Pro-Israel protesters at UCLA threw a bag of live mice into the pro-Gaza encampment

[cab67]

126. Except that form of civil disobedience doesn't work.

In fact, it's pretty much guaranteed to backfire.

I've said this several times on DU in the context of protesters blocking road traffic - this is, far an away, the least intelligent form of protest in existence.

Yes, protest is intended to disrupt business as usual, and it's not supposed to make people comfortable. But if, as a professor myself, a group of protesters blocked my building and kept me from teaching a class or missing an appointment with a student in need, I would be far less sympathetic to the protestors' cause. If I was a student, and I was late for an appointment with an advisor (something that might have to be scheduled days or weeks in advance), or if I missed a midterm and had to schedule a makeup (working it in with my class and work schedule), I wouldn't put the blame on those committing wrongdoing elsewhere - I'd put the blame on the people who directly and deliberately blocked me..

My comment is independent of the reason these people are protesting. It's directed entirely at its ineffectiveness.

Blocking road traffic is even worse, as it might block emergency vehicles from getting through and, thus, result in loss of life.

Protest, beyond disrupting business and generating discomfort, is intended to affect change. This sort of protest is all but guaranteed not to do that.