They are disarming the proletariat because they know how hard we have all been studying the blade. The sword is the true worker's symbol of liberation. Only a multi-thousand-times folded blade can cleanly slice through the chains of oppression.
And against the feudal SWAT shitlords known as knights in all their tin can glory, all a sword can do against them is maybe give them tinnitus and a strained neck or some light bruises.
A spear and a good running start will turn a knight into a fresh can of spam.