Jack Posobiec," This slimy newt now has Trumps blessing. damn

[SharonClark]

12. He fears the counter-protest will turn out 1,000 to his 100.

[barbtries]

20. it will.

i am so ready to march.

[MosheFeingold]

13. Lesson: be better than Alt-Right

Any examples of violence from the left will be trumpeted from the White House. To wit:

1. The shooting of 5 Dallas police officers by fringe member of BLM made BLM look bad;
2. My fellow Bernie supporter who shot a Congressman made us look bad; and
3. The antics of ANTIFA doing stupid things in Berkeley made us look bad.

Responding with violence to these racist idiots (no matter how well deserved) creates the polarization and fear the Alt-Right feeds upon. It's the same crap that let Hitler rise to power in the 1930s.

Lesson:

Don't play their game. Don't counterprotest. Don't show up. Ignore them. Don't run stories about them.

A bunch of trailer park idiots show up at Emancipation Park? Ignore them, and it may not even make the local news. Go punch one of their leaders in the face and start a riot? While it's emotionally satisfying, it's then national news for two weeks.

We used to be able to do this. A million TEA party morons and anti-choice morons marched on Washington several times over the last couple of years. It barely made the news. Why? Because no one got hurt.

Violent counter-protesting satisfies my desire to beat these people with sticks, but it is not the long term solution.

Ignoring the trailer-park trash is.

[duhneece]

15. All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men & women to do nothing

I agree with you to a certain point, then I see and feel the need for action. Finding the balance is the tricky part and takes community; folks with good and kind hearts in community to discuss, 'what to do, if anything'...

[MosheFeingold]

21. Sure

But meeting your enemy on their chosen field of battle is a rookie mistake.

These issues won't be resolved in the streets.

[raven mad]

25. Oh, MosheFeingold - you are SO correct.

I'm beginning to be afraid it will be resolved by the Big Banks, Big Pharma, and Big Oil.......... as well as Smith & Wesson, Ruger, et al.

I would SO much rather it be resolved by common sense. Not going to happen with sTrumpet in the White House, surrounded by his MoneyMinions.

I'm way out of the main "fray" - about 3500 miles minimum out. But I don't quit. Neither does any DU'er that I've ever encountered. We'll win by right, not might.

[duhneece]

49. Agreed. Which is why I ran for office in a rural community that hasn't elected a Dem in over 20 yrs

I'm ok with losing battles, as Sun Tzu, said but aiming to win the war. We may not elect a reasonable, non-tea party-type here for years more (I'm hoping we are still having elections then!), but running for office and recruiting others is something I can do. And make phone calls. And write. And organize and try to connect with others.

I have decided to run again, here in Otero County New Mexico and you should hear of it here on DU, my home, my family.

[MosheFeingold]

50. I now live in Mescalero! (Lincoln County)

Not terribly far away, by New Mexico standards.

I moved into a little guest house with my son. Beautiful country.

[Phoenix61]

32. Those Tea Party morons hijacked the

Republican Party which is why we are in this effing mess. Staying home is not an option! May it get worse before it gets better? Yes. If we do nothing it's just going to get worse. There will be no better.

[Hortensis]

48. The Kochs created the TP by trolling for excitable rabble. They are SO big that the MSM

Almost never mentions them when discussing events, but their alliance may now be more powerful than the GOP, and their plants infiltrate our government and judiciary at all levels, VP, cabinet secretaries, senators and their own house caucus, governors, etc.

[AntiFascist]

34. Don't counter-protest?!!

I don't think Heather Heyer would go for that, and it's not what her mother feels that her life stood for. Engagement is the answer, as she so eloquently spoke of during Heather's memorial service.

People need to be engaged before this white supremacist disease spreads any further. The progressive media, and many politicos, are doing an excellent job of countering the president on this issue.

Violence will occur when there is perceived injustice, it is a simple historical fact in defending our democracy. The Civil War and World War II were not the result of "ignoring the trailer-park trash" in the world.

When the leader of the free world emboldens these people, it is time for action. Non-violent action is certainly preferred, but taking no action is not on option.

[MosheFeingold]

37. Protest

But don't counter protest, yes. Pick a different day, be nice, and hand out flowers. One must have the moral high ground.

Getting into a street fight solves nothing. It lowers the level of discourse to that of a Brown Shirt.

[AntiFascist]

38. Many of us tried that approach during the AIDS crisis when Reagan was in power...

and it brought about little result. At that time, President Reagan was emboldening homophobes and the Religious Right. It wasn't until people began Acting Up and riots broke out in San Francisco that the media took notice and change began to take place. That is not the case now, as the media has taken notice, mostly due to the unfortunate violence.

I don't want to advocate violence, but I think groups like Antifa have learned from past mistakes and should not want to play into the hands of the Alt-right.

I'm sorry but groups marching through streets carrying torches and chanting Nazi slogans cannot be tolerated. This type of activity will certainly be covered by the media and any follow-up, kumbaya type activity the next day will have little coverage.

[MosheFeingold]

40. I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig.

You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.


-- George Bernard Shaw


(No, you are not the pig in this scenario. Nazi swine are.)

[AntiFascist]

45. I understand how the "pigs" are trying to draw us into violence...

and then point to our actions in a moronic attempt to label the left as the "fascists". (Of course, that argument falls apart when they are the ones holding up Nazi flags.)

However, I don't feel that there should be this binary choice between violence versus non-action. There are plenty of examples of effective non-violent civil disobedience.

[Egnever]

53. Alternatively

Scare the shit out of them and they flee like the cowards they are.

