Masks on during protests?

[BrainVision]

I think the reason we're not agreeing is I, and most here, are talking about protests and protesters like the Patriot Front, BLM vandals, the Klan, etc.. Those protesters tend to skew towards violence in their actions. They don't deserve the consideration you're willing to give them IMO.

That is a helpful clarification. Thank you. I certainly do not support violent protests or protesters, though I do support the right to freedom of peaceful expression, including for the Patriot Front, the Klan, etc. I do not believe that BLM protesters should be included with those types of groups.

When I have experienced protests and have known protesters, myself; they have almost always been peaceful, regardless of the positions and perspectives being supported. There is even a 25+ year old issue of the FSView with a picture of me on the cover having a friendly conversation with an encamped group of protesters outside of the Bellamy building. I could not have disagreed with their positions more, but I appreciated that the university provided us the space and safety to have that discussion.

I do worry about the potential for harm that my friends, colleagues, and students experience when they join protests, and I encourage them to take whatever steps are possible to reduce that risk of harm, especially as those protests have become more frequent, visible, and controversial. I wish that they would be a bit more cowardly in order to keep themselves safer.

 

[noletaire]

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say more than a few people would find it a tad peculiar that someone would expect the government, or society as a whole, to make it a significant priority to protect masked protesters chanting “death to America” and openly supporting terrorist groups that intentionally murder women and children.