A reminder folks: people engage in this kind of radical protest because it works:

Results of two online experiments conducted with diverse samples (N = 2,772), including a study of the animal rights movement and a preregistered study of the climate movement, show that the presence of a radical flank increases support for a moderate faction within the same movement. Further, it is the use of radical tactics, such as property destruction or violence, rather than a radical agenda, that drives this effect. Results indicate the effect owes to a contrast effect: Use of radical tactics by one flank led the more moderate faction to appear less radical, even though all characteristics of the moderate faction were held constant. This perception led participants to identify more with and, in turn, express greater support for the more moderate faction. These results suggest that activist groups that employ unpopular tactics can increase support for other groups within the same movement, pointing to a hidden way in which movement factions are complementary, despite pursuing divergent approaches to social change.

  • silence7@slrpnk.netOPM
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    5 days ago

    Its a fairly effective means of convincing police that you can’t hurt them, and it takes a longish time to remove you. Very similar to the lockbox protests user by the anti-abortion movement in the US 15-20 years ago.

    • Scary le Poo@beehaw.org
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      5 days ago

      Until the police decide that they don’t care and decide to just rip your hands off the pavement and leaving several layers of skin behind.