If you look at the public reaction to the PSU protests within their own community compared to those at UCLA and Columbia, choosing to occupy the library definitely hurt them. Like, kudos to them for doing something, but nowhere near the amount of professors and student groups have come out in support of them as those other schools. Part of that is campus culture and engineering students seething because divesting from Boeing hurts their chances at the golden throne, but they also staged the protest in the most likely place to have staff who would otherwise have supported them materially. Which got them attention, but also got them cleared out a hell of a lot quicker.
Interesting analysis. Haven’t been paying granular attention; id have hoped that Portland’s climate would’ve been more amenable to some concerted action across communities.
I would have assumed this too but they essentially pissed off the entire student body because the library is usually seen as neutral ground at worst or a beacon of progress compared to other departments/services at best. They’re usually the first people to come to the support of social causes, trying to stop funding from being slashed, offering services that aren’t really within their expertise because nobody else will, etc.
For students specifically, its where they might go to study if they have no computer or quiet space of their own, rent textbooks they might not be able to afford, get help with research from librarians. Then there’s the sanctity of the books themselves, where even if someone might tolerate graffiti and other vandalism, damaging books in any way or being perceived as someone who might do so flips a switch.
Instead of picking a random class building or an administration building, they essentially occupied friendly territory and united everyone against them, giving the administration an easier excuse to call in the notoriously fascist PPB, since it was being made clear that even students didn’t want them there. They’re organizing clean up crews and even talking about fund raising to replace the equipment destroyed by the protestors while still paying absurd prices for tuition.
EDIT: There was also a lot of mixed messaging and unclear organization. The PSU protestors weren’t laser focused on Palestine and people started independently incorporating a lot of other causes like land back which just confused people or made them seem disingenuous to people who were wanting to figure out what their demands were.
People need to unironically read theory. Basically every significant communist from Lenin to Mao has spoken out against and written about the dangers of adventurism and going ahead of the community/society. Hell, just look at the history of fighting against apartheid. Did the assassination of Hendrik Verwoerd end apartheid in South Africa? No it did not. Apartheid continued for decades afterwards and Dimitri Tsafendas was tortured in prison.
Non-zero chance some fed provocateur seized on the pigmobile arson to try and manifest the “violent Nazi riots” the media has been hysterically screeching about. Real strong blacks rule energy from this “statement”
I’ve also had the displeasure of having to deal with these overwhelmingly white anarchist groups. They’re by and large useless, not to say that anarchists are useless, but these overly sectarian overwhelmingly white jokers completely are.
What they say fuck me for?
I assume communists have sagely recommended not firebombing fraternities.
If you look at the public reaction to the PSU protests within their own community compared to those at UCLA and Columbia, choosing to occupy the library definitely hurt them. Like, kudos to them for doing something, but nowhere near the amount of professors and student groups have come out in support of them as those other schools. Part of that is campus culture and engineering students seething because divesting from Boeing hurts their chances at the golden throne, but they also staged the protest in the most likely place to have staff who would otherwise have supported them materially. Which got them attention, but also got them cleared out a hell of a lot quicker.
Interesting analysis. Haven’t been paying granular attention; id have hoped that Portland’s climate would’ve been more amenable to some concerted action across communities.
I would have assumed this too but they essentially pissed off the entire student body because the library is usually seen as neutral ground at worst or a beacon of progress compared to other departments/services at best. They’re usually the first people to come to the support of social causes, trying to stop funding from being slashed, offering services that aren’t really within their expertise because nobody else will, etc.
For students specifically, its where they might go to study if they have no computer or quiet space of their own, rent textbooks they might not be able to afford, get help with research from librarians. Then there’s the sanctity of the books themselves, where even if someone might tolerate graffiti and other vandalism, damaging books in any way or being perceived as someone who might do so flips a switch.
Instead of picking a random class building or an administration building, they essentially occupied friendly territory and united everyone against them, giving the administration an easier excuse to call in the notoriously fascist PPB, since it was being made clear that even students didn’t want them there. They’re organizing clean up crews and even talking about fund raising to replace the equipment destroyed by the protestors while still paying absurd prices for tuition.
EDIT: There was also a lot of mixed messaging and unclear organization. The PSU protestors weren’t laser focused on Palestine and people started independently incorporating a lot of other causes like land back which just confused people or made them seem disingenuous to people who were wanting to figure out what their demands were.
The people who torch police cars, occupy a library, and then say “fuck communists” don’t have a coherent ideology? you don’t say
People need to unironically read theory. Basically every significant communist from Lenin to Mao has spoken out against and written about the dangers of adventurism and going ahead of the community/society. Hell, just look at the history of fighting against apartheid. Did the assassination of Hendrik Verwoerd end apartheid in South Africa? No it did not. Apartheid continued for decades afterwards and Dimitri Tsafendas was tortured in prison.
Non-zero chance some fed provocateur seized on the pigmobile arson to try and manifest the “violent Nazi riots” the media has been hysterically screeching about. Real strong blacks rule energy from this “statement”
Anyone can claim responsibility for anything
this is all extremely on brand from anarchists in the PNW, no reason to fedjacket.
Eh, I’ve encountered real life anarchist groups with this rhetoric and tactics. It could just be weird insurrectionist types.
I’ve also had the displeasure of having to deal with these overwhelmingly white anarchist groups. They’re by and large useless, not to say that anarchists are useless, but these overly sectarian overwhelmingly white jokers completely are.
Sounds like these people are trying to get them arrested. If you lose the faith of the community you’re a sitting duck.
Certainly. These kids aren’t guerilla warriors and shouldn’t be expected to be.
PPB got called in first, then they moved into the library after the outdoor encampment got cleared, iirc.
Clearing the outdoor encampment was an unforced error, but the protestors in the library defacing books didn’t make them any friends.
Wow typical tankies 🙄
They don’t like people that live outside of Langley