If you're at a protest, and see people hiding their faces...

[arcane1]

do what I have been doing since 2003: Ignore and shun them! Whether they be cops or assholes, it doesn't matter. Face-hiding should be SHUNNED as a matter of principle.

If you're a peaceful protester who would rather not be recognized, put on a freakin' hat and sunglasses. Do NOT TRUST anyone who is too cowardly to show their face.

*end rant*

[TheWraith]

1. Putting on a hat and sunglasses IS hiding your face.

This isn't rocket science.

[arcane1]

3. A hat and sunglasses are standard for outdoor daytime events.

Most people wear such things in that environment. It's the bandanas and masks that I have a problem with.

Once you accept people who hide their identities, you open the doors for people starting bullshit.

[TheWraith]

10. My point is, "not being recognized" is the same as hiding your face.

Whether you accomplish that with a bandanna or a hat and sunglasses, it's the same net effect.

[arcane1]

12. My point: If you dress in black and hide your face with a bandana...

I won't trust you.


I have a feeling we actually agree

[Luminous Animal]

21. Most of the people who hide their faces are not part of black bloc.

Most are the working poor who can't afford to lose their jobs.

[madokie]

4. but its not the same as a mask like I seen some of the perpetrators in LA have on their faces

I think those were more than likely special ops doing their job to spread hate and discontent towards OWS

[TheWraith]

9. And I seriously doubt that. nt

[Luminous Animal]

2. I know several people who hide their faces to ensure that they won't get

fired from their jobs. They are not cowards.

[wundermaus]

7. I completely agree.

Hiding your identity is fair game.
The criminals will only use your identity to screw with your life.
Don't make it easy for them.
end of my "rant"

[EFerrari]

24. "Fair game" means a fair target.

I think you mean the opposite, that hiding your face is a fair tactic to protect yourself.

[provis99]

8. they're AFRAID. and they didn't deal with it.

That's the very definition of cowardice.

[Luminous Animal]

18. So, I guess Sam Adams and the Sons of Liberty were cowards.

Haha! Let's see how long you can pay your rent and eat without a job.

[JDPriestly]

22. No one should need to hide their face in a demonstration today.

It is because of the experiences of Sam Adams and the Sons of Liberty and many like them who risked terrible consequences for speaking and standing up to the British that we have the First Amendment.

[Luminous Animal]

27. No one should but there are very real reasons they would.

[provis99]

33. Sam Adams and the Sons of Liberty were right wing assholes.

so they were probably cowards, too.

[idiotgardener]

5. It's the old "what are they hiding" theme, just reworked...

[quinnox]

6. try telling that to women

in many middle eastern countries. Just because its not traditional in America doesn't mean its wrong. Who gives a fig if someone hides their freakin' face, maybe they don't want homeland security opening up a file on them as a potential "terrorist", who knows and who cares.

[arcane1]

11. I'm speaking of peaceful protests in the USA

In my experience, not all face-hiders are trouble-makers, but all trouble-makers are face-hiders. I make every effort to avoid them when I am attending a peaceful protest, based on experience.

I was out there dressed like freakin' JESUS protesting the inhumanity of illegal war, and every time I saw a hidden face, I saw people trying to lure the march off-route, or breaking windows, or otherwise making it worse for the rest of us.

I get it. I work at a god-damned BANK fer cryin' out loud! But when I am at a peaceful protest, I trust nobody who hides their face. Can you blame me??

[nobodyspecial]

16. You probably don't want to bring up that bank thing around here.

Many posters aren't very nice about such things.

[Luminous Animal]

19. Cops have notebooks of photos of Occupiers they want to target...

The cops pull those they identify as potential leaders out of protests and arrest them.

[riderinthestorm]

26. It IS wrong! It's a misogynistic practice designed to erase women

Regardless of the implications for protest and the negative associations we have in the west about mask wearers, women who are also masked are purposefully erased from society.

It's all wrong.

