(Untitled)

[moon_custafer]

Went to the counter-demo at Nathan Philips Square. I think the Anti-Muslim demo we were countering were over on the east side of the square. There were police (some in riot gear) standing guard near them, and our marshals were trying to keep us over at the other side, though I think some of the counter-demonstrators had gone over anyway, as there

Comments

[sovay]

Meanwhile we did keep edging closer to the centre of the square, following the sunbeams like a cat.

That is a wonderful image.

[heliopausa]

You might feel like one, but I don't think the label applies. The threat of violence against you (or anyone) was there in his shouting.
And even silent witness - that someone is seeing the behaviour - can help make someone aware of what their behaviour actually looks like, and is.

What're you rebelling against? What'ya got?

[palain_7]

Ah, the world of demonstrations! That takes me back. Chanting along with
"Denounce! Denounce!
All long and boring slogans
That neither rhyme nor scan!"

Let me know when there's another one although it's always iffy if I'll have the transit $s to go.

The lunatic on the bus situation is always complicated. Is the screamer just a troll? Are you feeding the troll if you react? Is this going to turn into a combat situation if you speak up? If it is, what's the collateral damage going to be to the little old ladies and little young kids packed in with you? If you don't think these things through in advance doing nothing is probably the best thing to do whatever one's reactionary instincts.

RE: What're you rebelling against? What'ya got?

[moon_custafer]

He wasn't actually on the bus, at least not at first; he was the other person waiting for the bus, and he began yelling at a passing motorist, shouting that the driver was a "n----- and not a proper Black man." This confused me enough that I wasn't sure if it counted as racist or not (the shouter was white, the driver I couldn't see). Then he started yelling at his dog to sit down. I didn't see him actually hit the dog or anything, but when the bus pulled up he yelled at the bus driver, who said that he had to show proof of payment, and also that he'd been jerking the dog's leash too hard and he was going to report him for animal cruelty, which he began to do as the guy got off by the back door of the bus and stormed away.