I went to the May Day protests this year, but mainly walked on the sidewalk, away from the bulk of the crowd. Once we got to downtown, the police presence was so heavy and crowded that I ended up ducking into a back alley. What did I find? An unmarked black van, with a bunch of burly 30 to 40 somethings wearing and putting on Black Bloc gear. They also looked quite startled when I stumbled upon them, but being a small woman wearing a nice shirt and jeans and a headscarf, I posed no threat to them, and they then ignored me as I walked past, doing the same to them. The ‘anarchists’ and Black Bloc people I actually know in Seattle? Skinny kids and 20 somethings, who don’t have the money for shiny tactical boots, and definitely don’t have the money for a black van. It was pretty obvious these guys were undercovers of some type.

Comment on Escalating Tensions in Ferguson, Missouri | MetaFilter

The more violent this gets, the better for the cops & authorities. The last thing any of them want is a renewed civil rights movement.