by Costume Party or Political Statement?
In a masterclass of political spin that would make George Orwell reach for his thesaurus, Democratic officials have successfully rebranded last week’s tear gas-filled immigration protest as “an enthusiastic Halloween parade with atmospheric effects.” City permits have been retroactively filed under “festive gatherings” rather than “civil unrest,” and police are now claiming the tear gas was actually “spooky fog machines.”
Protest organizers initially objected to the reclassification until they realized it meant they could expense their gas masks as costume accessories. “I was going for post-apocalyptic chic anyway,” explained one demonstrator while adjusting their respirator. The protest rebranding movement has gained traction among activists who’ve discovered that calling things by different names doesn’t change reality but does confuse the narrative.
Local news outlets have eagerly adopted the new framing, with headlines shifting from “Police Deploy Chemical Agents on Protesters” to “Halloween Enthusiasts Enjoy Immersive Haunted Experience.” One anchor described the scene as “frightfully realistic,” which is technically accurate when you’re running from actual law enforcement.
The art of political gaslighting reached new heights as officials handed out candy to tear-gassed protesters, calling it “community engagement.” Witnesses reported that the treats were mostly consolation prizes for having your constitutional rights violated with seasonal flair.
Social media exploded with hot takes, with some praising the creative approach to civil disobedience and others pointing out that calling a protest a parade doesn’t make the pepper spray any less burny. But in modern politics, perception is reality, and if we all agree to call it Halloween, then crying from chemical irritants is just really method acting.
SOURCE: https://bohiney.com/democrats-rebrand-tear-gassed-ice-protest-as-halloween-parade/
SOURCE: Democrats Rebrand Tear-Gassed ICE Protest as Halloween Parade (https://bohiney.com/democrats-rebrand-tear-gassed-ice-protest-as-halloween-parade/)
