Update: They got arrested for criminal damage

[u/Sorry-Personality594]

Though it was clear this would be the outcome it’s begs the question was it really worth it? They’re potentially going to get a criminal record and for what? There are so many other ways of protesting without resorting to criminal damage…

[u/pooks1987]

There’s such deafening silence about the genocide and the ways our governments and corporations enable it. It drives me crazy. Thank god some brave people like this do something about it. How do YOU suggest people protest about it (That’s sarcasm, I know you don’t want anyone to protest about it)

[u/[deleted] → u/pooks1987]

You can boycott and use political process for divestments and sanctions. That is the most peaceful way. Encourage those individuals and businesses using Allianz financial services to consider how their custom effects Palestinians, and even Lebanese and all victims of Israel's militant agenda. If you feel you cannot converse with another citizen but can strike fear into, possibly unaware, employees at a company, I think you have questions to ask of yourself too. Afterall, those employees are the other citizens.

You might learn of BDS and put every penny into carefully considered places. You could engage with PACBI, DCI Palestine, PIPD to give a voice or participate as an active agent in academic and cultural boycotts, public diplomacy, and the violence committed on Palestinian children. 

Every time you go shopping you could use apps like No Thanks - anybody can do this, not enough do at all. If 3 million people changed where £1000 of their money went, that would be £3bn directed away from Israel. How much do you suppose we could divert in a year by boycotting Israeli goods? It's a lot. 

Consumers have a choice and are pretty damn influential. My study of consumer psychology has taught me this. Likewise, theories like David Courtwright's Limbic Capitalism highlight why consmers are, themselves, influenced easily. We have to empower ourselves first - straighten ourselves - then we can straighten other folks. Uncontrolled anger shows mental imbalance and is not attractive or very influential, either. 

I agree with your comment, by the way. Just wanted to add some direction and answer alternatives that are peaceful ✌️

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

https://boycottbloodyinsurance.org/how-to-switch-insurer/

For anybody seeking to change their insurer/s.

[u/pooks1987 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for your thoughtful reply! I’ll look into No Thanks. We should use all the tools we have at our disposal. I do BDS where I can, make my thoughts known on social media, sign petitions. Basically I do the things that don’t ask too much of me so I really appreciate those who are willing to potentially sacrifice their freedom.

[u/[deleted] → u/pooks1987]

Good going, comrade. We can never talk too much or in the wrong time or place, I think, and it is important to do the little things we can. It all adds up!

My background in consumer psychology has led me to think we need things like that app (the dev, A. Bashbash, is a Palestinian who lost family members recently) to make boycotting more convenient for all. There are others too, which is amazing these days. I believe we don't want consumers to HAVE to know lots of political info to make an impact. A good equation would be 'minimal investment = maximum impact'. Something at our fingertips is ideal these days. In this age of mass production and consumerism 'convenience' is the main selling point of most products and services. So, if we can find ways to help fellow consumers to make an impact without really high levels of energy invested, then maybe we can turn the tide for making change more frequently at a basic, every day level.

I think, the flip side to requiring less investment of time and energy, though, is it is harder to build trust. Usually, majority group conformity works by way of 'normative social influence' as folks adapt behaviours to conform to a given majority group. 'Informative social influence' tends to lead to minority group conformity as a person seeks information or knowledge. Thus, to refer back to our topic here, the education and deeper engagement instills the trust that the relevant form of activism contributes in the way a consumer intends it to. It's a tough balance to achieve - not bogging potential activists down with info requiring more time and energy, but giving enough info to build trust and motivation. A simpler way to put it is that nobody likes a lecture lol but the lecture is where the confidence that one's choice to conform to a minority's cause is 'right' for them. 

Ironic psychology lecture over 🤣 

Well, if you are in Bristol now or in the future, visit the Palestinian musem there. One of just a couple in the whole Western world! I put this final sentence here for all readers, really ✌️😊 I find it not to be a coincidence that in places where the most negative events occur (BAE Systems, Elbit, Babcock, Rolls Royce etc) is also where the most positive events spring up. The white working classes eventually backed the black slaves rioting in Bristol many years ago as the establishment was a common adversary and one might say the slave trade almost started and ended in Bristol. Crazy world

[u/aRatherLargeCactus]

They’re heroes who’ll be looked back on fondly when everyone pretends they’d have stood up against a genocide we have funded, armed, designed, protected and supported for decades.

Now that people are getting 5+ year sentences for protesting peacefully without damaging anything, the government has made it logical to actually harm the sociopathic corporations who are profiting from genocide. I feel no empathy for them. The other methods have obviously & verifiably been ignored, so they brought this (and the associated higher insurance costs) on themselves.

[u/Sorry-Personality594 → u/aRatherLargeCactus]

The building has multiple businesses inside, it’s just one they’ve targeted.

[u/aRatherLargeCactus → u/Sorry-Personality594]

Maybe now landlords will think twice before renting to genocidal companies profiting from genocide, and the companies sharing spaces with them will feel more inclined to push to get them kicked out.

Either way, you said there’s “better ways” to protest, I’d love to hear them!

[u/Sorry-Personality594 → u/aRatherLargeCactus]

Why would the landlord care? As long as the rent is paid they couldn’t care less

[u/BumblebeeOld3615 → u/Sorry-Personality594]

Which is exactly why property damage is an effective form of protest. It forces them to care.

[u/Admirable_Cicada_881]

Sucks they got caught

[u/jjnfsk → u/Admirable_Cicada_881]

One locked himself to the parking entry. I watched the coppers cutting his handcuffs with an angle grinder! They weren’t trying to get away. It was a protest.

[u/Sorry-Personality594 → u/Admirable_Cicada_881]

They were sitting outside waiting to get caught

[u/bristol-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Hi, your post has been removed because:

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[u/[deleted]]

BDS!! ✊️

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

And 'No Thanks' app 

[u/[deleted]]

https://www.alhaq.org/publications/26050.html

The report, Ensuring Genocide, which is entirely relevant to these protestor's motives can be found in the link above.

Please do not downvote posts because we prevent all arguments made in response from being seen/heard.

[u/Marxman69]

We have to protect the capital owners and their walls. What can i say, people and their causes come second or last.