Apparently the police are OK with any protestors doing basically anything if they've all got AR-15s and burning or lynching effigies of politicians they disagree with, because apparently that's how adults handle disagreements in civil societies. That would be another way to render themselves invisible to the police, based on the last 50 years or so of anecdotal evidence.

I may be missing some critical elements though, like Confederate flags or swastikas or blatantly threatening behavior or obvious symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome. It sure is odd, the sorts of things that put American cops at ease. Really odd.

Your second stance is a great way to get tackled.

Whether or not you have somebody with you willing to defend you, which simultaneously forfeits their life, is the important thing. Turns out, people don't seem to be so willing to give their life for democracy. Unfortunate, because that's how it's forever snuffed.

> Can citizens buy riot shields?

Materials supply is scarce right now due to covid -- all the plastic sheeting gone to face masks, barriers in grocery stores, etc.

http://www.yeoldegaffers.com/project_shieldpress.asp