The protests in St. Petersburg are massive. Why does a crowd that large let the police snatch

[mobeau69]

Individual protesters, one by one, out of it? An important universal truth to remember is that, ultimately, the police don’t keep the peace, the people do.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. That question could be asked about any protest where

protesters out number the police who arrest them.

[AkFemDem]

2. The protesters are incredibly brave and you're understating their risk

They can’t physically stop the “police” (gestapo might be the better word though) because it isn’t America- they will be beaten and killed if they try. “Civil rights” don’t exist there, and they wouldn’t be facing off against pepper spray and rough drops to the ground to be cuffed- they’d be facing firing squads.

I get the inclination to tie what’s happening in Russia into our own politics and civic scene but doing so minimizes the reality those people face; their incredible bravery, and the sheer danger they’re in right now.

[Buckeyeblue]

3. It may eventually get to that point. They aren't there yet

When it does, we may have a full blown revolution. I think it depends on the will of the Russian people.

[crud]

6. hopefully a tipping point will come

when the size of the crowds become large enough, and the authorities lose control of the security forces who then leave the fight.

[mobeau69]

7. Like the mass of humanity that overthrew the Shaw of Iran.

[Buckeyeblue]

10. And look what that did for us...

[mobeau69]

11. It's what years of turning our eyes and backing the Shaw did for us.

[Ocelot II]

4. Maybe they don't want to be shot?

[LiberatedUSA]

5. What would happen here in the USA...

…if protesters decided to outgun the cops and actively use AR-15s to shoot any police resistance?

Would the cops call it a day or would the escalation of force by the crowd get met with more escalated force; as in armed national Guard? With an end result, assuming it got to that point, being the Insurrection Act being invoked?

Putin would have them all, however many, slaughtered.

[FakeNoose]

8. The police can't arrest everyone

As long as the protesters hold their ground, they have safety in numbers. I sincerely hope these cops aren't the kind that "shoot first and ask questions later." I don't believe they are. The civil protesters who are non-violent should not be cowed or bullied by police.

[Iwasthere]

9. Handcuffs

They couldn't snatch them individually if hundreds were handcuffed together. all of it course being visibly filmed for the world to see. Many many cameras, so when they took out cameras that action also would be fimed.