I am perfectly ok with them canceling their little dick fest.

Even more so with the reasons they give. That's right assholes it is dangerous to be a racist prick in America despite what your stooge in the White House spews.

[Blue Idaho]

14. Bullshit.

It's all right wing propaganda. For all we know the "march" was a dud without enough participants to fill a VW bus. So they invented this threat.

One thing is certain - they lack the courage of millions of Americans who have marched across This country in support of civil rights. Good people were beaten and died but they kept marching. They are the true spirit of Democracy.

[KPN]

16. Alt-Left?????!!!!!!!!!

There is no such thing. Look media, the term Alt_Right was created by righties themselves ... and so was the term "Alt-Left". There is no such thing.

[vi5]

27. Shhhhhhh.....

don't tell that to a fair amount of posters right here on this site, because this is the first place I ever saw that term used regularly.

[truthisfreedom]

22. Imaginary

[dhill926]

24. nice try....assholes....

[vi5]

26. Wow, where else have I seen "alt-left" used?

Hmmmm....I'm trying to think.

Whoever it was must really love, Trump, racists, nazis and Republicans though right? Because that's apparently the logic that is used in certain corners.

Not saying where or who, just saying I've seen people use "alt-left" before Trump and the nazis started using it.

Just saying.

[bettyellen]

33. The term was used to refer to "burn it downers" like Sarandon

So no it wasn't used by people who love Trump. It was actually used by people here who turned their backs on the Dem party last November.

You're making disgusting allegations about fellow DUers to "score points" and rational people do know better. You're falling for Trumps divisive bullshit. No one thinks it was the only "alt left" counter protesting. It was a very diverse group counter protesting.

[vi5]

42. Oh, that's right......

All I know is that Trump is now using language and terminology that I first heard on DU from the very sensible, centrist types.

Yet other times we hear it said that "Using language that the right can use to smear us or degrade us" is bad.

I wish people would make up their minds.

[bettyellen]

43. Where were you when Trump and RT was using the same terminology

as well as crazy conspiracy theories to try discredit Hillary? You didn't notice he and Russia have been using fringe lefties all along? Suddenly it's a thing? Nope. It's been there.

If you noticed the Nazis themselves are ALSO using the "corporatist" "Goldman Sachs" and "wants war w Russia" crap against the Dems to this day. Where's your outrage on that? Instead you accuse Dems of parroting Nazi crap, when you know the sequence of the events is that they and Trump are parroting Dems of all stripes. Don't fal for it again.

[vi5]

44. Here's the thing.....

I'm being sarcastic about this whole thing.

When anyone said anything critical of Hillary, the hanky dabbing, fainting couch types would say how horrible it was and that the worst thing that could be done by anyone, anywhere is say things about Democrats that Republicans could use to discredit progressives/dems whatever.

Now that Trump is using a term loved by many of those same folks it's suddenly ridiculous or disgusting to use that as an excuse or make that connection.

I do think it's ridiculous. I don't think Trump got the term alt-left from here and would have probably come up with it on his own or from one of his minions. It would be ridiculous to seriously think that. But I don't think he got his talking points from Bernie speeches during the primary and would have come up with the same points against Hillary regardless. Both are idiotic connections to make. I only take issue with the hypocrisy.

[bettyellen]

46. He's coopted the language of the left and worked w Russia to target them to fling propaganda.

I think the hypocrisy is also in failing to admit he's had a symbiotic relationship with the fringe left along. They were targeted w propaganda as much as the RW was. Look at Wikileaks and how he used them. I'm not taking he bait and rehashing the primary here.

The thing is he's pretending the protestors were only "alt left" extremists for a reason. He's branding them as "alt left" when they were actually a very diverse group that most Americans are aligned with. This meshes with his quest to go after all Dem protestors and get their IP addresses. He's trying to divide Dems, but it's been happening all along. He took on tons of economic populist rhetoric even though he's nothing of a sort. But he knew it would be echoed and give him credibility.

[The_Casual_Observer]

28. Who cares what excuse they use? They are cowards and shitballs. I'm glad they

cancelled their little shit shows.

[oswaldactedalone]

29. What a load of crap

Eff you, Dump.

[blueinredohio]

30. You know that's a lie they would love a confrontation

[Kablooie]

35. This is their new propaganda campaign.

Their protests are cancelled for fear of violence and they blame the "Alt Left", whatever that is, as the bad guys who are preventing lawful protests.

It's propaganda, pure and simple.

[Solly Mack]

36. "free speech protest" Snort

Jack Posobiec...alt-right activist and self-described “reality journalist”...used conspiracy theories...including the infamous “Pizzagate”

Oh, yeah...he's all about reality and free speech.

Snort

Liars.

[better]

39. There are times and places for non-violent protest

But when faced with literal armed nazis marching in the streets of American cities wearing riot gear and preaching hate is not one of them.

Let's be real about this. These fuckers fielded an armed force looking for a fight against fellow Americans.
The consequence of that action needs to reliably be getting way more fight than they bargained for, and losing...
Bigly.

[Cold War Spook]

41. Go to all the White-supremist

Nazi and skin head rallies you can. Do not go armed even with sticks. Do not speak, sing or shout. Do not block traffic. If attacked do not fight back. You must be totally peaceful. This country is no longer a Constitutional Democratic Republic, violence will not return it.

[underpants]

51. Playing wussy and victim.

[Sunlei]

52. google protest march? WTF?Republicans make up a fake protest so their nazi voters can have a target?

bunch of con artists.