Protesters calling for cease-fire in Israel-Hamas war block freeway in Seattle for several hours
Protesters calling for cease-fire in Israel-Hamas war block freeway in Seattle for several hours
Protesters calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war blocked northbound traffic on Interstate 5 in Seattle for several hours Saturday.
Can someone please calmly explain how blocking a freeway across an ocean and a country on a different continent, is supposed to have any effect on a political issue in the middle east?
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FWIW, this is one of the most common forms of protest in Seattle since BLM. It’s not necessarily newsworthy to us locals! And yes, to confirm, most people in the city get pretty annoyed with protestors when it happens. A lot of people late to work, missing medical appointments, stranded with kids in the car, etc.
Hey guys, another local checking in to say protest is cool and effective protest is even cooler!
You might even say that people being late to work is exactly the economic impact that such a protest is designed to create.
Eh we did it back protesting invading Iraq. Didn't do anything then.
But Seattle wasn't Amazon back then.
No, we didn’t stop the war. I marched with 300k people in Washington (a lot of veterans) and we still didn’t stop the war. But I think the widespread and global protests of the Iraq war made it clear that the US was going to wage war despite its unpopularity, evidence, allies backing out, etc. A similar thing appears to be happening now with the backlash to Israel’s Hamas response.
Here’s a good column about what those protests writ large “accomplished.” https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/20-year-anniversary-of-iraq-war-protests
People who work on ambulances love when protestors close roads like this.
Ambulances have dispatch to warn and redirect them, and sirens to force their way down the shoulder to an exit. Effective protest has to have an effect.
Blocking roads is not an effective protest, and rerouting ambulances is not as simple as you make it sound. I used to work dispatch, I would know.
"blocking roads is not an effective protest" - source unknown
damn i should work in Seattle so i can use this as an excuse to get out of work
Last time I was held up by these people, I was on my way to try to pick up my dog's cancer medication. So no, I don't sympathize with them.
My dog's cancer medication is more important than the wars in the Middle East, too
"Only one thing can ever matter at a time".
Can't do anything meaningful about a hugely complex situation? Stand in a road and stop people getting their dogs cancer medication, that'll make you feel better
I see you flunked history class, odd thing to brag about
Will that's the point of protests to remind people like you that there are a genocide happening and you government is supporting it.
It's all performative. Everybody knows what's happening there. They didn't bring attention to the genocide; they brought attention to themselves.
That's the point of protests to remind politician that if they dont hear the demands they will lose votes.