the natural guess is that folk are refusing to answer questions about groups of armed thugs that went about smashing stuff

It's all very well to be opposed to government on principle, I suppose -- but unless one can develop a mass movement with the nonviolent discipline shown by the Mahatma's followers, one loses the propaganda struggle with most of the world

Normal people, in any case, usually have a strong dislike for armed thugs who go about smashing stuff

So, Mr Maddy Pfeiffer, for now I'm just writing you down as childish and naive

Who go around the world smashing things on behalf of corporations!

For now, I'm writing them down as naive tools of the corporate state...

I also have a strong dislike for the armed thugs who call themselves "policemen," these days...

in downtown Seattle strikes a blow against anything, other than a few random windows: it certainly does nothing to interfere with the exploitation of workers abroad, or the use of military power to support private profiteers

...profiteers than you have with your litany of disdaining, snarky posts.

Which is why you'll always be safe from a Grand Jury's Sauron-like eye. And those on the streets won't.

the silly personal attacks?

I guess you're the only judge of who warrants a silly personal attack then.

Perhaps come back when you have something constructive -- and not snarky -- to add to an actual discussion?

amongst the folk in Seattle for people to come to their city and smash windows? Is this window-smashing convincing ordinary folk in Seattle to renounce all cooperation with capitalism and maybe to abolish the city police department, too? Are most folk in Seattle filled with outrage that there's a Federal grand jury looking into the organized window smashers?

Do you disagree with my political remarks about Gandhi? Do you think mob vandalism, used as a political strategy, has an honorable history and a bright future?

And then get irked when others speculate. About you, for example.

May Day protests turn violent in downtown Seattle
Mayor signs proclimation of civil emergency
By CASEY MCNERTHNEY, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF
Updated 12:17 am, Wednesday, May 2, 2012

... Police were not especially close as protestors shattered windows at a downtown Seattle Wells Fargo shortly after noon Tuesday, nor were they close to anarchist protestors who threw rocks through windows, shattered glass door panels and set off a smoke bomb at the old federal courthouse near Sixth Avenue and Spring Street.

The violent demonstrators calling for the end of capitalism and school were mostly teens and adults in their early 20s. Mostly young men used wooden sticks to shatter the former courthouse windows while several young women threw projectiles into federal building windows ...

Protestors threw paint bombs of florescent green and blood red, damaging businesses and sidewalks near the downtown library. Anarchists turned on photographers, and KING/5 photojournalist Richard Departee was struck in the face with a wood pole. He kept rolling with blood dripping down the left side of his neck. Another reporter, KOMO/4's Joel Moreno, was doused with red paint near Westlake Park Tuesday evening.

After anarchists left the former federal courthouse, they turned to windows at Niketown, the Taphouse Grill, American Apparel and other locations – and police moved in faster. The Homestreet Bank in the 1300 block of Sixth Avenue had a large window shattered and a Bank of America in the 500 block of Olive Street had windows shattered during the afternoon rally ...

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Windows-shattered-as-protesters-march-in-downtown-3525107.php

Here's footage of the old Federal courthouse in Seattle being damaged:


You can find lots of video like that. The fact that groups of thugs were smashing windows in Seattle on May Day is well documented, not speculative. And the assumption, that the Seattle grand jury subpoenas are related to the Seattle May Day events, is a widespread assumption, not originating with me, and supported by some evidence:

Two Portland residents facing federal grand jury subpoena from Seattle vow they won't cooperate
Published: Wednesday, August 01, 2012, 4:17 PM Updated: Wednesday, August 01, 2012, 8:07 PM
Maxine Bernstein, The Oregonian

... Attorneys from the National Lawyers Guild in Seattle suspect the subpoenas are related to an ongoing FBI investigation into May Day vandalism in Seattle, including damage to a federal courthouse there. The two Portland residents, Dennison Williams, 33, and Leah Plante, 24, will appear at 2 p.m. before the grand jury in Seattle, but pledged they won't cooperate ... Representatives from Portland's and Seattle's FBI offices and the U.S. Attorney's office in Seattle have declined comment. But federal court records indicate authorities are looking into an "organized 'black block' of anarchists" who marched all in black, carried red flags on sticks and sticks with screws or bolts on the ends and broke out windows of the William Kenzo Nakamura U.S. Courthouse in Seattle on May Day ...

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2012/08/two_portland_residents_facing.html

Originally published December 14, 2012 at 8:30 PM
Page modified December 15, 2012 at 6:23 PM
May Day protest witness won't testify, contempt charge looms
Another witness in the federal grand jury investigation into the May Day protests appears on his way to federal detention for refusing to testify
By Mike Carter
Seattle Times staff reporter

An Olympia man who has refused to testify before a federal grand jury investigating vandalism and violence at Seattle's May Day protest was given until the day after Christmas to testify or report to the SeaTac Federal Detention Center to serve a sentence of up to 18 months for contempt.

Matthew Pfeiffer, 23, refused to say whether he would change his mind as he left a federal courtroom in Seattle on Friday amid a throng of friends, family and supporters.

Pfeiffer is the fourth witness who has refused to testify after being subpoenaed by a grand jury empaneled to investigate vandalism that occurred at the William Kenzo Nakamura U.S. Courthouse on Fifth Avenue.

The investigation, being run by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, has issued at least five search warrants and has involved agents in two states. One of the search warrants was obtained by The Seattle Times before it was sealed and revealed that some members of a so-called "black bloc" anarchist group were being watched by investigators in Oregon even before the May Day protests ...

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019907213_mayday15m.html


I don't think it's particularly controversial of me to point out that the black bloc vandalism is incoherent violence, without strategic value and unlikely to win popular support for any movement that the public regards as associated. Activists who want to win hearts and minds in Seattle would probably do much better to adopt Gandhian tactics and to distance themselves from the black bloc gangsters

Ergo, you were guessing.

Which is to say, speculating.

Snippet from article:

Currently a federal grand jury in Seattle is purportedly investigating the May Day protests, but it is widely decried as a witch hunt due to its focus only on the anarchist movement. Maddy will be joining KteeO Olejnik and Matt Duran who are in prison for their own dedication to their principles and refusal to provide information to an investigative body that they view as invalid. Both Oljnik and Duran remain strong in their resolve and appreciate the outpouring of support they have received from around the world.

Hundreds of supporters called and emailed District Judge Richard A Jones yesterday demanding an end to the grand jury investigation targeting people based on their political beliefs and the release of all those being held in contempt.