ANALYSIS: Free Rein For Radical Elements Partly to Blame For Protests Turning Hostile
If you ask National Police Association spokeswoman Betsy Smith, Antifa—not the police—seems in charge at many American protests.
Smith stated that political radicals control the streets as politicians have instructed police to stop.
“What we’ve seen since 2014—and then being ramped up after 2020—is this unfortunate atmosphere where Antifa and Antifa-like groups seem to run the show at protests, depending on where you’re at. And law enforcement finds it incredibly frustrating,” She spoke.
She stated that this decision by local governments in the United States has significant consequences for freedoms of speech, freedom of protest and the potential for violence.
Smith claimed that the nation was swept by riots after the 2014 police shooting of Michael Brown and the 2020 death of George Floyd.
Local politicians were often afraid that any police use or alleged use of lethal force by the police would trigger a violent reaction from radicals. She also said that the media tends to report negatively on justified police shootings.
“We are unfortunately in an atmosphere now where the majority of the media is going to side with Antifa. Our federal political leadership is likely to side with Antifa,” Smith.
“Remember, we have been told by the federal government that Antifa doesn’t exist or that they’re just a disorganized group.”
Smith stated that Antifa is often considered less of a threat in Democrat-held areas than police. She said that these politicians expect a gentle hand from protestors of political radicals.
“All of that political leadership that has dominion over local law enforcement, they don’t believe Antifa is crazy,” She spoke. “[Police have] been told for the last two-and-a-half years that we’re bad and we’re the problem, that we’re the ones killing people.”
Smith claims that the wave of violent protests across the country was fueled by left-wing radical groups, which were given full control by local governments.
Smith explained that this has allowed radical, armoured protesters to set rules for the streets in a manner that was previously possible only by law enforcement.
The Epoch Times observed protests in Kenosha (Wisconsin), Knoxville, Tennessee, Katy, Texas, Atlanta, Georgia, Gainesville Florida, Washington, and other locations. The Epoch Times also witnessed how radical activists affected peaceful assembly.
Protest by armed activists is becoming more common in America. Crowds are becoming more aggressive. Veteran reporters report on increased hostility by protest participants.
These differences aren’t just accidental. Radical activists understand protest as exercising physical control on the streets.
This change in focus alters the meaning and purpose of all demonstrations. Radical protest cares less about voicing its opinion than it does about suppressing others’ opinions.
This approach can lead violence. With armed activists on both sides of the street, it’s only a matter time before protests turn deadly.
‘Whose Streets? Our Streets!
Today’s most important protest chant, however, is the phrase “Whose Streets? Our Streets!”
This phrase does not proclaim an opinion. It is a declaration of power.
If they belong to a protest group, they are not citizens or police.
This phrase has been used by protesters all across the country while marching.
Anybody can be threatened by whoever controls the streets. Local residents are often attacked. Businesses face looting. The Epoch Times previously reported that Supreme Court Justices faced weeks-long campaigns in the streets outside of their own homes.
“At the very least, I hope he’s annoyed. I hope he’s very inconvenienced,” Connor protested outside the house of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh,
Protesters may openly disregard the law in certain situations. Sometimes, defiance involves brute force. Sometimes, it’s through the use of brute force.
Protesters stormed the Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2020.
Some of the protesters were accused of bringing firearms to protest. Others used melee weapons such as wooden sticks.
Michigan: Right-wing protestors shouted with bullhorns outside Jocelyn Benson’s home.
“Through threats of violence, intimidation, and bullying, the armed people outside my home and their political allies seek to undermine and silence the will and voices of every voter in this state, no matter who they voted for,” Benson.
After Kyle Rittenhouse’s trial in Kenosha, police ordered a crowd of protestors, including some armed, to keep their march to one road lane.
The police disobeyed the crowd and backed down.
“Come on, man! You can’t tell us how to protest,” One protester from Kenosha told police.
Antifa members attacked a reporter in Knoxville, Tennessee and physically blocked him from the crowd. The Epoch Times was asked by police not to film the incident.
“We just don’t want any problems,” According to Sgt. Sgt. Nate Skellenger, Knoxville Police Department.
It is illegal in Virginia to picket outside of a private residence, or to protest against a judge. For weeks, however, police allowed protestors to march on the residences of Supreme Court justices.
“You can’t picket a specific residence. However, as they march through the neighborhood, they’re not picketing necessarily a specific residence,” He stated. “That’s the tack that they take,” The Epoch Times was told by police Captain Alan Hanson
Smith says that bringing charges against protesters who violate the law helps keep protests civil. Smith said that left-leaning prosecutors are often reluctant to press charges against protesters.
This decision affects officers’ behavior on the streets.
“Why would I arrest somebody who’s breaking the law during a protest when I know that the charges are just gonna get dropped? What’s the point?” Smith asked.
