Black Lives Matter to Disrupt Twin Cities Marathon

[ellenrr]

What does anyone think about this?
I think - of course black people not being shot by police is more important than runners finishing a marathon, but exactly how are the two related?
If the runners do not finish the marathon, does that mean that less Black people are killed by the cops?

"The organization [BLM] hopes to draw attention to recent cases of what it alleges is police brutality."

But it seems to me that the only thing that attention will be called to is that some people have interrupted a marathon.

thoughts?

http://www.runnersworld.com/races/black-lives-matter-says-it-plans-to-disrupt-twin-cities-marathon

[KamaAina]

1. We're all over it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027212474

My thought is that the choice of a marathon as the target is rather macabre, given what happened in Boston a few years ago.

[madinmaryland]

21. Well...

Given the annoying attitudes of some Boston fans, I don't think much about that, since they have become a bit deflated. Besides, they probably have me on ignore!!

[KamaAina]

32. Ouch.

I expected better of you, for some reason.

[Travis_0004]

2. The marathon is a non profit that has raised tons of money

Money that helps many important causes.

Runners have trained for months or years for this.

Disrupting it is stupid.

[ananda]

3. As I've said before ...

If BLM were smart about this, they would just ask
people to wear BLM inititals on a volunteer basis.

They don't need to disrupt this event at all.

[Travis_0004]

6. Or voulnteer in large numbers to help the martahoners

Sponsor a water stop, bring some snacks, line the route to support runners along the way.

[ChazII]

24. Agree 100%. n/t

[Jim Beard]

34. Same here

Disrupting will bring negative attention.

[ananda]

56. Good idea!

..

[Agnosticsherbet]

4. I think they are saying this type of normal life is impossible for people of color.

So, yes, that makes this a good protest.

[cwydro]

5. You do know that people of color run in marathons right?

It's not a white event.

[Agnosticsherbet]

7. the majority of people of color are more concerned with being shot.

They do not live normal lives from the middle class white perspective, ever.

The argument that some of them run is not a valid argument.

[cwydro]

12. "The majority of people of color are more concerned with being shot."

You really believe that black Americans do not live "normal" lives?

Really, the majority?

I work in a majority black workplace, and our conversations are pretty much the same as to what we think and worry about.

There are black middle class Americans, wealthy black Americans, poor black Americans, and those who live law-abiding lives have a lot in common with Americans of every ethnic background who live law-abiding lives.

[tishaLA]

18. law abiding black folks of every socioeconomic group are nonetheless shot down

in cold blood. It doesn't matter that they obeyed the law. It doesn't matter that they were middle class or even wealthy. It doesn't matter that they, or their parents, had saved up money for a down payment on a house and made mortgage payments on time for years. It doesn't mater that they won the 5th grade spelling bee and ended up at Bryn Mawr or Stanford or the University of Chicago.

None of that matters. What matters is the fact of blalckness.

I'd also say that, as with many other groups, there are conversations that occur among black folks that outsiders aren't privy to so while people may appear to be "pretty much the same," some things remain unsaid and often unspeakable.

[romanic]

43. I just cannot fathom this type of thinking.

The line of thinking that black people or other minorities "do not live normal lives". smh

[HERVEPA]

8. I believe the Kenyans that run are actually white and wear blackface.

What a stupid idea for a protest

[TeddyR]

19. Yup

[LanternWaste]

10. Marathons are more segregated than Lynyrd Skynyrd concerts.

Marathons are yet more segregated than Lynyrd Skynyrd concerts. Running USA's biannual National Runner Survey, reveals that only 1.6% of marathon runners in America are African-American, compared with 90% Caucasian, 5.1% Hispanic and 3.9% Asian/Pacific Islander).

[cwydro]

11. I run in 5Ks all the time.

There are lots of black runners.

I can't speak as much for marathons since I've not run one, but I've never been to a race without black runners and volunteers.

Believe me, in these high profile marathons, the most elite runners are usually people of color.

[Travis_0004]

30. Perhaps true, but is that relevant?

I agree with you that marathons are mostly white, but that doesn't mean that the twin cities marathon is racist. Running is a sport open to everybody. Perhaps there are factors at play that cause marathons to be 90% white, but I don't blame that on the marathon itself. BLM has presented no evidence that the race is against black people, or isn't allowing them to participate.

[Bonx]

9. "this type of normal life is impossible for people of color."

No it's not. That's just wrong.

[jberryhill]

14. What utter horseshit

The men & women's winners of this year's Boston marathon:

[cwydro]

16. Thank you.

I responded once to the poster, but won't do so again.

[Travis_0004]

31. The statistics are true

One quote I've heard about marathons:

"The only reason marathons are still around is so 20,000 white people can chase three black guys through the streets of Boston like the good old days."

