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Die-in in front of the BPL
By adamg on Wed, 12/31/2014 - 7:47pm
About 100 Black Lives Matter protesters held a die-in at 5 p.m. in Copley Square, on the Dartmouth side of the BPL.
The peaceful protest, watched over by a large contingent of Boston Police, did not interrupt First Night activities, including the parade, which started well after the protest concluded.
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Comments
Hey you! Dead guy in the lower right!
No checking your phone if you're dead!!!
He's just brain dead
...
Check out these fireworks
Check out these fireworks
New Years Eve Fireworks 2015 ! East Boston: http://youtu.be/cmG4Uc_h021
Newyearsevefireworks2015
Newyearsevefireworks2015!eastboston:http://youtu.be/cmG4Uc_h021
What other tricks do they know?
They have mastered lie down and play dead.
What about roll over? Sit? Stay? Shake hands?
What do you stand for?
What do you stand for? Honestly. Besides being vehemently anti-BPD, I'm convinced you sit there and try to illicit whatever you think will draw the most attention.
In other news, do the protestors know the public tide is against them now?
It's "elicit". And who made
It's "elicit". And who made you the guardian of "the public tide", anyway?
The public tide
Last I checked, tides are a meaningless indicator of long-term trends, as they go up and down about twice a day.
Swirrly, if someone else had
Swirrly, if someone else had said that you would have told them to go back to the Herald comment section.
Probably not
Although I am amused that BPD never even showed up to die-ins that I participated in in the 1990s.
I mean, they were contacted ahead of time as to when/where these things would be taking place so they could deal with any pearl-clutching phone calls as they saw fit.
Die-ins are often so silly that the people lying there are giggling about it.
There you have it, folks...
These protesters are just out for a good laugh, and they're using a tragic situation for a few cheap chuckles. Thanks for confirming that for us, Swirl.
Why don't you ask them
Why they are there?
Die ins are fun, but they are also serious business. But, hey, you can't be bothered to ask why people are there personally - you'd rather "make an ass out of u and me".
No...
Once again, I'm being told that I need to go hang out at a die-in if I'm to have any opinion on the matter. Why don't you go on a ride along with the police? Until you do that, you have no opinion on what they do (I'm sure you'll respond that you have and that you know ever cop personally on the BPD and the cops of every municipality within 50 miles. It's how you roll).
And "die-ins" are the farthest thing from "serious business". No one takes them seriously outside if those who participate. They're a joke. You said so yourself. Can't have it both ways.
Pet rock
It's the new form of planking!
You vill....
protest in your predetermined areas by zee state.
I'm glad a large contingent was there to bend the state coffers over.
Happy New Year!
Ugh, get a life.
Ugh, get a life.
See, this is what these kids want, for people to hold them to an incredibly high regard that any action or thought against them automatically means police state. They get off on this ego boost for doing jack shit
You're ignorant, and deliberately so
How do you know what they want, or even that they're "kids", grandpappy? You sit your ass on your comfy chair and talk from behind your screen, so I'm unconvinced that you know the least thing about your fellow human beings. Go talk to them, or better yet, listen; then you'll know what the people you listened to want. Unless and until you do that, you're completely, stubbornly, purposely ignorant, and merely taking comfort in your own ignorant bigotry. That's nothing to be proud of, so maybe you should stop advertising the fact on a public forum
Ok...
So if I choose not to talk to these people, I'm automatically a bigot. Got it. And people wonder why these protesters are not taken seriously.
That's right!! You sat on
That's right!! You sat on your comfy chair behind your comfy computer screen!! You weren't bravely laying on the ground in front of The Man, heroically pretending to be dead while tweeting about the social change you were forcing on our barbaric society.
Get a life...at a die-in.
Your support for Free Speech zones is noted.
And if you have any African American friends or acquiantences I'd suggest discussing with them the current protest situation. Maybe you'll hear something, a personal account perhaps, of being profiled solely on the color of your skin.
Sure, some of the protesters are idealistic kids who are grabbing onto something, anything, to be part of. But so what? A lot of people went to anti-vietnam war protests just to get high and laid.
Now, I do feel sorry that these protesters impeded your ability to enjoy the ice sculptures, a crime if there ever was one. But if there was a protest for bigger bike lanes and measures to make riding in the city safer, I'd imagine based on your history, that'd you'd be one of the first to lie in the street.
Get off your soapbox. You're
Get off your soapbox. You're preaching to the choir here. Cyclists routinely cork intersections in Boston because they want more bike lanes and the right to blow through red lights and stop signs.
Citations Please
Care to back that up with actual media reports? Of course not - because you are full of shit and you know it.
I suggest you consult the Boston Cyclists Union web page for the ways in which cyclists have organized and are lobbying for improved cycling conditions throughout the city.
