Also the second, and depending on your level, third. Depends on available spell slots.

There's always the excuse that they can't take one single day off from work because they'd lose healthcare coverage yada yada. I used to think it was bullshit, that they're just lazy.

But... remember during covid, when a ton of people became unemployed? Suddenly they were protesting all over the place. Made me reconsider. I think the lack of social security really has them by the balls.

A few protests that aren't even in the news

Depending on how much you rely on main stream (especially legacy) news, you're highly unlikely to see one protester on the news for every ten thousand on the street.

Turns out that the billionaires and hectomillionaires that own all of the biggest media outlets don't like to draw attention to people criticizing their golf buddies when they don't have to.

I'm not saying we shouldn't do more, but there are plenty of ongoing protests. Just because you don't see them in the news everyday didn't mean they aren't happening. Minneapolis, Portland, LA, DC and more all have protests that have been more or less ongoing since the shit hit the fan in their respective areas. The difference between this country and Franve can't be understated im terms of geographic size and population density. It is MUCH harder to sustain protests when we're all so spread out compared to am entire country the size of Texas.

I've been thinking this too for a little while now. It fits too perfectly. Throughout my adolescence, I hated the French. Proudly, openly, I thought it was funny and edgy for some reason, because I've always been disgusted by racism and I am a tiny part French. Edgy teenage bullshit. As I aged out of teen years though, there came a point where something caused me to investigate my own bias with honesty. And when I did, I found it to be totally empty and devoid of substance. I had absolutely no real reason to dislike the French, and these days I feel nothing but love for them.

I'm convinced the only reason I ever hated them was because of propaganda. Never had a bad personal experience. And Parisian 'rudeness' is revealed to be, in my opinion, simple straightforward bluntness. The propaganda is incredibly effective. Americans would benefit greatly if we could all take just a few notes from them; they have a cultural understanding that the government works for the people, not against. And if it's not doing it's job, take whatever action needed to restore balance. Seeing footage of their protests starting a few years back really opened my eyes to what could be done.

... AND THE HOOOME OF THE BRAAAAAVE

French cops also shoot people who just drive away.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Nahel_Merzouk

automatic assault rifles

This is redundant, by definition all assault rifles have auto or burst fire modes. Anyone (including lawmakers) in the US who claims otherwise is incorrect.

I have breathing issues due to being tear gassed too often, my left shoulder suffers from very painful tendinitis that will probably never go away due to being tossed on the ground / beat up, got an acquaintance who lost an eye to a rubber bullet, that's the life of a regular french demonstrator.

You are severely underestimating the violence of french anti-riot policing methods. Those weapons might sound chill due to being labeled "non-lethal", but they're actually quite lethal (people die regularly) and violate the Geneva protocol (tear gas usage is theoretically banned on civilians).

If you believe it's that relaxed, come demonstrate in France, see what it's like to be charged at by 100 dudes in full body armor swinging at you trying to do maximum damage while you're caught in a cloud of toxic gas with nowhere to run. You thought the press could cover your ass by filming the police violence, or that the government would do something about police brutality? Guess what, they target journalists too, and our govt encourages police brutality.

If you're looking for excuses, don't drag us into it. Protesting in France isn't an easy affair, we genuinely put our lives on the line every time we go out there. It's the police that decides how violent protests are, the reason you hear so much about french "riots" is because our police keeps escalating the violence. We have a peaceful nature.

Americans need to shut the fuck up about the rest of the world I swear. You're not that special. 

Rubber bullets banned in many countries, people lose eyes to them in France

Tear gas long term health effects

Casualties from the yellow vest protests

Police violence on journalists

This documentary's trailer should tell you enough about our riot police situation

French cops: using less lethals according to the manual.

'Merica cops: point blank, headshots (unless you're preggers), gas the kids

You say that like you can’t get your own automatic assault rifles in America.

The American state-oligarch apparatus is REALLY good at unionbusting, strikebreaking, and general anti-solidarity social engineering

So,.. maybe set some shit on fire? Intead of beers and football games, try other extra curriculars?

It's also borderline impossible to organize on the scale needed without getting infiltrated by the feds here. The US is fucking enormous, which means we need large scale organization to really do much, but opsec only gets more complicated and more difficult the larger you organize, especially when your resources are limited.

Yeah, because ICE is sure showing respect for laws and norms, don't want to risk that by defending yourself!

Yes. But at least they went and protested en masse.

yeah, sure

Mmmmmm that's good rationalization

Thats one way to cope with the situation I guess.

There is something to this, though. If people start behaving violently, the administration will label them as some kind of radicalized terrorist and respond with military force, and then probably blame black or indigenous or immigrant or trans/nb people as the reason for the radicalization and come down even harder on these marginalized populations