I’m not telling anyone how to protest but I am saying the optics of the police and marines being violent against protestors decked out in red white and blue waving American flags would be undeniably bad…
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Really hope people turn out in Philly! The BEST thing that could happen would be for photos of the military parade in DC, with empty sidewalks & few spectators! Protest peacefully elsewhere!!
This is what we need to spread. You can show your pride for the USA you want to see against the current administration that is trying to tear it all down!
Protesters in LA could make a powerful statement by carrying small American flags, symbolizing their commitment to the freedoms that allow them to express themselves. Their media image would be greatly improved.
I think that would be great as well however I think their image has already been dictated much by the narrative Trump wants to sell. There are those who believe anything he says. Also I think perhaps we are past the point of being concerned with how we are perceived. People are angry and it shows.
I think magats left their concern for bad optics back with their decency and morality in 2016. Marines beating protestors might galvanize the rest of the nation but I don’t thing magats care anymore. They’re nearing their endgame and getting impatient.
Jess I believe this viewpoint cedes ground to white supremacy. We believe in the American Dream, a melting pot where any color or creed gets a fair shot. They believe in white supremacy -- that a Mexican American isn't an American, but a Mexican first, even if a US citizen from birth.
Mexican heritage is a huge part of LA, and its culture, and history, and I'm proud of that, even tho I am not Mexican. American culture is the melting pot! This should be our message, not hiding our heritage.
As a Boricua, we’ve had our flag banned by the govt, I’m not sure how people who claim to be on the side of immigrants don’t understand the cultural significance of flying other countries flags.
Agree. They amplify the Mexican and other foreign flags used by the protestors to amplify their anti-immigrant rhetoric. Go to Fox News. Read the comments. Use it as a guide to protest smarter.
Imagine if American flags were used or former/retired Mexican service members showed up in uniform.
They are gonna shoot at people point blank no matter what optics though? People should hold on to what they’re fighting for, and right now it’s not America, it’s themselves as immigrants in a country of immigrants. You can wave whatever flag you’d like when you take a “less-lethal” at PBR.
I'm a Californian and understand the desire to celebrate our diverse cultural influences and history. But other Californians don't need to be persuaded—the nation as a whole needs to be persuaded. To me, it's a matter of audience at this critical moment.
Right now, the nation is trying to decide whether 🍊 is an overreaching authoritarian or a firm hand responding to a criminal element. to protect our communities that we value from fascism, we need the nation to see it is the former. This may be the weekend when they decide.
🍊 has gone TACO (just today) on the issue of “hard-working immigrants“. Yes, this is about his donors in Big Ag. But we need the nation to see it is also about the people on whose behalf we are protesting and whose treatment has been inhumane. We represent the moral Highground in this argument.
By your logic you’d be upset that if this was happening in the Sunset area of San Francisco and the protesters were flying Irish flags, because that’s its big demo
There are US flags out there, you just don’t notice them because they do t use them to beat up the cops
I’m just thinking of the optics on Fox News. I mean they can Photoshop and AI all they want, and a massive protest filled with American flags would be difficult to hide. Pointing out a Mexican flag just fuels the flame. I’m not saying it’s right, it’s what’s necessary now.
I truly get what you’re saying
Mexican culture is foundational in LA, like Irish in Boston or Polish in Chicago
We all know that FOX will prop only what inflames
Choosing Paramount wasn’t an accident, it’s the middle class Mexican American neighborhood
I’m a Californian… They are my friends and neighbors as well. Saturday I’m bringing an American flag because the United States is under attack. I’m bringing an American flag because my neighbors are under attack. I’m bringing an American flag because my grandparents escaped fascism to live free.
Donald Trump pardoned the criminals who attacked the Joint Session of Congress on 1/6/2021. Why? He wanted to form an army of criminals willing to commit violence at his bidding even if it required violating the Constitution and laws of the USA. These criminals are now ICE deployed bounty-hunters.
If I were organizing a protest in LA, I would tell people to fill their gas tanks, get a cooler of cold drinks, buy a ton of snacks, and just drive around downtown for an hour or two. No law says you can’t drive your car on city streets and a 3 day gridlock would get attention.