Meanwhile, motorists cork the intersection of Summer and Atlantic on a twice daily basis. They should be arrested, no?
The point
And your head are miles apart.
But if there was a protest
No, because doing a bunch of bullshit to get attention accomplishes nothing, but working with the city, the Boston Cyclists' Union and safe riding activities do accomplish things. Working with those in power to propose change is what matters, performance art to "mess with the status quo" or whatever does nothing
Tip
If we stop reporting them, they'll stop doing it
Why do people hate the Boston Public Library?
People seem to always be protesting in front of it.
Are you behind this, Zak?
the African Americans that went to copley and layer dead on st
I went to copley just to see ice sculptures when little late.little quite r .I asked what I believe was a Spanish woman boston officer I said did the protest cause much havoc she said no we didn't expect to much .at this point the officer next to her whom I did not think was listening.He says "all we had to do is announce anyone who will get going now will be given a half pint of E&J and they where all gone in six minutes" BOSTON FINEST
Lie.
Lie.
I'll never fathom why they
I'll never fathom why they don't do their "die in" in say, Bowdoin Geneva, where people they are supposedly protesting for are literally dying.
False equivalence
It is possible to protest national events and do something locally. There are local protests about violence in Dorchester; that people are unaware of them says more about them and their concern trolling than about the people actually affected by that violence.
There's ONE
Protest, the mothers day walk. But nice try! The people participating in this care less about black lives and more about attention.
There's one big annual march, yes
But that's hardly all that goes on all year. Contact Councilor Ayanna Pressley if you want to learn more.
On a national level, read Ta-Nehisi Coates: Black People Are Not Ignoring 'Black on Black' Crime.
I work in Bowdoin-Geneva, and
I work in Bowdoin-Geneva, and the honest truth is that I've seen more shell casings than I have protestors. The fact of the matter can't be denied that the white college kids would be too afraid to stage a "die-in" on Olney or Norton Street at 6:00 P.M.
They are safe and sound in front of the library, under the protectful eye of the BPD.
Why don't you ask them, and
Why don't you ask them, and listen to their answers? Because if you did that, you might have to discard some of your ignorant prejudices?
Nah...
I don't want a megaphone shoved in my face by someone who thinks they're right and anyone who disagrees with them is a white privileged bigot.
Nah
You just don't want to listen to anyone who might tell you something that conflicts with "what you just know".
Yeah...
...because as far as these "protesters" are concerned, anyone who has a differing opinion is the enemy and is also a filthy racist. What's it like living in your one-way, single minded world? Gods forbid anyone have a different opinion BASED ON THEIR OWN GODDAMN LIFE EXPERIENCE.
It's a new year, pace yourself
Or you're gonna have a coronary before memorial day.
You speak of 'GODDAMN LIFE EXPERIENCE' but completely dismiss the life experiences of each and every protester as invalid because it doesn't fit with your preconceived narrative.
Step out of the bubble, find some humility and then maybe some empathy for your fellow man.
It does wonders for the soul.
So...
...you're syinng that their life experience trumps mine? It's not really clear what you're trying to say, but once again some bleeding heart is trying to tell me that my life I'm not alowed to have an opinion. And when did I "dismiss" anyone?
It'd be clear if you weren't so angry.
Relax, there's a lot of hostility in you.
I do commend you on not using the Caps lock for your entire screed though.
Quit trolling...
There's an adult discussion going on here. ALSO, HERE ARE SOME CAPS FOR YOU SINCE YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY SO INTO THEM.
You've got me wrong
I work in the Back Bay. Everyone seems to protest in front of the library- Syrians, Chinese, Palestinians, Israelis, everyone. Why so much dislike by all these groups of the library?
Either the library is the local HQ of that secret group that really runs the world or Zak is organizing all these protests.
Dislike?
It's central, flat, public, and not a road.
You'd rather the greenway?
Government Center
It's more central, flat, and houses the offices of the city and federal governments.
The foreign policy protests get me more than this-at least this was near an event. How does chanting in front of a library help change U.S. policy towards Kosovo (yes, that's how far back I'm going with this)?
Back in the day, the Common was the focal point of protests.
That would be too dangerous ,
That would be too dangerous ,
3 shot to death in hub coin jar robbery, drive-by attack ...
www.bostonglobe.com/metro/...jar.../story.html
The Boston Globe
Mar 14, 1990 - Jean Stranberg, 57, of Quincy, was killed in a liquor store on Bowdoin Street by robbers who made off with a jar of coins collected for Easter ...
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/1990/03/14/shot-death-hub-coin-jar-robb...
There was also a bloodbath near the Old State House
In 1770.
What does a nearly 25yr old story have to do with anything?
Did you know anyone killed in
Did you know anyone killed in that bloodbath ? This happened on Bowdoin street, Its still Bowdoin street , and its still dangerous. But I guess its not chic enough a story for you.
