The round of protests following the elections of both Trump and May seem to echo a previous time when street protesters have been harnessed, funded and egged-on in an effort to bring about political change far beyond the scope of that imagined by those protesting. We see the same echo in relation to the current wave of eco protesters.

Gary Allen, Journalist, described what happened in the 60s and 70s in the US thus:

‘What we are witnessing is the Communist tactic of pressure from above and pressure from below, described by Communist historian Jan Kozak as the device used by the Reds to capture control of Czecho-Slovakia. The pressure from above comes from secret, ostensibly respectable Comrades in the government and Establishment, forming, with the radicalized mobs in the streets below, a giant pincer around middle-class society. The street rioters are pawns, shills, puppets, and dupes for an oligarchy of elitist conspirators working above to turn… limited government into an unlimited government with total control over our lives and property.’ (‘None Dare Call it Conspiracy’, Gary Allen)

According to Allen, back then and there it was the Young Socialist Alliance, and other protest groups, whose strings were being pulled in an attempt to bring about a ‘giant leap forward’ in the US. He goes on to say:

‘”Change” is a word we hear over and over. By “change” these groups mean Socialism. Virtually all members of these groups sincerely believe that they are fighting the Establishment. In reality they are an indispensible ally of the Establishment in fastening Socialism on all of us. The naive radicals think that under Socialism the “people” will run everything. Actually, it will be a clique of Insiders in total control, consolidating and controlling all wealth. That is why these schoolboy Lenins and teenage Trotskys are allowed to roam free and are practically never arrested or prosecuted. They are protected. If the Establishment wanted the revolutionaries stopped, how long do you think they would be tolerated?’ (Ibid.)

And they are tolerated, as we see from the ineffective, even fawning, response of police towards some kinds of protesters, leading to frustration from those they disrupt. It all makes for a recipe of increasing tension and greater likelihood of violence in the streets.

Allen suggests their movements are financed by the very kinds of people they think they are fighting, making them puppets in the truest sense of the word.

Acquaintances who have at various times attended marches, can attest to these peaceful demonstrations of democracy being invaded on the day by a disruptive element who’s object and purpose was at odds with the genuine protesters. An element that sought to promote violence and discord among the most innocuous of protesters. It is the same today, that power hungry people will leverage almost any grievance to further a larger political ambition through violent protest. You will recognise them by their willingness to use violence to respond to those who disagree with them.

But to what end? While the streets garner our attention in the media we must be aware that this would be only one half of the pincer Allen writes about, in which we are caught. The other half of the pincer, the real danger, is from above. The streets simply:

‘”…provide the excuse for the government to take over the people, by passing more and more repressive laws to ‘keep things under control.’

‘The radicals make a commotion in the streets while the Limousine Liberals at the top …are Socializing us. We are going to have a dictatorship of the elite disguised as a dictatorship of the proletariat.’ (Ibid.)

And let me be clear, when I say “the streets” this could encompass not only violent protest but also home grown terrorism. Let’s not be ignorant of the fact that our ‘intelligence’ agencies were aware of threats and persons of interest involved but the attacks still happened. This too provides “…the excuse for the government to take over the people, by passing more and more repressive laws to ‘keep things under control.’” (Ibid.)

But the pincer is closing. If we fail to remain vigilant to what is going on, and fail to act as a voice of calm, of reason, of freedom, of individual liberty, there is every chance the trend of violence and disruption will grow until the state has the perfect excuse to curtail our liberties even further – which, if Allen is right, would indeed have been the whole point all along.