Geoffrey MillerVerified account

I've never heard a credible explanation of how counter-protests are supposed to change protesters' minds about anything, or weaken their influence, or undermine their credibility.

They present it as a political emergency where if you don't physically assault the Proud Boys doing their dumb march, it's Hitlertime in the US. It's intentionally conceived of as being beyond the realm of normal politics, so violence isn't just okay but an imperative.

Serious question, what should be done? Let them march unopposed? Defeat them in "the marketplace of ideas", which is working so well so far. You can't debate them, you're saying you shouldn't stand up to them, so what's left?

Ignore them. If protest by itself could simply force political change, the antiwar activist who sat outside the White House for 40 years would be President-for-life. You’re winning the marketplace of ideas, particularly in Portland. The Proud Boys aren’t taking over anytime soon.

If you must counter-protest, do it peacefully. The antifa antics just lets the Proud Boys inflate their sense of self importance and claim martyrdom status, while encouraging media coverage which helps spread their message.

This is ahistorical. Fascists manipulate liberal media into defending them. It's how you end up with over the top outrage about Ngo's attack while ignoring he's part of the alt-right. It's also why they instantly fell for the "cement" propaganda.