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By John Ruberry
Last month the Democratic National Convention was held in Chicago at the United Center.
I did some photography work for a right-of-center publication. There’s no need to mention which one.
Left-wing radicals are trained to spot “infiltrators” among within their protests. To get the best coverage, it’s important to blend in. It’s also wise to do so in terms of personal safety.
During the DNC protests–which were mostly centered around Union Park, which is roughly halfway between the UC and downtown Chicago–I witnessed three fights, but no one seemed to get injured in them.
Here are some tips regarding not only in covering protests. but also, how not to get spotted, to use a favorite put-down of the leftists, as a “counterrevolutionary.”
For starters, when you cover protests, whether the organizers have a rally permit or not, these gatherings often turn into marches. Wear comfortable shoes, dress for the weather, and depending on the conditions outdoors, have bottled water and sunscreen available. If you can’t remain on your feet for several hours, or if you don’t feel confident walking a few miles, then covering rallies is not for you.
And because these events can last several hours, bring light snacks.
Blending in:
The DNC protests were largely Hamas pep rallies—the attendees, politically speaking, for the most part, were to the left of Kamala Harris. Obviously, I left my Donald Trump button at home.
At these rallies—most credible sources said that about 3,500 protesters attended the big ones–often there are people handing out buttons and protest signs. Don’t sell yourself out. I picked out a “thought criminal” button and a “give peace a chance sign.” I support peace under the right conditions and as a Republican living in Illinois, that makes me a thought criminal.
And wear a hat with the logo of a local sports team. Once again, you want to blend it.
Don’t go alone. Okay, a couple of days last month, I broke that rule, but having someone watch your back is sound advice on most occasions in Chicago.
Have a cover story. Often, I’m asked at these protests, “Why are you here and who are you working for?” I always reply, truthfully, that I am a free-lance photographer and an amateur historian. Have a pseudonym already picked out, because someone may ask for your name. This is not the time for a Ralph Kramden “hummina-hummina-hummina” moment.
Ask permission to take someone’s photograph or to videotape them. There are several reasons. The first one is simply because it’s the polite thing to do. Secondly, you’ll capture much better images. Finally, it decreases the odds of you being identified as a provocateur.
What to do if spotted? I’ve only been outed once at a leftist protest, after someone noticed me speaking to a well-known conservative videographer. But because at that time the scene was chaotic–hooligans were throwing water bottles at police officers–the radicals quickly lost interest in me. If that attack on the cops hadn’t broken out, I would have left for home.
Live to document another day.
You don’t want to make the same mistake as two other videographers I know, who years ago not only refused to blend in at a protest, but when identified–which didn’t take long–they suffered the indignity of having their $1,000 video camera snatched from them. The leftists decided to play keep-away and catch with their equipment, which of course was quickly dropped on a sidewalk. Then the radicals stomped on the video camera.
Keep calm and remain strong. Imagine yourself as a glacier–sturdy and slow moving–with such a permanence that people forget you are there.
If you have your own tips on not getting noticed at left-wing protests, drop them in the comments section.
John Ruberry regularly blogs at Marathon Pundit.
Update (DTG) : Instalanche! Thanks Glenn (Actually Sarah Hoyt) John is on a roll! I always found that my doctor who scarf and hat make people assume I’m a leftist so all I had to do is be quiet and listen and I could cover any event without grief. It doesn’t take long for a leftist to pontificate if you just wait.
Judge: Mr. Crayhill, can we have your first witness?
Moriarty’s Defending Barrister: Your Honour, we’re not calling any witnesses.
Judge: I don’t follow. You’ve entered a plea of Not Guilty.
Moriarty’s Defending Barrister: Nevertheless, my client is offering no evidence. The defense rests.
Judge: [with Sherlock at home miming his words at home] Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. James Moriarty stands accused of several counts of attempted burglary, crimes which – if he’s found guilty – will elicit a very long custodial sentence; and yet his legal team has chosen to offer no evidence whatsoever to support their plea. I find myself in the unusual position of recommending a verdict wholeheartedly. You must find him guilty.
