Demonstrators--Interventions for Agents Provocateur:

[Jackpine Radical]

When agents provocateur show up with unsavory signs (Walker in a Palin-style gunsight, threats of violence, "Screw the Taxpayers," etc., you need to intervene nonviolently, and you need to get your entire interaction on video.

One good response is for more responsible members of the crowd to inform them that their signs are not welcome and politely but firmly request them to put down the signs. You don't fight them for the signs, but if they refuse to surrender them, you surround them with picketers saying something like "This person is a Walker Double Agent" or "Hired Troublemaker" or something like that & follow them around.

[rfranklin]

1. Great idea!

My first impulse would be to grab the sign.

[WhiteTara]

2. That becomes assault and battery

and believe me they use that sort of thing! Never touch them or anything about them (they have cooties you know.)

[Jackpine Radical]

5. When we do anything ugly, they win.

We need to control our instincts.

In this battle, the side with the most self-control wins.


REMEMBER TO GET IT ALL ON VIDEO!!!

[WhiteTara]

9. +1000! n/t

[rucky]

3. We're going to need this advice in Ohio today.

From what I've been hearing, it could get ugly. Or it could be a complete flop because of the snow. :shrug:

[blondeatlast]

4. Great ideas. Make it about the signs, not about the APs. I believe the protests

will remain civil, but the teabaggers will do their level best to cause trouble.

Stand firm, brothers and sisters!

[inademv]

6. More effective would be

for the organizers to get on a national network and tell everyone that those kinds of signs are unacceptable. The main reason why we and others harped on the 'baggers for their Hitler etc signs was because they not once had a leader come on any platform and say that those signs were not welcome at their event or gathering.

[Jackpine Radical]

7. My suggestion and yours arten't mutually exclusive.

However, we don't exactly have free access to the national networks to tell our story. The point of the counterpicketing is that the media can't show the disruptors without showing our objection to them. Sort of like the "Fox Lies" chanting.

Peaceful insurrection is all about theater. Remember Abbie Hoffman wanting to "cry Theatre in the midst of a crowded fire?"

[socialist_n_TN]

8. Kick. This needs to stay on the front page.......

And not just for Wisconsinites. We're going to have more of this type of thing in other states. This is good strategy.

However, a sign that merely states the historical fact that Hitler outlawed labor unions should be OK. It's the truth after all.

[socialist_n_TN]

10. Kick for awareness.............

nm

[SDuderstadt]

11. It's also an example of the...

"fallacy of division", in other words, it infers that because two people share a characteristic, ergo, they must share other (sinister) characteristics. Walker is an idiot and his tactics are wrong on multiple levels, but he is not Hitler.

This kind of smarmy tactic is better left to the Tea Party.

[TaylorWatts]

12. How about carrying a "Walker double agent" with an arrow sign?

[Jackpine Radical]

13. Absolutely.

Or Tea Party Goon. Or all of the above. Maybe even with a little pivoting arrow (easily made) that you can adjust for accuracy of aim.

We need to go in with pre-made signs.