The combat zone
25 years ago, it was dangerous, too.
Now those sidewalks are clogged with tourists on a regular basis.
Wow, Swirls , no one ever
Wow, Swirls , no one ever told me about that. Never had any problems at Dirty John's ( corner of Wash. and Lagrange ) , or at the IAB at 600 Wash., or the multitude of freight peddles over there. Miss Princess Cheyenne though, weo johnny!
And absolutely nothing was
And absolutely nothing was accomplished except for the cops getting a few hours of overtime...well done
Yeah, sorry that we didn't
Yeah, sorry that we didn't solve institutional racism manifested through police violence with just one final protest of 2014. Better pack up the signs. Bummer.
Overtime they would get anyway
They have very high levels of staffing on First Night, regardless. Something to do with large crowds, alcohol use, desire to light off fireworks, etc.
This die-in was probably a nice break from looking out for drunks, pickpockets, and medical emergencies.
Adams anti cop
He's just too chicken shit to say it.
The Herald is thataway -->
If I were anti-cop, you'd know it, and I wouldn't be posting stuff like this.
I do admit I'm pro-First Amendment. What's your take on the First Amendment, pal?
The Herald this that way
Wow what an intelligent and thought out response.
I'm all ears
Please hit Reply now and craft a finely thought out and well researched answer to a comment that reads in its entirety:
You have 30 minutes, starting. Now.
All ears? You have got to
All ears? You have got to stop being a poser. Whenever I try to comment something you disagree with you do not approve it to be posted. Open up your mind, pal.
I don't care
It's hard keeping all the racist anons separate. If you're not one, my apologies.
Have you been getting an
Have you been getting an influx of racial comments? Or are you misinterpreting? Only comments I have seen are either anti cop comments or posters who support cops or some variation of opinions on protests. It's s real bummer people have been trying to post mean racist comments (although I guestion your concept of "racist comments").
You're not seeing what I see
You've obviously noticed that some comments never appear on the site. That's because all anon comments (i.e., from people who don't log into the system first) go into a queue where I have to review them first. And yes, I'm hitting the Delete button pretty hard these days.
Racist crap (and yes, my definition of that), attempts to convince me that I'd see the light if only members of my family were victims of whatever horrible crime the author claims are only committed by members of minority groups, comments that consist solely of a string of epithets and the name of people who do log in here, yeah, sorry, but away they go.
Why are so many people
Why are so many people posting here contemptuous about other people exercising their right to protest? It doesn't matter what you think about how or what they protest. What matters is that they can and they do.
I don't even think it's the
I don't even think it's the protesting itself. It's the fact that they HAVE to latch onto these unrelated family events. Here comes the "the children must see and learn this" comment. I want my children to learn all they can, I also want them to freely participate in a tree lighting or ice sculptures without issues being crammed down their throats. Do we really have to mix the horrors of the world with children's events?! At least they finally stopped trying to jump onto the highways.
Wrong...
No one is saying they do not have a right to protest. We're saying that they are completely moronic and that most people think their "die-ins" are childish and silly.
"Most" or "some"?
"most" or "some" people thought the occupy movement was silly as well...however, it helped change the discussion on widening income disparity... "most" or "some" people thought the tea party (that one in Boston when they dressed up in those childish indian costumes?) was a silly stunt as well, or marching in Alabama, or protests against the war in southeast asia, many others.
The more effective protects I have participated in have an element of humor, music, fun (I know, so silly right?), art, movement, whatever...
were/are the die-ins effective protests? maybe/maybe not. I'd like to hear some thoughts on next steps to address what the protests are supposed to be about...seems we have been having the same conversation (or lack thereof) for decades.
"Most" or "some" Americans always find protests "moronic" and useless but they are part of the legacy of this country and contribute to change. My guess is that if more people exercised this right, change (however the hell you want to define it) is possible. Instead, "most" or "some" are happy to exercise other rights by whining about the silly practices of others from the comfort of our home/office.
we're all entitled to our own stupid opinion, and this is mine for today. happy new year to all.
Looks like
A lot of suburban white liberal yuppies partook in this protest.
Well, if they did?
I'd hope suburban white people care about issues of institutional racism. I hope ALL people do.
The term is "Ally"
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ally
We don't have universal marriage rights because gay people took over the SJC, and Washington didn't vote them in because their state is 60% gay people, either.
Women don't vote today because we were able to vote for our ability to vote. People who could vote - men - were convinced in sufficient numbers to ratify that amendment.
Not Elmer
Adorable !
Adam,
Adam,
Did you see any pics/ footage from the pro-police rally in Dorchester?
I though for sure there would be something on UHub.
https://m.facebook.com/BostonPoliceDepartment