I agree with the poster, that marathons are mostly white, although winners are quite often black. I don't think that that automatically makes anything about is racist. An event should be open to all people (and I have no reason to believe Twin cities Marathon is not). I wouldn't care if a marathon field was 99% black, or 99% white, as long as it it open and welcoming to all who wish to participate. I'm sure there are social and economic issues at play causing marathons to be largely white, but that is a factor over which twin ciites marathon has no control.

[geek tragedy]

17. if that's their argument, it's an idiotic argument nt

[Shankapotomus]

41. Really?

Are you sure you want to argue African Americans are denied access to sporting contests?

[tabasco]

13. They're starting to behave like a CIA agitprop group

designed the make people hate them.

[Jesus Malverde]

26. More like the FBI's Co-Intel Program

Agreed....the actions are made to discredit a movement. I'm struck by the lack of a specific legislative agenda or plan.

The BLM movement started as a hashtag on twitter, a leaderless movement like Anonymous. These self appointed leaders seem to be doing everything they can to take a popular movement and make it a laughingstock.

[Skittles]

33. yup

exactly right

[Jim Beard]

35. Once again

I agree

[Nye Bevan]

15. Attempting to make a political statement by disrupting the finish of a major marathon?

Where in the world did they come up with such a concept?

[demmiblue]

22. Wow... comparing this with the Boston Marathon bombing?

Sure, you didn't say it... but we all know exactly what you meant. Sick.

[Nye Bevan]

23. Choosing to protest in a way that will inevitably evoke memories of a recent terrorist atrocity

is, indeed, "sick".

[Jesus Malverde]

29. Yep...nt

[mike dub]

20. What a stupid idea

runners are pretty worn out at the end of "26.2". Disrupting runners on the course --if that's what BLM is thinking-- would be physically hazardous to the runners and BLM as well. Although I was running, I didn't have much coordination left at my finish at Boston several years back, as well as while finishing several Walt Disney World Marathon. I had tunnel vision one time. Stupid to disrupt runners at all, but at the finish would be even more dumb, if that's possible.

[LittleBlue]

25. Good. Eventually people are going to get sick of them and start using the police.

How many other groups would be able to trespass and disrupt a marathon with no consequences? Not many. Just like they had no respect for the people at Bernie's Seattle event, they have no respect for the people in this marathon. Many of these participants don't even live in this country, and the top runners are mostly African. What do they have to do with Mike Brown?

They have been allowed to engage in antisocial, harassing behavior under the banner of civil rights.

[Jim Beard]

36. That event with Bernie

had very negative impact. There are those who deny it but it definitely did.

[LiberalElite]

27. I do not see how this

advances the cause or gets people to join it. I believe it will only cause resentment.

[840high]

40. Exactly.

[hifiguy]

57. It will result in a lot of people cheering on the cops.

I do not believe this has been thought through well at all.

[tularetom]

28. They're hoping for a big confrontation with lots of cops busting heads and thereby gaining support

But it won't work. A sporting event is such an unlikely target for such a protest that they will just wind up pissing people off and driving away potential supporters.

If they keep up this kind of crap, in six months nobody will even remember them.

[Cheese Sandwich]

37. Easy solution to prevent these disruptions: USA reign in your murderous abusive police forces

Figure out a way. Teach the cops their job is to protect people and stop treating people like criminals. Quit escalating situations for no reason.

We need major reforms right away. Act like it is an emergency. Act like it's a big bank crashing and it needs bailed out like right now. OK maybe not that fast, but within a few months there should be a way of advancing major proposals for reform.

And if it can't pass, then raise a people's movement to force the government to act.

I know the problems go well beyond just policing. It's in the courts, the attorneys etc.

But the police issue is highly visible and really sparked the wave of protest.

We need a leader who will call up a people's movement to force major reforms on this issue as on so many others.

I voted for Obama hoping he would be that leader.

Don't hate the messenger.

The protests must disrupt because NOBODY PAYS ANY ATTENTION TO THEM UNTIL THEY DISRUPT DAILY LIFE.

[Egnever]

38. Short sighted IMHO

there are plenty of ways to cause disruption. Targeting events that piss off your allies and harden your opponents against your cause is not the way.

It is their choice to make to be sure but this looks like another bad one to me.

[cwydro]

46. So eight years with a black president, and no change came about, huh?

Black attorney general and nothing.

No one is protesting him though. All very curious imo.

[Snobblevitch]

39. If the St. Paul BMI people interfere with the race,

those in violation of the law will be detained and arrested. They will likely not be prosecuted i oredict the turnout for such protesters will be low enough, that if arrests are made, they will be few.

