obviously, we can't get into an arms race with these ppl.
they have billions of guns and tanks and stuff.

civil disobedience and public shame is what we can use.
it's a weapon we have.

granted, organizing is hard as fuck.
but when it works, you have the power to bestow or take away the LEGITIMACY of an institution.



does an elected official REALLY care about a gang of ppl on the Washington Mall?
no.

especially not if it's a mob that won't be able to turn out again in the same numbers.

but if you have respected leaders of a community
with a shit load of ppl behind them saying that "i no longer believe in this system,
and i shall peacefully disobey what you are telling me to do"
that's a threat.

not a physical threat.
a psychological one.

because ppl that seek power seek power because they want to be respected.
they want to have ppl look up to them and be envious of them.

if you are standing there as an elected official,
and ___ amount of ppl no longer see you as a person worthy of respect,
that's a problem.

now they have to listen to you.

and now you have empowered the ppl standing behind you
to believe that they DO have the ability to influence their world.

that, in itself, is a threat.


and it's hard to use physical violence against organized, peaceful protest
without coming across like a dick. which, again, takes away legitimacy.



nonviolent resistance is used because we obviously cannot overthrow the govt
with weapons.

voting doesn't work because If there is nobody to hold the official accountable once you vote them in it's more of the same.


money power can influence, and that's what the enemy has.

the rest of us have to use what we have or build some other weapon.
that leaves us with the power of large numbers of organize ppl.
which is, again, hard as fuck.

but ppl do it because it has a proven track record
and it's within our means to do.