Thread by @GeorgeMonbiot

The black bloc more or less destroyed the global justice protests at the beginning of this century. We must do everything we can to exclude them from the climate protests.

Our hopes of radical transformation 20 years ago were smashed by masked bullies and agents provocateurs, infiltrated by the police in the hope of destroying our movement. They succeeded. We must never let it happen again. Our protests are non-violent and will stay that way.

To those calling me a "centrist", "neoliberal" etc etc:
Anyone who believes that smashing random shop windows and turning over some cars then scurrying home is more radical than a strategic, planned attempt to change the entire system mistakes the spectacle for the substance.

What do the authorities want? To divide protest movements and alienate them from the public, and to replace discussion of the protesters' demands with horror at their methods. From the police/government point of view, the ideal image is a masked and hooded man smashing a window.

Rule 1 of all effective protest is don't give the authorities what they want. They want to portray protesters as masked thugs without a rational purpose or programme, mindlessly smashing things up. Never give them the chance to play that script.