A report from The International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations presents alarming case studies of protest suppression and criminalization of political and social dissent around the world.It seems to me that there are three other obstacles preventing the overwhelming majority of the world's population from asserting power for themselves: the insistence of dissent only in the form of non-violence to counter ruling class violence, the belief in the legitimacy of elections managed by ruling classes, and ruling class's 24/7 indoctrination programs in media and schools.
The insistence on only the most passive non-violent forms of protest by "peace" activists such as Chris Hedges in the face of increasing violent methods of police forces regardless of constitutional guarantees has discouraged many from engaging in any public displays of protest. I think it is imperative that citizens throughout the world recognize that constitutions are not worth the paper they're printed on when tiny ruling classes control the means of violence. Participating in elections rarely change in a significant way the policies of ruling classes. At most, they can delay the worst policies. Finally, the 24/7 indoctrination programs colonize the minds of citizens to confuse and distract them from a real understanding of the oppression they are suffering from.
To counter the four obstacles--the violence of police forces, the belief that we must only engage in the most passive forms of non-violent protest, participating in meaningless elections, being dumbed down by ruling class indoctrination--we, the people of the world, must be willing to consider other forms of protests; participate only in elections if we can delay the worst of ruling class policies; establish our own media and think about establishing our own schools if we cannot exercise sufficient control over public schools.
