I actually think Portland absolutely has the right idea with showing up to protest in ways that make violence against them look not only unjustified but absolutely ridiculous. Ah yes, the people line dancing in inflatable animal costumes. Terrifying. Clearly pepper spraying the dancing frog guy was totally justified.
I think we need Gothic Lolita protestors. People in Star Trek uniforms. Slap on a pair of short shorts and a Richard Simmons wig and lead some sweating to the oldies.
It may be intentional, it may just be people have always been people- or a combination of both- but tactical frivolity is a thing that has been around since BCE.
It is 100% protest, but it’s also showing the ridiculousness of the situation, and the People in Charge usually would rather face a warlord unarmed than be made fun of. And it ruins the “violent, unstable” population myth in an undeniable way.
It’s also saying “you may be trying to control us, and our lives have turned to shit because of the things you are doing, but you will never take away our hope and the simple joy of being alive. Even in our darkest hour, we can dance in silly costumes and find our people and become stronger because of it.”
Tactical frivolity! Thank you for the term!