Black Lives Matter plans to disrupt Twin Cities Marathon

pepper spray won't work wrote:

And would the answer change if it were a different interest group, say, disabled veterans trying to draw attention to the problems at the VA? Set aside whether you think disabled veterans would resort to this tactic. To the extent that this second scenario gives people more pause than the first, *that's* the core bias that I think the BLM movement wants to expose.

That is like a hyper-strawman.

You can't just suspend reality in 20 different ways and then try to make a point using an unrealistic hypothetical.

"So you don't consider yourself a murderer, huh? Well, what if mowing your grass was considered murder? Set aside whether you agree that mowing your grass is murder... just go with it. So mowing your grass is now murder. Are you a murderer? YOU ARE!! YOU TERRIBLE MURDERER!!!"

Disabled vets have lost mobility and body parts defending the country. They wouldn't protest in such a meaningless way. They are a virtuous group. While others politicize them, they themselves are famously non-political. That is absolutely relevant to why people wouldn't disrespect them.

You are comparing them to a group of rabble-rousers who intentionally cause trouble for the sake of causing trouble.

Apples and oranges, buddy.

Along these same lines couldn't we as supporters of those running help to get more volunteers to the race? Surely, the race director wouldn't mind a few dozen extra people to stand along the course and help keep it safe for everyone involved... Hey, Letsrun, throw in some t-shirts and get yourself some almost-free press!

No, you're wrong wrote:

That is absolutely relevant to why people wouldn't disrespect them.

You are comparing them to a group of rabble-rousers who intentionally cause trouble for the sake of causing trouble.

Apples and oranges, buddy.

OK, just be sure to wear a shirt that says "The only reason I'm stepping on these people is because I don't respect their tactics". Because that's not the narrative (spin!) that will emerge from a photo of dozens of privileged white runners with their shoes on the backs of passive black protesters, while they scream out in staged or real pain, in order to continue a trivial sporting event. No, the result will be a galvanizing moment that they will say proves their cause.

If I were running TCM this year, I'd have a mental plan at all points on the course to duck over into sidelines to get around any obstruction on the ground. The race director is not going to disqualify you for that.

Best way to defeat the tactic (if it can't be prevented) will be to let them lie in the road while the runners seamlessly skirt around them, until they get bored and tired of the little asphalt crumbles sticking into their faces.

Here is a statement from St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman posted on the city's website:

“Over the last several months, Black Lives Matter has conducted numerous demonstrations in the City of Saint Paul designed to disrupt traffic, deter people from getting to the State Fair and shut down the Green Line. While these events have likely inconvenienced some people, the protests have not led to any significant issues, no serious injuries and no arrests. The Saint Paul Police Department has done an exceptional job of balancing the rights of protesters to be heard and the public to be safe.

“Now leaders of Black Lives Matter in Saint Paul have stated their intent to ‘shut down the Twin Cities Marathon.’ While we are no less committed to the right to peacefully protest, these threatened actions pose an unacceptable risk to runners, spectators and protesters themselves. To paraphrase an old adage, the right of anyone to protest ends at another's nose, or, in this case, someone else's feet. Therefore, I have asked Chief Smith to keep all options on the table to prevent disruption of the race or prevent runners from finishing the marathon.

“I have also reached out to Saint Paul leaders of Black Lives Matter and hope to meet with them prior to Sunday. It is my desire to understand more fully what specific steps they are asking the City of Saint Paul and the Saint Paul Police Department to take to address their concerns. Recent incidents cited by the group’s leadership are currently under review. I am confident Chief Smith will address these matters appropriately. And I also believe it is important for leaders of Black Lives Matter to understand the extraordinary efforts Chief Smith and the department have taken to address issues of racial equity.

“Saint Paul has a long history of resolving disputes peacefully and successfully, including a long history of working directly with community leaders to take corrective action in City and police practices. We remain committed to doing so.”

This is a view of the BLM protesters marching up Snelling Avenue towards of MN State Fair earlier this month. Taken from the Space Tower at the Fair. They will undoubtedly have enough people to block a road.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k235/MedialMeniscus/spacetowerBLM_zpsftns3gey.jpg

Rufus Washington wrote:

I wish these protesters had real balls and disrupt an NBA game.

Are you kidding? Most NBA players are black! Their lives DO matter! It's while people's lives that do not matter.

asfddadafadadfs wrote:

douglas burke wrote:

I never hear about law abiding black people being beaten harassed by police, example you don't see stories like Dr. Ben Carson was getting the morning paper from his driveway when cops drove by drew their guns had him get on the ground and arrested him, then let him go saying they had mistaken identity, or Sherriff David Clarke was driving in his personal car without a uniform on, so cops stopped him and ruffed him up.

