Post by the Scribe on Jul 31, 2020 0:52:51 GMT
What is the Black Bloc
2,093 views•Jun 5, 2020
Sarah Bethea
Numerous videos have surfaced from this week’s protests of black bloc vandalizing, smashing windows, and instigating riots. Umbrella man is one such example; while many assumed he was a plainclothes cop sent to stir chaos, it is almost certain that he is black bloc.
Black bloc is a protest tactic that was developed in the late 1970s in Germany. It has since spread around the globe. The tactic is used mostly by groups with anarchist, communist, anti-fascist, or anti-globalization ideology.
In this video, I talk about who and what the black bloc is, what their goals are, and why they are problematic. While black bloc protesters may support the message behind the protests, they take attention away from those issues. Blame for rioting and looting is also put on peaceful protesters, and the presence of rioters makes police force against ALL protesters more likely.
I also discuss the findings of political scientists Brandon Ives and Jacob Lewis, who explain why some protests become violent, the factors that lead to escalation, and how a small group of violence-oriented individuals can turn peaceful protest into rioting.