seen so many posts in the last week from so many people in so many different places about showing up to participate in some political action or demonstration, putting all this trust in the apparent 'leaders,' and then going home feeling frustrated and betrayed because those 'leaders' misdirected people into defanging their own collective action. and people are leaving those actions feeling defeated and discouraged and helpless.
and that's..... by design. people who are trying to control what action you take, trying to convince you that your only chance at effective collective action is to hand over your collective power to themselves, is literally trying to disempower you. they would in fact rather you go home and never participate in any action ever again than have you show up and decide to take any action other than the (usually impotent) action they're trying to steer everyone into.
but this is real life and there are no actual leaders. organizers do not own those blocks of time or public space. you do not need someone else's permission to choose what actions you do or do not want to take. you have an inherent right to choose what risks you are and are not willing to accept. and someone who lies to you about the risk involved in an action you are showing up for, or who misleads you about the intent and effects of an action to prevent you from choosing to engage in action of your own, is not your comrade or your ally or your friend. they are manipulating you in pursuit of their own objectives, whatever those may be. they are treating you as an enemy.
someone taking an authoritative tone and position does not make them trustworthy and someone assuming a leadership role does not mean you owe them respect or compliance. if anything, the louder and more conspicuous an 'organizer' is, the more suspicious you should probably be.
And an organizer using the looming threat of police violence to keep you confined within the established bounds of their planned action is an extension of those police, not an alternative to them.
does feel a bit like preaching to the choir posting this here but shit has been making me sad and i feel like venting so here we are
also about 50% of the megaphones at any given protest are being spoken into by people in assorted political cults, like the PSL. you should honestly distrust megaphones more than randos ime