Although police refusing to penalize these acts seems more peaceful, it leaves locals feeling helpless against protesters on the streets.
Many times, businesses and neighbors refuse to comment on the media. If they do comment, they won’t reveal their identities.
“I’m not commenting on anything,” Kenosha’s business owner spoke out, though he declined to comment. “If I say something wrong, my business is gonna get targeted.”
Smith says that Smith can trace the emphasis on street control to anarchist movements in Pacific Northwest. These groups used chants such as “Whose streets? Our streets!” She noted that these political groups joined criminal gangs and Black Lives Matter in the 2020 wave of protests.
“People don’t understand the origins of Black Lives Matter. They don’t really understand what they stand for,” Smith. “They’re a Marxist organization that got infused with an enormous, unthinkable amount of money after the death of George Floyd.”
She said that this money was a rocket fuel for the anarchist movement. She said that although some of the money was lost to grift she claimed that most of it allowed far-left extremists to finance protest travel and bail out activists in jail.
Control the Streets, Control The Narrative
Contrary to traditional protests they are focused on media coverage. They don’t want their participants covered by neutral media.
It is not surprising that protesters are making enormous public protests.
Radical protesters create signs from scratch, dress in special clothing, and organize dozens. They can shout for hours at once. They will often travel in all weather to protest.
However, these protesters are determined to stop fair media coverage. Their actions are only described by friendly eyes.
Left-wing protesters have intimidated or attempted to interfere with Epoch Times journalists in Texas, Tennessee and Florida.
Radical protesters block Epoch Times attempts to photograph them. They force journalists out of the crowds. Control-focused protesters often interfere with reporters trying to interview people.
Radical protesters can make it less likely that news readers across the country will see their public displays by taking these steps. Of course, the media suppresses intimidation, street control and other actions of radical protesters.
This strategy allows radical protesters the opportunity to bully the neighborhood and be the underdog of the nation.
The effects of violent demonstrations on local communities don’t stop with one night of violence.
Smith mentioned that Seattle, Washington was forced to pay $3million to compensate business owners who were impacted by Antifa’s creation of the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone. Seattle was held by the protesters for close to a month, before authorities granted police permission to re-exert their control.
Smith indicated that Chicago’s major business districts, which were hit by the 2020 riots, are still struggling to recover.
“Lori Lightfoot, the former mayor of Chicago, mismanaged the 2020 and 2021 riots and destroyed some of the most beautiful little shopping in the world,” She made the observation.
Smith stated that groups like Antifa can also threaten political freedom. People who fear reprisals from a radical group controlling the streets are not truly free, Smith said.
“Unfortunately now, people in the United States have to balance their speaking their views and worrying about the safety of themselves or their families,” Smith.
Future of Radical Protest
Smith explained that violence has already increased in protests for control of territory.
Antifa, a national network of armed members has made it an increasingly frequent sight at protests.
Their members are known for wearing black clothes and masks. They are responsible to physical violence and property damage. Some are equipped with military-style helmets and bulletproof vests.
The Epoch Times tried reaching Antifa to get comment. The Miami chapter returned a photograph of an Epoch Times reporter who was taken in Washington.
“[Expletive] you. Anti-fascists nationwide know everything about you,” It was read by its email.
Antifa doesn’t represent the only left-wing movement that is interested in building armed network. Various “John Brown Gun Club” Other groups work to arm far-left activists.
The Proud Boys, perhaps the most well-known and popular protest group, can be seen on the right. This right-wing organization also has a nationwide network with armed members.
They wear bulletproof vests and masks at protests. They coordinate their clothes.
According to The Epoch Times, they were involved in street violence as well as property destruction.
The Epoch Times tried to contact them for comment, but they did not respond.
The Salt and Light Brigade and the Three Percenters are other right-wing militias that exist in the country.
These groups all brought weapons to protests.
Three Percenters and the Salt and Light Brigade played an important role in the Jan. 6, 2006 breach of Capitol. Patriot Prayer is now involved in street battles with left-wing protesters.
Smith stated that far-left and far-right armed radical groups have engaged in street fights with one another.
“You can look at some of the things that have happened in Portland and Seattle—where there were protests where the police just sort of didn’t show up—and so you had the alt-right, and you had the far left. And they indeed did lead to violence,” She spoke.
Sometimes, both the Proud Boys as well as Antifa show up at the same protest location armed. They often attend protests with hundreds of innocent bystanders, some even families.
These protests can become shootouts, with children caught in the crossfire, if there is enough spark.
Smith says it is unlikely that local governments will allow protests to spiral out of control indefinitely. Smith said that voters are already tired of the bullying tactics used by radical political groups equipped with guns.
“I think we’re going to start to see the pendulum swing back,” Smith.
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