Protesting has become an occupation, a way of life for some, in America. We see demonstrations at political rallies and at town halls all across our nation, many staged by professional protesters; these are delinquents who get bussed or sent to protests around America, many of whom get paid as professional thugs.

Protests are getting to be manufactured. Small groups of loud-mouthed people show up at meetings or events in some politician’s district, where the loudmouths don’t even live. They do their screaming and, in some cases, property destruction and violence, then climb back on the bus and head to the next incident. Some of them are bought and paid for. There are organizations that hire, train, dress and prepare rioters and protesters “to show up at various events”.

Protesting comes in mild forms and wild forms. The milder forms are staged by lay activists who want to gain attention and awareness by waving signs, or to persuade lawmakers to act. Then we have the demonstrators for toxic identity politics based on gender, disability, race, religion; these screamers pollute college minds by infecting campus life, disrupting meetings, making self-important speeches at awards shows, calling for hostility against the police. “Identity politics is about insecure, attention-seeking people exerting payback on others…… basing their actions on (accusations) of unfairness, when in fact their major goal is to exact unfair punishment on you”, says The Five’s Greg Gutfeld. A few of the perennially offended honestly believe they are righteous condemners.

Moving up the protester totem pole, we come to the rise of the grievance industry and grievance politics. Generally, these people are forever angry, calling themselves victims entitled to redress, reparation or compensation, and wallowing in a culture of complaints. Most of these grievance mongers are fringe people, half-crazy hustlers. The mainstream media have legitimized this rabble by giving them unwarranted publicity, interviewing them and airing their beefs, ad nauseam.

These days, we see the rise of the professional protesters, who make a living or a career out of grievance or anarchist politics. These are the more psychotic characters, a few steps above the “If it feels good, do it” hordes. These are the Frankenstein monsters who sow chaos and confusion and who tear at the fabric of the republic. Many of them are not into real-world legitimate grievance, rather they prefer grievance that’s invented. No respect for people and property. Nearly everything the establishment does offends them, so they create divisiveness by inciting class, gender and race hatred. Many of them are mentally ill, violent property destroyers who harm people and break laws. Looting and fire-bombing is seen as protest.

That’s the reality. So, what to do about violent protesters? First, understand that they often come masked and armed with clubs, they throw Molotov cocktails, burn cars and piles of tires, and block streets. They don’t listen to reason. They push and push harder, and most do not back off unless faced with equal force. They only understand harsh tit for tat conflict.

Such protesters are only defeated when they are taught hard lessons that there are repercussions for bad behavior. They need painful reminders that an anarchist’s life is not romantic. You play with the bull, you get the horns. You put yourself in harm’s way, get ready for a cracked skull. If you strike a cop or a counter-demonstrator, you get a trussed-up ride downtown to the pokey, where you might find your cellmate eyeing you fondly.

If you’re a protester reading this, you need to understand that while you have a right to free speech, it doesn’t make you credible or correct and you are not entitled to have anyone listen to you. If you use violence and destroy property, you’re not only a criminal, you are a thug who does not belong in civilized society.  No barbarians allowed in the gate. You are not a hero if you try to overturn American value systems and institutions that were built up democratically over 240 years.

When you destroy, you pay. And if you are a protester who loots, the payment might be to be shot on sight.

Op-ed views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of BizPac Review.

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John R. Smith

John R. Smith is chairman of BIZPAC, the Business Political Action Committee of Palm Beach County, and owner of a financial services company. He is a frequent columnist for BizPac Review.

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