Stop with this bullshit. If you're not out there, don't tell people how to protest. It's no secret that white people have ALWAYS told black and brown people to protest in less offensive ways. Do you think MLK and his marchers were welcomed with open arms? They were demonized as rioters.
The fact that you think that the recommendation to use the American flag is about the Mexican flag being “offensive” is alarming. This is a battle for democracy and you don’t care about having a strategy. The US military is coming in and you want to project foreign invasion. This isn’t a parade.
I live in Minneapolis, as I did in 2020. I also lived in Putin’s Moscow. So don’t tell me about being “out there”. Strategy matters. The looting in my neighborhood in 2020 wasn’t helpful.
Hi. Very valid points AND realistically, the enemy controls the narrative. We have to be strategic and move as one with EVERYTHING we do, in an effort to prove their story wrong. Civil Rights gained traction once the truth was televised.
Conversely, all the Marines & guardsmen are legally obligated to be there, under penalty of prison. Probably only a tiny fraction of them, if any, actually want to be there.
ICE gets hotel rooms & per diem; military is sleeping on concrete floors & eating MREs.
Unless & until they actually do anything bad, the military is as much a victim of Trump, Hegseth, & the GOP as the immigrants & protesters are.
The NG are all Californians, if not by birth, then by residency choice. The Marines are from all over, but smth like 10% of them are Californians, too.
I think the thing that matters most here is that we are not seeing law enforcement/military/etc stand up loudly against this.
When they are all pretty silent, they all have to be considered a threat.
We don't know where any of them, collectively, stand. That's terrifying.
While chanting the oath these national guards and Marine took to protect Americans instead of of attacking them. Or repeat the pledge of allegiance over and over while waving American flag and wearing red white blue.
I think a lot of people are missreading this post. It’s about protesters being hurt being a bad look on trumps government and more likely to rally more protestors and unrest.
I stocked up on small flags yesterday. Craft stores have a lot of them on display right now because the 4th of July is coming up soon. You can take extras and hand them out to other protesters.
Even people who opposed civil rights were moved by photos of would-be voters dressed in their Sunday best being assaulted by police officers with hoses, dogs, and nightsticks.
To win public support, we need to show that ICE protesters represent the USA & democracy. The violent suppressors do not.
I agree and if white people want to see American flags, they need to bring them along with our privilege out to the protests. White people dressed in polo and khakis with American flags don't fit the profile.
Worse than shooting a female Australian reporter in the leg while she was reporting? Worse than firing multiple tear gas canisters at a kid with a skateboard? Neither posed a threat, yet they were clearly intentionally fired on.
Here in our part of TN they are requesting that ONLY USA flags be brought. All signs welcome of course, but only the USA flag for this event. It makes sense. Next event, bring out all the flags, but for Flag Day? Old Glory belongs to us as much as it does to them, let's lean into that.
This 100%! Let the MAGAs use the Trump flag. Those of us who are defending the Constitution should be the ones waving the American flag. It really irritates me how the Republicans have highjacked the American flag.
Great idea. It's so important to be strategic in our protests. When we peacefully protested coup memo author, John Eastman, daily for over 13 mos, we had flags everywhere, which was initially cringey for me w/ the MAGA connotation. But that was the point - to take back the definition of patriotism.
I won't be carrying any kind of flag. I only have two hands, and my sign will occupy them. And I won't be buying a new outfit for the protest, either, because I'm poor.
It's a good idea in its own right, because protest is an American right. I'm doubtful it has any long-term salience. As has been pointed out before, the BLM protests were draped in the US flag and nobody thinks about it in those terms.
But imagine what it would look like if all along 47’s parade route folks had flag bedecked signs saying peaceful protest is my right, habeas corpus is the law of the land, in 1776 we fought for no kings, etc. No overt anti stuff — Just the truth. What could they do?
