• Dagwood222@lemm.ee
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    10 days ago

    Back in the day, the IWW and other Unions made sure they had their own good squads at the ready.

    Some trouble makers are undercover cops or paid informers, others may just be folks who want to throw a brick at a cop and figure they can get away in the crowd. The goon squad was there to make sure that no one gave the cops an excuse to start busting heads.

    The police are always more prepared for violence than protesters. There are always elderly, infirm, or young children marching with us.

    • A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world
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      10 days ago

      That’s still common practice and still done by IWW groups afaik. At least in Asheville there are organized black blocs watching for agitators - cops have been known to fuck with them.

      Ideally, nobody shows up looking to start shit, because that’s how legal defense funds run dry.

          • Dagwood222@lemm.ee
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            9 days ago

            I hate to be the one to break it to you, but the cops love to infiltrate groups like that.

            Most of the big terrorist arrests you see happen when some provocateur tricks good hearted people into ‘taking action.’

      • Dagwood222@lemm.ee
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        9 days ago

        There are always going to be police and punishment. Tribal societies used to throw people out to live alone in the woods.

        Stop focusing on the police and look at who controls them.