[Democat]

42. Westboro Baptist Church

If BLM is just going to pull random stunts to get attention, they risk becoming as effective as Westboro Baptist Church.

[romanic]

44. The "response" from the St. Paul chapter made me snicker.

The St. Paul group’s spokesman, Rashad Turner, declined an interview request but sent a text quoting Martin Luther King Jr. saying that “the Negro’s great stumbling block to freedom…is the white moderate who is more devoted to order than justice…who constantly says, ‘I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can’t agree with your methods of direct action.’?”

http://www.startribune.com/black-lives-matter-protest-plan-stirs-fear-spurs-backlash/330034841/

Such arrogance.

[Vinca]

45. They seem to have a knack for disupting events that will only amount to

pissing off people who probably support their cause. I don't get it.

[AngryOldDem]

47. People can get seriously hurt. Could that be the point of all this?

As a runner I have seen, and have very nearly been involved in, collisions while either in the middle of the course or at the end. Depending on the field and the last few yards heading toward the finish line chute, the end of a race can be jammed or it could be spread out. Either way, if someone suddenly enters your path it is extremely difficult to avoid them, especially if you are running at a pretty good pace. Marathoners tend to settle into a pace, or zone, which makes any kind of course blockage all the more dangerous.

Just a stupid, bullshit, grandstanding move on the part of Black Lives Matter. You won't gain friends nor influence people by pissing them off or putting them at risk of injury; I don't care how righteous your cause is.

[jwirr]

48. First they want to bring attention to their cause. So will this

event do the job? I live in MN and I did not even know there was a marathon or anything else about it. It will certainly bring local attention in the Twin Cities media but I wonder how much further. We will have to see.

Secondly is this the local BLM group? If so they know what they are doing and will most likely have a plan of action. They did a good job when they stopped the trains a while back. We will see.

Finally I like the idea of working with the marathon to wear black arm bands. Maybe let BLM enter the race somewhere along the route and join in the race. This would not "disrupt" but would get attention. We will see.

When is this supposed to take place?

[workinclasszero]

49. Its a big public event

with news media present.

I see their logic.


Where should they hold a protest? Out in the middle of a corn field??

[Egnever]

50. How about in front of police stations and courthouses

You know the places that are meeting out a lot of the injustice

Sadly they don't seem to actually want to protest the people targeting them . it seems they are only willing to protest potential Allies.

I would be more than willing to help protest a police station or jail but you can count me out at sporting events and Democratic political rallies. When they start protesting Republicans I might get on board but I have yet to see any protest of the obvious antagonists.

[Fumesucker]

51. Those aren't the ones passing the laws

They should be protesting in front of the legislative chambers and the governor's mansions, that's where the sausage is made.

[Egnever]

52. That would work as well

Marathons not so much.

[workinclasszero]

53. I disagree

Well to do white people make up most of these races, I bet. Working class people got two or three jobs and no time for stuff like this.

These people may not be the ones pulling the trigger but they are all comfortable with it going on all around them. So BLM is going to shake up their insulated little cocoons.

Poor babies. At least they don't have to worry about their kids getting gunned down in the streets on the way to the store, you know?

[romanic]

55. How do you know that they're "comfortable" with it?

[MineralMan]

54. I'd like to see BLM protest at the next "line of duty" police funeral.

Those usually involve a long procession through the streets and a huge police turnout at the funeral venue, including law enforcement people from outside of the city where the death occurred.

The protest could occur somewhere along that route or outside the place where the funeral was held. Take the protest to a place where the people the protest is aimed at are present in large numbers. I think that would bring the point home far better than blocking runners in a marathon, who have nothing to do with police violence against people of color.

It would also get tons of publicity and would be heavily covered with news video. It would need to be a picketing sort of event, though, and non-violent, but it would be an excellent choice for a protest on this issue, I think. Extensive video recording of the whole thing would be a must, though, just in case. There would be a serious risk of anger on the part of the law enforcement people at the funeral, but the point would be made and made publicly.

[randome]

58. Heh.

"Our plan is just to disrupt business as usual and try to create as much awareness as possible," Turner told Runner's World. "Our hopes are that when the marathon runners reach us at the finish line, instead of being more concerned with finishing the marathon, that they’ve been able to do some critical thinking throughout this week and understand how powerful it would be if we all stood together in solidarity against the injustices that are plaguing our society and plaguing the community right here in St. Paul, Minnesota.”

Apparently the 'critical thinking' Turner is hoping to promulgate doesn't extend to him or his compatriots.

This is a dumb idea. Hoping for change by 'raising awareness' requires the least amount of effort. As with other relatively recent protests, without concrete goals and methods, nothing will change. Or if there is change, it will be a deadly slow process.
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