There are people with American flags, the news isn’t showing it for a reason. If y’all want pictures of people with American flags standing off with police, start protesting in your cities. LA is willing to protest for more than a few hours every other weekend, would be nice if others did the same
That’s what I’m saying. Wave the American flag with your signs as you protest. Then if there is a crack down it will look bad for them. They will be attacking American flags. Those pictures will look terrible on the news!
You people have no idea how you as white people NOT in LA, is incredibly offensive and insensitive. If the police or Marines shoot someone it won't be your fucking blood on the flag, regardless if it's a Mexican or American flag. You want that kind of optics go to the Frontline yourself! 😡
I'm in disbelief of the absolute ignorance and racism of people who are supposed to be on our side. They're telling them how to protest to make the racist people more comfortable
No comma it has nothing to do with making racist people comfortable. It has EVERYTHING to do with the way the media is portraying this to the rest of the country. Waving Mexican flags, gives the media which is mostly owned by right wingers exactly the ammo they need to claim invasion.
One thing to NOT do is follow the white kids in keffiyahs....unless they are showing you how to diffuse tear gas. Cause that video was pretty awesome. I'm waiting for the clergy and nuns to be out front which is a tried and true tactic.
It was the optics of the police beating, hosing and downright treating black people like dirt while other white people stood bye calling them obscenities that caused the nation to demand that the Civil Rights Act and equal rights act be written and passed.
Before whitesplaining how the protestors can improve their PR, why not support them as they really are. They're the only ones brave enough to hit the streets, not us.
JESS just stop it. Are you telling people who have been peacefully protesting our horrible immigration policies with these flags for decades to go buy new ones to make white people in the Midwest more comfortable? Learn our culture before speaking on it. Not you too??? 😡
I think it’s about making people -less- comfortable. Seeing a police officer assault someone with an american flag will invoke emotion in another subset of the electorate.
I’m bringing my queer flags, I still don’t have the heart to carry the flag of the country that betrayed us. Like you, I’d rather rep OUR people, the people the MAGA Nazis are trying to eradicate.
but I do understand the project of trying to sway our oppressors, and wish Jess luck on her mission
If it takes an American flag to humanize someone, so be it. The issue is that MAGA doesn’t see protesters as human. I’d love for a flick in the eye to fix the MAGA around me, and am open to trying anything that challenges the status quo.
Baffling: I don't understand why people wave the Mexican flag at an American protest. What's the point? Showing the MX flag may be common in LA but image go beyond LA.
And it's obviously distracting as we're talking about it, instead of talking about the heavy handed fascist tactics.
It's nothing new to us and when we see that flag we know it's a neighbor, co worker or friend who has great parties delicious food and great kids. It's hanging over the Beverly Hills Hilton ffs
That's the whole point people do not understand the culture. The Mexican flag is everywhere here. We are a blended community and our Mexican friends who bring joy and light to our community are under a terrible immigration policy. They have protests often peacefully marching with 🇲🇽 all the time here
Thank you for not suppressing people’s first amendment right like so many others in this space. I truly don’t care what flags they are waving. I have seen plenty of American flags. I have even seen some that are half American and half Mexican.
Yes because you need to learn the culture here 😡 There is a reason why California always votes blue. We embrace and love our diversity. I'm curious, do you live in a red state? If so it shows
If people in red states aren't convinced by the optics of civilians being beaten and terrorized by the police and military then they won't be convinced if those civilians are carrying the American flag.
Yes, much better! Here's a good post about protest as well. "A protest is an invitation to a better world. It’s a ceremony. No one accepts a ceremonial invitation when they’re being screamed at." https://substack.com/@petercoyote1/note/c-124092006
I think you don't understand how red states think. Jess knows as much or more than anyone how red states think and what it takes to reach them. (Red state resident here, happen to LOVE CA but I do understand the distorted lens through which states view CA.) California is a slur here.
She literally led with "I'm not telling protesters how to protest" and then explained the problem with how our red states PERCEIVE it. Use that info or don't use it, but don't be smug, we'd love to have diversity around us but we are trying to bloom where we are planted.
