Summary: Yesterday was a big day for political terrorism in America, with wins for the terrorists in Berkeley and Portland. Plus applause from many on the Left. Success is copied. Expect more threats of political violence and violence — until we no longer tolerate such behavior.
“This is the moment our generation decides whether we are a society of laws & freedoms, or violence & militance.”
— Jeff Giesea (on Twitter).
Today was a big day for domestic terrorism in America, with two wins. These wins will embolden those using political violence, both Left & Right. No sanctimonious speeches can conceal this.
First, more craven behavior by Berkeley
Ann Coulter cancelled her appearance at Berkeley. The city and university routinely bow before threats of violence by the Left.
“{Berkeley} said it could not accommodate her on the date and time it had initially scheduled her because of threats of violence ….The school said she could speak only at a later date and an earlier time of day, when there were likely to be fewer students on campus and less of a likelihood for violent outbreaks. …
“Ms. Coulter was confronted with the dangerous prospect of setting foot unguarded on a campus that erupted in violence in February after another conservative speaker, Milo Yiannopoulos, planned to appear. The school canceled his event. …Administrators at Berkeley …offered a day next week when students are no longer in class ….” {New York Times.}
Another liberal city similarly caved to Leftist terrorists: “Organizers cancel 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade, after protesters threaten to shut it down” by Jamie Hale in The Oregonian.
“Organizers of the 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade announced Tuesday that the event will be canceled, for fear that the east Portland parade could be disrupted by ‘the type of riots which happen in downtown Portland.’ Originally scheduled this Saturday, April 29, the parade is meant to highlight the local community and businesses along Southeast 82nd Avenue, aiming to turn around the negative perception many people have of the area. It started in 2007 and has since become a popular event on the Rose Festival calendar.
“This year’s parade was once again set to feature the Multnomah County Republican Party as one of the many groups slated to march, but that inclusion drew ire from some of the city’s left-leaning protest groups.
“At least two protests were planned for the day of the parade, one by Oregon Students Empowered and another by Direct Action Alliance. Both events were mentioned in an email sent to parade organizers on Saturday, threatening to shut down the event with hundreds of protesters in the street. …
“James Buchal, chairman of the Multnomah County Republican Party, said his group was ready to march despite the protesters. …After seeing the email last weekend, they had no plans to back out. ‘We weren’t willing to just walk away quietly,’ he said. ‘The next thing we knew the whole thing was canceled.’
“Organizers pulled out after contacting Portland police, according to Rich Jarvis, spokesman for the Rose Festival Foundation. When police said they couldn’t offer any additional security for the parade, organizers decided to cancel it due to safety concerns.”
I tweeted about this. The immediate response tweeted by a leftist academic: “Will you shut up!” Plus 5 unfollows. Politically disturbing facts produce the most unfollows. Why use Twitter if you get news that challenges your biases?
The threatening email
“Terrorism: The unlawful use of violence or threat of violence …to instill fear and coerce governments or societies in pursuit of goals that are usually political.”
— DoD Dictionary.
A tactic that effective will be repeated by the Left, and perhaps by the Right. Tit for tat is one of the best game strategies. Here are the various emails leading to the event’s cancellation. Here is the key one, with an immense cost-result ratio.
Re: Subject: Don’t make us shutdown the parade.
Greetings.
Trump supporters and 3% militia are encouraging people to bring signs that bring hateful rhetoric to the parade and appears you allowed them to register and have a place in the march! You have two options:
1. Let them march (Here is their event page).
2. Cancel their registration and ensure they do not march.
If you choose option 1 then we will have two hundred or more people rush into the parade into the middle and drag and push those people out as we will not give one inch to groups who espouse hatred toward lgbt, immigrants, people of color or others. In case the message was not clear to you this is a sanctuary city and state and we will not allow these people to spread their views in East Portland.
You have seen how much power we have downtown and that the police cannot stop us from shutting down roads so please consider your decision wisely. Let us know your decision by tuesday by emailing back. We will also wheatpaste fliers across the march route naming sponsors and holding them accountable for backing an event with this type of rhetoric which may endanger future parades ability to get sponsors. We will also begin emailing groups who are participating in the march to inform them you are allowing a group of bigots to march in the parade.
This is nonnegotiable we already have two events setup ourselves and we will have enough people tools and tactics to shut down a parade in fact this is a walk in the park for us:
1. “Defend Portland from Fascists at the Avenue Of Roses Parade” by Direct Action Alliance.
2. “Shut down fascism! No nazis in Portland!” by Oregon Students Empowered.
We promise there will be no harm to anyone but we will shut this down and prevent them from marching using nonviolent passive blocking of their movement.