Sherlock: The Reichenbach Fall 2012
I’ve been re-watching the excellent series Sherlock staring Benedict Cumberbatch in the role that made him an international star as Sherlock Holmes, the excellent Martin Freeman as Watson and Andrew Scott as his arch enemy James Moriarty.
One of the interestingly odd things about the series is how Scott plays Moriarty as a boarded genius with a death wish who occasionally takes the time to demonstrate to others that anything and everything in the world is his at any time he wants it. Which is why he’s so board.
The image above is from Season two when Moriarty is arrested after he breaks into Bank of England, Pentonville prison and Tower of London where he is arrested with the Crown on his head and the scepter in his hands.
At his trial he makes no defense and the judge directs the jury to find him guilty. And they to the surprise of everyone but Sherlock and Moriarty, acquit him in minutes because both knew the fix was in, Moriarty because he fixed it at Sherlock because he’s smart.
And that’s what came to mind as I read the liveblog of the Kamala interview with reactions like this:
Aug 29, 2024 9:54 PM ET Ed MorrisseyOkay, a few thoughts. Bash failed to press Harris on the Biden cover-up, but she did at least kinda-sorta bring it up. Walz may have just as well stayed home, frankly. Harris’ answers on policy flip-flops and Day One agenda were complete dodges. She doesn’t have any substance.
I may write more tomorrow. I’m not sure this really gave us much to work with, which is probably what Team Kamala wanted.
and clips like this:
and this:
and this
and reactions like this:
and this:
Here is a situation where she had every advantage, every prop possible and he has completely tanked. This leads to the obvious question
Why is the left not panicked? Why are they as cool as Moriarty when he rested his case?
Could it be that they do this because they believe they can? Because the fix is in, because there is nothing that can be done to stop them and they want us to know it?
Or could it be that they are not Moriarty, but are in fact Zack Johnson from the Big Bang Theory
Howard: Preparing to fire laser at the moon.
Sheldon: Make it so.
Howard: There it is. There’s the spike!
Leonard: 2.5 seconds for the light to return. That’s the moon! We hit the moon!
Zack: That’s your big experiment? All that for a line on the screen?
Leonard: Yeah, but, uh, think about what this represents. The fact that we can do this is the only way of definitively proving that there are man-made objects on the moon, put there by a member of a species that only 60 years before had just invented the airplane.
Zack: What species is that?
Sheldon: I was wrong. Penny can do better.
I must confess I’m not yet sure if it’s the former or the latter but we will find out in 70 days.
Update: Townhall has issues too, the best line:
For the past several decades Progressives have maintained almost complete control over the entire educational system of the United States. The evidence of that is everywhere. Would Kamala Harris be remotely competitive in this presidential election if half the electorate was not utterly indoctrinated? This election would be a landslide for Trump.
If the founding principles of the United States and civics were still taught in school would the American people have complied so meekly with all of the COVID tyranny that swept across this nation four years ago. Hell no.
The American people would not put up with having nearly half of the income confiscated by the government every year. The Boston Tea Party is proof of this.
If the Left did not have a stranglehold on our educational system half of the population would not by stymied by basic scientific truths such as the fact that males and females are different. Half of the American people would not be ready to lynch you for declaring that man-made climate change is a fraud.
Freedom of speech would not be controversial at all if half the population was not brainwashed. Facebook and the rest of the social media outlets would not be able to censor their users at all.
The mainstream media would have very few viewers for their propaganda filled broadcasts if these viewers were not first thoroughly indoctrinated.
The political left began their takeover of the American educational system back in the sixties. Their opening move was quite brilliant. They infected teacher colleges. The graduates spread their contagion to the college level. Over the past decade even grade schools became cesspools of Marxist indoctrination.
Several years ago parents began speaking out at school board meeting against the brainwashing of their children. This was so successful the justice department under Joe Biden took action. If more parents spoke out, that would be a good start.
Cutting off the flow of money from the federal government to colleges would be a big help, along with abolishing the Department of Education. The unholy alliance between teacher unions and the Democrat Party also needs to come to an end.
There is so much more that needs to be done and little time left if we want to salvage our Constitutional Republic.
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