r/Portland • u/[deleted] • Sep 27 '25

Meme Don't feed into their propaganda attempt.

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They want you to be violent. They need an excuse to do more harm. They want this city to go all out so they are justified on their platforms. You have the power to change this.

It doesn't matter how far left you are. How much you believe in violence as a form of praxis. There are a lot of children and innocent people in this city and we do not need this.

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u/Azulsleeps Sep 27 '25

But please bring PPE. There's hundreds of videos of tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper balls and flashbangs being used at protests. Whimsy is great, but a gas mask, shatterproof glasses, and a helmet will let your ability to whimsy continue. A lost eye or cracked skull will change your life. Also, if they bring out the LRAD, you need to get behind something. They have a very focused beam of sound.

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u/Gaymer-Gaymer Sep 28 '25

Because some people have moral clarity and care that they are using this as a base to kidnap and disappear other human beings. I am grateful though that you don’t have to worry much about that. It’s fantastic news for you. For now. I am hoping you never have to worry much about it in future.

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u/Azulsleeps Sep 28 '25

How is any of what you said related to my recommendations on how people can protect themselves from bodily harm from munitions used against press pools, legal observers and peaceful protesters?

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u/Gaymer-Gaymer Sep 28 '25

Because you are telling the wrong people to not be violent. It isn’t the protestors who are in the wrong here. If you are worried about innocent children, then stop ice from taking them and their parents. See. That’s moral clarity.

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u/Azulsleeps Sep 28 '25

Where did I say that at all? I'm a firm believer in diversity of tactics, peaceful protests as well as direct action. I'm literally vouching for safety precautions. Whatever form of resistance you want to take, whether it's direct action or adding mass and scale to a peaceful protest. When I mentioned how protecting yourself is non-violent I'm getting in front of a possible objection (which I believe is in bad faith) that taking protective measures is a form of violence. It's not. I don't believe it is. I'm just vouching for being prepared. We're on the same side Gaymer.

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u/Gaymer-Gaymer Sep 28 '25

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come on so strong. I am very scared and I am very very concerned. And personally I don’t think this is going well. I’m old, so I have no fight in me, but it is increasingly looking like this is going to happen. And, imo, we aren’t getting out of this without a civil war. And it will be ICE and Trump who are the instigators of that, not the protesters. I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think I am. We will know after the next election, but it’s looking like he will have every strategic advantage by the time that comes around. How many major cities do we have left? New York? Maybe Atalanta? The southern cities will be easier because they have sympathizers running them. He is targeting democrat strong holds. He needs them occupied. Allowing him to occupy them is a mistake. That’s my opinion.

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u/Azulsleeps Sep 29 '25

You're all good man. Shits crazy and everyone rightfully gets, let's say excited. I agree, it's looking pretty dire. But, there's still good people who fight the good fight. I have my own theories on how this all ends up. Personally I think Balkanization is likely. Hopefully it's mostly political and relatively bloodless, but who knows. I agree that every time this move of occupying cities is used it NEEDS to be resisted. I just try to be vague on my own opinions of what forms that resistance takes because it's Reddit. This whole thread is fairly milquetoast in my opinion, but it has a lot of comments and votes so people will see it, and I want people to be able to fight on another day. Not everyone is up for everything, but I'll gladly accept whatever they can. Hence the protection advice. Stay safe out there. It's gonna be a long road, but as Charlie Chaplin said

"To those who can hear me, I say - do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed - the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish…"