Peaceful protestors or illegal nuisance? Point/Counterpoint
- The Ivy Collegiate
- Aug 10, 2023
- 1 min read
In this edition of point/counterpoint
Point:
On principal, why should it bother you that someone protests illegally? You can't protest a system of oppression without breaking the laws that uphold it.
Law is a very poor measure of morality. Slavery used to be legal. It was illegal to help free someone from slavery. The law prevented good people from doing good because it was against the interests of the slave owners, not because freeing slaves was morally wrong.
They write the code of morality when they write the laws. They tell you the law is moral truth.
How could you accept law as moral truth? Because they taught you to. From a young age, you've been coded to revere the law. Law is order. Order is safety. Safety is protection. The police are your protectors, not your oppressors.
Did you know the modern-day police force has its roots in Slave Patrols? Slave catchers.
Did you know the police force was founded to control, coerce, and terrorize slaves into cooperation? They existed to prevent uprisings.
To "keep the peace." To uphold the system, not justice.
Without them, the slaves would have risen up and freed themselves.
Much of the modern-day police force has adopted the mantra "protect & serve," but protect and serve who?
They protect property. They serve the owners of property.
The police were created to prevent uprisings.
They were made to enforce the laws that enslaved people.
Their function has not changed.
Counterpoint:
You're under arrest.
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