Eneasz

8.

Final Speeches

The worst part of the march was the period of final speeches outside the Capitol building.

The speeches themselves were okay, the second one in particular was exceptionally well delivered.

The counter-protesters, however, got to demonstrate who owned the streets and what this really means.

Initially the pro-billionaire protesters attempted to unfurl the large banner and give a few quick speeches in front of it.

The five most zealous counter-protesters pushed their way in front of it to take up the space and prevent anyone from speaking.

When the banner moved they just moved with it.

At this point the protesters were kinda stuck because what exactly are you supposed to do?

Whatever inroads we may have made chatting during the march, the counter-protesters weren't going to listen to words right now, they were just here for maximum physical disruption.

In theory we could push them aside, but by the rules of polite society that would make us the aggressors.

It would give them exactly the media attention they want.

It seemed that either they could just shut down the final speeches indefinitely with heckling, or they get media coverage of being assaulted by violent billionaire lovers, and either way they win.

NGL, it was legit embarrassing.

Then my friend Ben realized that this is a giant game of I'm not touching you for adults.

Which is the stupidest dang thing IMO, but is pretty symmetrical.

A few of us just stood close together in a line, and we moved the speeches to the other side of that line.

The counter-protesters would have to walk through us to block that speech, and we just didn't move.

When they tried to go around us we shifted to be in front of them.

And they couldn't actually touch us because that was against the rules, so this worked?