“…one reason the protesters cite as justification for dragging Republicans off a parade route is that they will otherwise “normalize support” for a sitting president.
— “A Chilling Threat of Political Violence in Portland” by Conor Friedersdorf at The Atlantic.
Here are the two Facebook pages cited above. They were explicit about their goals. Leftists get to decide who speaks in public and enforce their decisions with mob violence (just like fascists).
“Fascists plan to march through the streets of Portland in the Avenue of Roses Parade on 82nd. The fascists know that we’ll keep shutting their marches down, they are now planning to march within other parades to protect their message of hate and white supremacy – it WON’T work. Nazis will not march through Portland.” {Direct Action Alliance.}
“We will not let nazis and fascists march in Portland, we will defend our city! We expect anyone against fascism and nazism to show up and shut it down!” {Oregon Students Empowered.}
This was predicted by me and many others. The Left’s definition of Trump and conservatives as “Nazis” was not only false (see here and here) but also encouraged extreme, even violent, responses (The Left steps across a line and embraces political violence). Their encouragement of “punching Nazis” has inevitably led to real violence. No matter how horrific result, depend on them to refuse any responsibility.
“Headed to Berkeley to disrupt neo Nazi/white Supremacist circle jerk today. Nervous af but determined to bring back 100 Nazi scalps.”
— Louise Rosealma on Facebook.
Elapsed time from “ok to punch Nazis” to “threats of mob violence against mainstream political party” was 93 days https://t.co/oc6o4QKaeq
— Rogue WPA Staff (@GabrielRossman) April 26, 2017
The ACLU speaks
“The unacceptable threats of violence that have led to the ‘hecklers’ veto’ of Ann Coulter’s speech at Berkeley are inconsistent with free speech principles that protect us all from government overreach. …For the future of our democracy, we must protect bigoted speech from government censorship. On college campuses, that means that the best way to combat hateful speech is through counter-speech, vigorous and creative protest, and debate, not threats of violence or censorship.” {At their website.}
This is missing the point. Is the Berkeley government willing to maintain public order by stopping those using violence to suppress their foe’s speech? So far, no.
Vigilantism by Former Breitbart Senior Editor Milo Yiannopoulos.
As with the recent Berkeley riot, the Right responded to threats with calls for vigilante violence. Given the dark history of vigilantes in America and Latin America, this is irresponsible. This sets in motion an escalation of violence, tit for tat, that might quickly spin out of control.
“My proposed Free Speech Week will proceed as planned later this year. I WILL BRING AN ARMY IF I HAVE TO. We will ensure that Ann {Coulter} and others can speak and we will publicly, ritually humiliate UC Berkeley for its failure to meet its legal obligations until conservative speakers no longer fear violent mobs just for exercising their First Amendment rights. Berkeley is going to become the free speech capital of the United States once again. I will make sure of it.” {On his Facebook page.}
Conclusions
America is sliding down a slippery slope, with both Left and Right cheering the violence of their thugs. Everybody chanting pious speeches while another crack appears in our political system. There is still time for us to stop them
It is a test. Do we care about the Republic enough to defend the principles of its foundation?
For More Information
Important — A report about political violence at American universities, the epicenter of the inflection: “Intimidation Is the New Normal on Campus” by Jonathan Haidt at the Chronicle of Higher Education — “From now on, any speaker who arouses a protest is at risk of a beating.” It’s the modern equivalent of mobs of sheep in 1984 chanting “Two legs bad, four legs good” — with the dogs growling in the background. For an example of this alarming trend see “Fordham University’s Suppression of Pro-Palestinian Views Shows Why Liberals Should Fight for Free Speech” by Jesse Singal at New York magazine.
If you found this post of use, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Also see these posts about the Berkeley riot, about political violence, about reforming America – steps to a new politics, and especially these…
- What are the odds of violence from the Right in America?
- America isn’t falling like the Roman Empire. It’s falling like Rome’s Republic.
- Fear the rise of political violence in America. We can still stop it.
- Stories of the Left & Right about the Berkeley riot reveal much about us.
- Is the Berkeley riot the start of an uprising by America’s young men?
A reminder from the past. We should pay attention.
Political Violence in the Weimar Republic, 1918-1933: Fight for the Streets and Fear of Civil War
“This book provides a comprehensive analysis of political violence in Weimar Germany with particular emphasis on the political culture from which it emerged. It refutes both the claim that the Bolshevik revolution was the prime cause of violence, and the argument that the First World War’s all-encompassing ‘brutalization’ doomed post-1918 German political life from the very beginning. The study thus contributes to a view of the Weimar Republic as a state in severe crisis but with alternatives to the Nazi takeover.”