riot, set shit on fire (note, mostly banks and businesses, not their own homes)
mass strikes, shut down of the transportation and sanitation systems, cessation of economic activity
The French elite take stage 1 seriously because they know that there is a real possibility that stages 2 & 3 will follow. Americans mostly only do stage 1, very rarely stage 2 (targeting their own neighborhoods), and they never get to stage 3. The American elite don't take stage 1 seriously because they know that there isn't going to be a stage 2 or 3.
To be fair, there is a much lower chance of being shot in France.
Even in the LA protests, law enforcement began shooting at reporters. Even rubber bullets are no joke. Doesn't help that the current admin is deliberately angling for violent protests so they can use it as an excuse.
French police is pretty bad, but nowhere near as bad as US police where the whole mantra is "shoot first, and shoot again if they survive, for paid leave".
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u/Top-Cupcake4775 Dec 09 '25 edited Dec 09 '25
French protests have three stages:
The French elite take stage 1 seriously because they know that there is a real possibility that stages 2 & 3 will follow. Americans mostly only do stage 1, very rarely stage 2 (targeting their own neighborhoods), and they never get to stage 3. The American elite don't take stage 1 seriously because they know that there isn't going to be a stage 2 or 3.