Destruction of property, which is what is being labelled as "violence" in this thread (and many others like it), has been a legitimate form of civil disobedience since the founding of the United States.

Y'all do recall a little thing called the Boston Tea Party?

Mayhem IS a centerpiece of shutting down operations, folks. If you are opposed to it, then I think those of us who consider it to be a perfectly legitimate form of protest know which side you are really on. The side of the police and the side of the politicians who voted for the Patriot Act, right?

Oh--and let's not forget the frenzy specialists, the mainstream media.

None of the activities described here resulted in physical harm to anyone.

The bombings in Afghanistan, and the blockade of Iraq on the other hand...