You are 💯 on this. They should carry what they like, but as someone who lives in the deep south. Carrying flags of other nations riles these Maga types up and shuts their limited minds down. That's just an observation of reality.
You are scolding brave protesters, full stop. The most successful modern protests in this country were the anti-war Vietnam protests and the BLM protests. Those protesters did not dress like JAN 6th felons. You are recommending that anti-ICE/anti-fascist protesters dress like Jan 6th felons.
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Imagine if American flags were used or former/retired Mexican service members showed up in uniform.
There are US flags out there, you just don’t notice them because they do t use them to beat up the cops
Mexican culture is foundational in LA, like Irish in Boston or Polish in Chicago
We all know that FOX will prop only what inflames
Choosing Paramount wasn’t an accident, it’s the middle class Mexican American neighborhood
And that beef consumé!
Maybe go find a bigger problem to worry about.
Anyone in LE is free to simply refuse to participate, or even just quit, if they don't like what's happening.
Every single one of them is there voluntarily, not just generally, but also specifically, for this mission.
ICE gets hotel rooms & per diem; military is sleeping on concrete floors & eating MREs.
The NG are all Californians, if not by birth, then by residency choice. The Marines are from all over, but smth like 10% of them are Californians, too.
When they are all pretty silent, they all have to be considered a threat.
We don't know where any of them, collectively, stand. That's terrifying.
v
Anti-Constitution
Every grievance can be resolved if feet on the street agree to unify in solidarity, to achieve the higher goal.
Pro-Constitution demonstrations of care & compassion are positive, peaceful & patriotic.
Msm want factions; don’t give them division!
The only thing that should be roasting are republican asses.
Nobody cares if you’re waving an Israelí flag.
Nobody cares if you’re waving an Italian flag 🇮🇹
But the Latinos waving their flags on land, cities, and neighborhoods that belonged to them is the problem?
Please learn history and immigration laws.
To win public support, we need to show that ICE protesters represent the USA & democracy. The violent suppressors do not.
Do you see that? Nationalism. It's why ICE exists.
You want more MAGA? Cover yourself in Ameircan flags.
Want a safe world? Protest for universal human rights.
Don't ask for you what you can't get back. Make them respect what you've got.
https://bsky.app/profile/brewjew308.bsky.social/post/3lr7lxozaks2x
Do riot for the love of country
He did not serve for what is happening and we are claiming the flag.
Im going to buy a few more smaller ones this week to hand out.
The clothes and the flag are less important than what the protesters do when cops arrest and/or attack them.
When they 👀 cops will arrest someone, they should all be still, all be silent and sit down.
#CivilDisobedience
This is a good idea.👆
Make it obvious who they are fighting.
Their fellow Americans!!!
#LAStrong
#NoKings
Love and Peace vs Brute Force
Bringing a Mexican flag is one good tactic
Bringing an American flag is another good tactic
They both address different goals that can coexist. The resistance is wide, there is room for all
but I do understand the project of trying to sway our oppressors, and wish Jess luck on her mission
Baffling: I don't understand why people wave the Mexican flag at an American protest. What's the point? Showing the MX flag may be common in LA but image go beyond LA.
And it's obviously distracting as we're talking about it, instead of talking about the heavy handed fascist tactics.
I've asked multiple people to explain the point of waving the Mexican flag. No-one can explain it.
It would help to have more American flags. We should not cede that to the right wing. They betray the country.
I've not told anyone not to wave the Mexican flag.
I've asked why wave the Mexican flag at an American protest? And pointed out it would help to show American flags.
If you can't answer the question, fine. But lying about me is not fine.
What's the actual point in waving the Mexican flag at these protests?
The country extends beyond LA. Do you understand that? We don't all fly Mexican flags.
At the least, have some American flags there. Don't let the right wing own it.
It doesn't. There's the rest of the country watching and it is not a good look to show more loyalty to Mexico than the USA.
Saying this is no insult to Mexican-Americans. It's asking for wiser actions.
https://substack.com/@petercoyote1/note/c-124092006
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If you're not opposed to the idea being presented, why are you being oppositional?
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But will be carrying my American flag!