Exactly what you're saying never happens to law-abiding black Americans just happened to retired tennis star James Blake.

BLM didn't rally for Blake. They were smart enough to know he would probably tell them not to do so in his name.

I'm running, and this is my plan. Police have now made clear that they are willing to arrest those that interfere (i.e. block the road), but even if they don't and there is an obstruction, it's as simple as ducking out of the course and running around it. Police won't tolerate protesters on private property so option A for me is to duck out and run on someone's lawn for a few yards. If the going gets really rough, I have no problem with option B: duck out at an intersection, run a block or two around the mess and cut back in. So I ran 26.75 miles? No biggie.

I think BLM St. Paul has done a fabulous job of getting their name out there this week...mission accomplished. However, nothing is going to come of this planned blockage and nothing is going to stop 10,000+ runners from finishing.

MedialMeniscus wrote:

This is a view of the BLM protesters marching up Snelling Avenue towards of MN State Fair earlier this month. Taken from the Space Tower at the Fair. They will undoubtedly have enough people to block a road.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k235/MedialMeniscus/spacetowerBLM_zpsftns3gey.jpg

Difference is that cars have nowhere else to go. They can't move over to the oncoming lane of traffic. A runner can and will. No way that they can block the entirety of Summit Ave. without stepping onto private property and the Police won't tolerate that. Easy for runners to go around this (or through it!).

The BLM movement is misguided, and by design. If they really want to effect change they should mobilize on every street corner in the inner city, where gang violence and drug dealing kills far more black lives than a few over zealous (in some cases) cops. But its really not about "black lives" is it?

They want to stay relevant, but its a losing battle.

AnotherLocalRunner wrote:

StPaulRunner wrote:

+3

+4

+5

Update: St. Paul vows arrests if Twin Cities Marathon disrupted

Thank you St. Paul!

Glad we might get some protection because honestly when I finish any marathon I am at my weakest. I truthfully am not running through anyone. It would be very easy to topple me over.

I'm a different person rested but not at the end of my marathon. Someone 1/2 my size probably could knock me down at that point of the race. So I really couldn't put up much of a fight.

asfddadafadadfs wrote:

douglas burke wrote:

I never hear about law abiding black people being beaten harassed by police, example you don't see stories like Dr. Ben Carson was getting the morning paper from his driveway when cops drove by drew their guns had him get on the ground and arrested him, then let him go saying they had mistaken identity, or Sherriff David Clarke was driving in his personal car without a uniform on, so cops stopped him and ruffed him up.

Exactly what you're saying never happens to law-abiding black Americans just happened to retired tennis star James Blake.

That NYPD cop had a history targeting blacks. He is currently assigned to desk duty, pending further legal proceedings. I hope they throw the book at him.

A Typical LRC A-hole wrote:

Rufus Washington wrote:

I wish these protesters had real balls and disrupt an NBA game.

Are you kidding? Most NBA players are black! Their lives DO matter! It's while people's lives that do not matter.

If BLM were to disrupt a NASCAR event...Uh oh.

One way to end BLM wrote:

A Typical LRC A-hole wrote:

Are you kidding? Most NBA players are black! Their lives DO matter! It's while people's lives that do not matter.

If BLM were to disrupt a NASCAR event...Uh oh.

Good point. I would LOVE to see that! In fact, that is probably the only circumstance under which I could see myself paying to watch NASCAR.

More rednecks here, I suspect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSpnipGY0to

asfddadafadadfs wrote:

douglas burke wrote:

I never hear about law abiding black people being beaten harassed by police, example you don't see stories like Dr. Ben Carson was getting the morning paper from his driveway when cops drove by drew their guns had him get on the ground and arrested him, then let him go saying they had mistaken identity, or Sherriff David Clarke was driving in his personal car without a uniform on, so cops stopped him and ruffed him up.

Exactly what you're saying never happens to law-abiding black Americans just happened to retired tennis star James Blake.

Good example of where the cops were CLEARLY in the wrong, it still seems the overwhelming majority of these cases the person was doing a crime.

On another note, if there are so many racist cops, why are these incidents not happening (in any significant number, I am sure there are a few cases) to Japanese/Asian Americans? they are racially different and if there are so many racist cops you would think these negative incidents would happen regularly in areas where there are lots of Japanese, Chinese, Koreans and others of Asian decent.