this post was submitted on 18 Jul 2026
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I broadly agree, but the idea that the USA doesn't have protests at all is overstating the case to an obvious degree, given the widespread coverage each No Kings protest gets, with particular emphasis on how large the crowds are. One could argue that these protests are ineffective, but the phrasing in the OP is "no protests", which is provably wrong.
I point this out because in my experience, when attempting to persuade, it's better to make 99 good points than to make 99 good points and 1 weak one. Because people hostile to your overall argument will focus on that 1 weak point and make it seem (to casual observers) like your entire argument must be that weak.
To put in in perspective, China has over 10,000 protests every year, and the CPC responds to the vast majority of the grievances that triggered them, imprisoning corrupt local officials, fixing infrastructure, etc. That’s why the satisfaction rating with the central government is at 90+%.
If the protest is meaningless then it is effectively the same as not even being allowed. One could argue it’s almost worse because it gives the illusion of the right.
Misuse of crowd-control weapons on ICE protesters led to blindings and traumatic brain injuries, report finds. Doctors and human rights experts documented hundreds of incidents from June 2025 through May 2026 and estimate true number is ‘far greater’
I believe the argument is that they are functionally criminalized.
Protesting is legal.
You are describing a chilling effect. Those weapons are not used at all protests and that is the point. They want you think twice before going to protest. Still though, in general, it's not criminal to attend or organize a protest.
It's good that you and everyone here knows that these things are happening. If the twitter post was just speaking to the choir, then what's the point? Circle jerk to make us feel better? Retweets and upvotes aren't going to save us.
If the post is trying to reach people and wake them up, then they are speaking to people who are not aware of the story you cited. To them it just seems like OP is lying and the post does nothing to help anything.
If the police are shooting you in the face with teargas and dragging you away in handcuffs, it does not appear to be.
Either way, neither argument is the same as "no protests".
How about no protests where you don't feel like your government is putting you on a list?
Sure, but my point is that if that's what you mean then that's what you should say. It's important to keep a message simple, but not at the expense of honesty. Otherwise a lot of people tune out.