> The demonstrators being peaceful, singing and praying.

I never advocated against peaceful protest. You are describing the protest ideology I subscribe to, as described in the new version of The Anarchist Cookbook by the founders of Food Not Bombs: https://www.foodnotbombs.net/anarchist_cookbook.html

However:

https://tminstituteldf.org/police-and-protests-the-inequity-...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/20/nypd...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_police_violence_incide...

https://www.amnestyusa.org/aiusa-documents-police-violence-a...

Police in the USA beat peaceful protestors. Here's a picture of them pepper spraying students that are sitting down: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UC_Davis_pepper_spray_incident...

"Treating police like they're human beings" gets you beat in the USA. I am an advocate for peaceful protest, I'm just warning people - you will probably get shot with tear gas or bean bags or plastic bullets if you participate, and you might lose an eye or die as a result. I won't lie to people about this reality. Americans should still resist this rising fascism, but they should go with both eyes open (behind safety goggles).

> This shouldn't have any effect on a judgement. Can you seriously be convicted for such nebulous crimes in the USA?

Yes, you can be arrested and convicted of "resisting arrest," this happens to people who lawfully film police all the time. They are given an unlawful order, question it on camera, are arrested, and then because the cops have no crime to accuse them of, accuse them of "resisting arrest," and the judge agrees during probable cause determination. It's easier to get the probable cause determination if you say anything about your political opinions, which the type of people who film cops often can't help themselves from doing. And yes, that includes "tendency to disrespect authority." I've personally witnessed this happen to protest observers, though I'm too tired to dig through court docs and find examples.

I understand that you don't want America to be this way, or are in disbelief perhaps that it's that bad, but that is my whole point for sharing these stories - you're not the only one surprised that it's this bad! It's this bad. Don't come to America and if you do, don't talk to cops!!!!