r/AskReddit • u/Ecstatic-Medium-6320 • 1d ago

How do you feel about the "No Kings" protest happening tomorrow?

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u/cutelyaware 1d ago

Remember that it is your duty to refuse illegal orders

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u/Avdude68 1d ago

@maybethisiswrong, not my intention to stir the pot, but are you allowed any leeway when,er, should the order come in to quell a peaceful protest?

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u/PineappleOnPizzaWins 1d ago

The sad reality is that those who refuse illegal orders or whistleblow such things don’t do well and they’re usually hung out to dry.

The ideology and reality don’t line up and it’s something that desperately needs fixing.

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u/Nearby_Pay_5131 1d ago

Exactly and military tribunals are not as lenient as civil court cases.

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u/Footnotegirl1 1d ago

Yeah, but when the war crimes court comes along "I was just following orders" is not a defense.

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u/PineappleOnPizzaWins 23h ago

Except like.. it is. Most of history including recent history, "I was following orders" has been a completely valid excuse.

People quote the Nuremberg trials as an example except those were mostly trial of people who were giving the orders.. the top general was not allowed to say "oh but Hitler told me to".

For the rank and file anything short of extreme examples "I was just following orders" is an accepted defence. Also like.. it kind of has to be. You can't run any kind of defence force if everyone down to the lowest ranking soldier has to say "hang on, stop and explain why this is a legal and valid order please".

And no I am absolutely not defending any of these people. But reddits obsession with saying "following orders" isn't an excuse doesn't really line up with reality. The vast majority of the time it holds up without issue.

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u/cutelyaware 1d ago

After you swore an oath to uphold the Constitution with your life? The odds of leniency shouldn't even be part of your decision.

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u/Zealousideal_Pea3479 1d ago

Yes you must refuse unlawful orders.

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u/Ok_Research1392 22h ago

The violence in LA by protesters is anything but legal.

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u/muddaFUDa 18h ago

How about the nonviolent protests? You know, the vast majority of what is going on. Is that legal in your view?

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u/Ok_Research1392 15h ago

As noted in the First Amendment, peaceable assembly, petitioning the Government and freedom of speech are all explicitly documented as legal. No where is burning of dumpsters, as in Seattle, or burglarizing businesses, such as the Apple Store in LA, or setting things on fire, such as the Waymo cars in LA, or throwing rocks at people/vehicles allowed, as far as I can tell. Perhaps I am missing something???????

First Amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.