Someone explain what is going on in Madison WI. A Democratic State Senator was attacked

[redstateblues]

By protestors and sustained some serious injuries. Have we started eating our own?

[HotTeaBag]

1. Don't know much about the story yet, but if true it sure sounds like

this is just what the doctor ordered for the Republicans to point to in order to show voters just how unstable the "Left" is.

Some will actually believe them.

[Thomas Hurt]

2. Mobs are dangerous no matter the cause or how well intentioned or justified their protests...

they can get out of hand, there are likely to be agitators and criminals who are using the protests as an excuse.

[Baclava]

15. Well these will be easily identified, assault/battery of a public official will get u a felony in WI

[The Magistrate]

3. By Now, Sir

What keeps coming out to the street includes some hard types who imagine this is a rebellion against the whole 'system'. On the left, this includes people who consider there is no appreciable difference between a progressive Democrat and a christo-fascist plutocrat like Ron Johnson. In fact, if pressed, they would say they prefer the latter, because he is honest about being an enemy of the people, while a progressive Democrat hides his true character as an establishment stooge and dupes the people into thinking there is a solution short of revolution. It is not accurate to call these people provocateurs, they are not trying to discredit the demonstrations. They imagine they are engaged in 'propaganda of the deed', to inspire others and recruit from among the mass of people who have been out in the streets.

[LeftInTX]

8. This

Been there.
Done that.
In the 70s

[The Magistrate]

10. Indeed, Ma'am --- It's Deja Vu All Over Again

And one does not have to go back that far, either. There were people swarming the speaker's platforms trying to recruit to a whole grab-bag of radical dreams when people turned out against the invasion of Iraq. Even the original 'Occupy' actions degenerated in this style.

Like with most fights, the key is to make your hit and get out. People have made the point about how outrageous police behavior is, and how thoroughly this is tied to racist attitudes. At this point, people in the streets really are not much use....

[uponit7771]

4. How do you know it was "our" especially after the "boogaloo bois" stories? thx in advance

[LeftInTX]

9. Probably due to the location and this was a "snap" protest

Madison.

Protests were in response to an arrest yesterday.

The boogaloo bois usually show up the next day or so.

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

5. I dont know -all I can say is that this makes PERFECT sense IF it

was instigated by provocateur - the whole point being to drive wedges and break up alliances. This and the damage/destruction of innocent (non racist) statues certainly furthers that goal - no matter who did it, or their reasons.

And please note, that historically provocateurs dont necessarily commit all the violence but amp up the frenzy that leads to that.

[Baclava]

6. "WI Senator Tim Carpenter collapses after being 'Punched and Kicked in the head' at protests"

Not a peep on "the news" shows

Link to tweet

[The Magistrate]

12. One Suspects, Sir

Ill-intentioned persons did not like the thought of being in a picture. We may safely look forward to 'demonstrators' attacking journalists like so many police officers. How vulnerable people are nowadays to layer tracing seems to be getting through some hard heads. Crowds do not really offer much safety anymore.

[Baclava]

14. Sky Net is awake, I suspect drones will soon be overhead for all protests

The new facial recognition programs have no problem seeing around masks

[LeftInTX]

7. Statues toppled and state senator in an ambulance after overnight protests in Madison, Wisconsin

Devonere Johnson, a Black man, was arrested Tuesday after he was seen on video carrying a bat and moving around inside and outside of a restaurant while speaking into a bullhorn, police said in an incident report. He escaped the squad car before being tackled, the report said.

He has been tentatively charged with disorderly conduct while armed, resisting arrest and attempted escape.

.......

A group tore down the statue of Col. Hans Christian Heg and threw it into Lake Monona, the station reported. Heg was a Norwegian migrant who fought for the Union in the Civil War, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society.

The group also pulled down the Forward statue outside the State Capitol -- which the Wisconsin Historical Society said symbolizes devotion and progress, WKOW said.

Democratic state Senator Tim Carpenter of Milwaukee was present for the overnight protests and said he was assaulted after taking a picture, the station reported.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/24/us/madison-arrest-protests-statues-trnd/index.html

Fortunately, Mr. Johnson was safely arrested, but it seems to have sprung protests. No more details about the actual arrest. Maybe excessive use of force was involved?

Updated post with video of part of the arrest taken by a bystander. It's on FB. Don't know if everyone can see it. I don't see Mr. Johnson with a bat, but I do see a cop with what looks like an apprehended baseball bat. Bystander accuses cops of arresting Johnson for using a megaphone. Don't know all the details.
https://www.facebook.com/100003369941337/videos/pcb.2877429162379387/2877427369046233

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/06/24/madison-police-protest-senator/


Democratic Sen Carpenter is white. No indication whether he was actually protesting or a bystander etc.

I went through this in the 70's.

Everyone was mad at everyone. There was no rhyme or reason...Kinda like "Don't trust anyone over 30".

[keithbvadu2]

11. A protest turns into a mob.

A protest turns into a mob.

The only organized 'Antifa' seems to be Trump supporters showing up with their spray paint, Molotov cocktails, or guns, pretending to be protesters.

And now Trumpsters pretending to be part of BLM protests.

[keithbvadu2]

13. Instigator in Toronto

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142519356#post4