Forum Post: *ON SELF DEFENSE*

This is in response to another poster who brought up the point that there is legal precedence that allows protestors to defend themselves physically from unlawful arrest:

Certainly some great points have been made here for both sides. However, I believe that this occupation requires strategic thinking. Let me make it clear that I believe in self defense, but if the police attack protestors and the protestors retaliate, even in self defense, then the police will escalate their use of force. First pepper spray and batons, then riot gear and tear gas, then water cannons and rubber bullets, and eventually it may even be live ammunition. We can fight back without physical force! Every time a video of some "thug" cop committing some form of "thuggery" (pepper spraying, entrapment, excessive force, batons, etc.) gets out, more people see how bad their behavior is and rally behind us. There are also other forms of passive resistance that can be very effective (linking arms and forming human barriers, going limp when being handled, pulling those being arrested into the crowd and away from police). Protestors can protect each other, there is strength in numbers. Let them throw the punches and use violence, and we will show the world.