Salem Brought a Guillotine To Oppose New Data Center. Company Reps Left, Feeling “Unsafe”.
10 days ago by ViceroTempus to c/politics
Someone brought a guillotine to a city council meeting in Salem, Oregon on July 27, 2026. Not a sign shaped like one. Not a drawing. According to community accounts and social media posts, an actual guillotine structure appeared at the protest outside Loucks Auditorium, where hundreds of residents had gathered to oppose a proposed multi-billion-dollar AI data center. Company representatives reportedly assessed the scene and left, citing safety concerns — though that detail hasn't appeared in formal news coverage or official minutes.
I believe the consensus is that a successful popular movement needs 3 elements:
- a nonviolent protest movement to communicate and build support with the broader population
- a political party to communicate and enable negotiations with the opposing group
- a militant wing to provide a threat that incentivizes negotiations
Without the popular front, the political and militant groups will lose support of the population as well as their recruitment pipeline.
The political party can reduce the amount of violence and deprivation required to achieve objectives, by setting clear goals.
Without the militants, the opposing power already has a monopoly on violence and has no incentive to come to the table peacefully.
Ethiopia managed to keep the British out with something very similar.
There was a bit of a snafu, and the British sent soldiers to accompany a diplomatic envoy.
The Ethiopians made a big show of marching soldiers around the British while the diplomats negotiated.
The message was clear "we are not interested in violence, we will however use it."
The British left. They managed to keep the Italians out by kicking their ass. Repeatedly.
Non violent protest can work, if the implicit message is that "We will resort to violence if we need to. We are doing you a favor by being peaceful, do not mistake our kindness for submission."
That's one model!
Still gotta kill the wealthy.
It's how the Suffragists finally got heard.
It's literally the only way to negotiate with the powerful.
Always was.
They fear ONLY for their personal well-being, they don't even care about their own kids.
That's just not true. Its the closest they cone to fucking someone who looks like they do, without the person they're fucking being old (12+) and gross! They care a little!
You must speak before you fight, its the first step on the escalation ladder.
That's with people,cwho could possibly hive a shit what you have to say.
For the wealthy or conservative violence is speech. It's the only speech.
Dammit which one of you guys gave them permission?
Suing does not work and is not worth the cost when it pretends to.
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Violence is literally the only thing that works on the wealthy and the right wing. Don't even bother speaking.
save