• Bad@jlai.lu
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    1 day ago

    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

    • Soulg@ani.social
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      22 hours ago

      You’re not special either. Plenty of people here going through the exact same shit you did yet nobody gives a shit and has to just keep piling on like idiots

    • cynar@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      I’m UK based btw. I had my tangles with the police at protests in my younger days. It’s intimidating, even when nominally peaceful. I have a lot of respect for those of you willing to face off against the nastier crowd control methods.

      It’s worth noting that there is still a huge difference between what you dealt/deal with and shoot-to-kill military weapons fire.

      If I thought it would help, I would (unhappily) deal with tear gas etc. I’m too old, with too much to lose to risk rubber bullets etc, but respect those that would. VERY few people would face gunfire without the ability to fire back. The American Left is not at the point where they are willing to escalate to that point.

      • Bad@jlai.lu
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        1 day ago

        Well if it’s strictly about guns, then the american left has a point to prove about the second amendment.

        Is it only there to help school shooters, or is it about well regulated militias opposing tyranny?

        Waiting and watching.

        • cynar@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          Their biggest problem is media capture. With the loss of twitter to Musk, there’s no large scale organisation path that hasn’t been captured.

          As the phrase goes. “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”