Pro-Palestinian demonstrators who plan to “shut down” the Democratic National Convention this week are taking cues from New York City, where protests on college campuses were orchestrated with the help of an encrypted messaging network.
Over the spring, student groups and pro-Palestinian organizations used the app Telegram to distribute how-to manuals on occupying buildings and other rally tactics, provide real-time updates on police movements and, in some cases, share explicitly pro-Hamas content.
And there are signs protesters are using the same tactics to plan massive demonstrations at the convention, where organizers hope to pressure Vice President Kamala Harris to take a harder stance against the Israeli government and its military campaign in Gaza.
“Make it great like ‘68,” one group posted to Telegram, referencing large Vietnam War protests at the DNC that year. “Shut down the DNC for Gaza!”
The post, which encouraged demonstrators to show up outside the Israeli consulate in Chicago at 7 p.m. on Aug. 20, was circulated on Resistance News Network, an organization on the radar of experts on extremism.
The smart move for them would be to use their voices to bring the Democratic Party more to their side instead of sabotaging the best chance they have for anything they want done to be done. If you show up with the message “We could be your voting constituents,” you’ve got way more leverage than if you come trying to ruin the DNC right from the getgo.
It’s almost like diplomacy is hard.
While your point is ultimately right you’re telling ppl to be diplomatic about an ongoing genocide that is being funded with their tax money.
It’s like expecting black ppl to always be calm and collected with police while being profiled. I’m suppose to be angry
That’s what makes it hard.