[Raine]

13. I don't agree, often people have a legitmate reason

for wanting to remain anonymous.

[backscatter712]

14. Black Bloc was created to counter police snatch squads.

C'mon everyone, we all know the tactics.

The pigs have cameras everywhere, filming everyone, and getting pictures of everyone's faces.

Then the snatch squads come out. Half a dozen to a dozen cops, in riot gear, with batons & pepper spray ready, built like linebackers, charge into the crowd, targeting the "ringleaders". You know, people with bullhorns, people leading chants or making speeches. The horrible violent act of exercising free-speech rights. They target those people, grab them, drag them back behind the police phalanxes, beat the shit out of him, arrest him, throw him in jail, and charge-stack the shit out of him to keep him locked up at least until the lawyers call out the police horseshit and get the charges dropped.

In response, well, what's a common-sense tactic to counter snatch squads? Cover your faces. When all the police can see are a sea of black hankerchiefs and Guy Fawkes masks, it's hard to pick targeted rabble-rousers out of the crowd, isn't it?

TL;DR: The OP is an idiot!

[arcane1]

15. Idiot? You perfectly justified my OP! :)

They get pictures of faces while they hide their own

[Luminous Animal]

20. +1000

We have a right to be anonymous.

[lonestarnot]

17. Whateva.

There may be some there that risk a job by being there so I will do no such thing!

[arcane1]

23. These awesome thought-provoking replies still beg the question:

How do we differentiate the cops and the provocateurs and the assholes???

I admit, I have no idea

[EFerrari]

25. The only thing I can think of is to out collect them as far as intelligence goes.

If you see someone stirring the pot, have cameras ready to cover them. Maybe you can't stop them at the moment but you can out them after or otherwise deal with them.

[DCKit]

28. And be sure to cover your name tag and badge number with black electrical tape.

Seriously, if I were in a protest with people whose faces were covered, I'd get as far away from them as I could.... after pointing my finger and doing that screechy-moany howl from "Invasion of the Body Snatchers".

[Leopolds Ghost]

29. Um, folks do realize Anønymous (broadly speaking) did a lot of Occupy organizing?

The unions sure as shit weren't able to pull something like this in two weeks' or two months' notice.

And I'd be far less eager to support Occupy if it were being coordinated by the usual hard-left assholes that run every other protest. You know, the professional activists that have their own private political parties and manifestos and hire each other for... union jobs and social service positions

THEY are the ones who constantly crow about how they go to every protest and have no need to fear losing their job.

What does that say about this country when internet activists and culture jammers on forums like Reddit and Twitter are more efficient than unions?

Not that anyone is prescribing that people mask up or anything... masking up to "show you're anønymous" is stupid but trying to avoid being filmed without permission is exceedingly smart. Just today I had my photo taken by a suspicious-looking gentleman while interviewing an activist involved in Occupy. And I'm exceedingly moderate compared to some folks. How would YOU feel if you were put on a police database, middle-of-the-road DUers?

No, the reason these vandal guys are assholes is because of WHY they didn't want to be filmed, not the fact that they didn't want to be filmed. Causation != correlation!

[T S Justly]

30. If you're at a protest, you're under no obligation to help the police ID you, or satisfy

These kinds of ridiculous demands. At Occupy, I understand consensus is the thing. Though,
if you're demanding sunglasses and fedoras, don't forget the fake noses and mustaches.

[Rex]

31. People that hide their faces have something to hide from you.

I totally agree...ninja mask, riot armor helm, hoodie and a bandana covering their mouth and nose. They have an agenda and it will be violent no matter what side they are on. Maybe not in the beginning, but eventually.

[flvegan]

32. Depends on the protest.

What works for Occupy may or may not work for folks that might be branded as terrorists for showing up for a simple protest.

For the uneducated, Google AETA. Enjoy. As I was, you are. As I am, you will be.

[hobbit709]

34. Does that include the police behind their shields?

And the tape over their badges?

[deaniac21]

35. What about

[link:|