FWD: ANTI-WTO: Don't throw the radicals overboard

[Scot Harkins on SCN.org]

I think it's interesting to remember that civil disobedience, especially as
employed in protest environments, will involve breaking the law.  Protestors
are willing to be tried and jailed for their beliefs, though the actual
charges are more likely to be things like "obstructing traffic".

The public consequences of such actions as blocked traffic will be to make
people late.  It may be worse if one or more people are blocked in the
course of getting to a hospital.  To that end, it is right and proper that
those breaking the law and who refuse to desist are subject to arrest.
Their arrest makes their point, while their efforts have real affects on
innocent parties.  One of those affects, hopefully, will be awareness of the
subject matter, along with the inconvenience (or worse).

As to the anarchists...  They clearly crossed a line in purposely destroying
property.  Most admit it.  At the same time, many officers crossed a line
with their actions.  It was a sad day all around, and it's not clearly any
single group's fault.

The current review of city preparations will probably prove more damning
than anything.  The city _knew_ violent protestors were coming, yet their
preparations were woefully inadequate.  Everyone will have their share of
blame, but the city made a messy bed in which to lay.


Scot

--
Scot Harkins (KA5KDU) | Systems Administrator, Thurman Ind, Bothell, WA
North Bend, WA        | Native Texan firmly planted in Western Washington
scoth at bigfoot.com     | SCA: Ld. Scot MacFin, Barony of Madrone, An Tir
scoth at scn.org/msn.com | URL <http://www.bigfoot.com/~scoth>


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