While the Fourth of July is supposed to be a day of celebration, quite a few Americans use the occasion as an opportunity to protest. In NYC, among the various groups that gathered, the most striking and memorable were the black-clad protesters stationed outside the federal courthouse. All of them were dressed in black as if attending a funeral, and in their eyes, they were. Not for a person, but for America itself.
In footage shared online from NYC, the black-clad protesters can be seen chanting and singing in somber tones. The atmosphere was haunting, with their voices flat and heavy, creating an eerie effect. Over and over, they chanted, “We love people.” At one point, they began walking in slow circles.
Some held up plain black flags, symbols of mourning or protest. Afterward, the group sat in silence, still and quiet, as if participating in a collective funeral for the country. It was a sharp contrast to the typical NYC protest where people hold signs, chant slogans, and make noise.
Many internet users took notice of the NYC protest and found the approach of the black-clad protesters to be quite unique. Some found it theatrical or even odd. One user joked, “Theater kids at it again.” Others called it cringe, expressing disbelief that anyone would act like that in public.
Still, some came to the defense of the black-clad protesters. One Redditor wrote, “This is definitely hella cringe but what’s even more cringe is all the privileged 16-year-olds still living at home with their parents commenting on posts like these pretending our current federal government ISN’T a threat to our democracy.”
Some people pointed out how difficult it must have been to wear all-black clothing while standing outside in the summer heat. Still, plenty of others criticized the black-clad protesters, calling the demonstration performative and attention-seeking.
A few even went so far as to say, “If you hate America, please leave :)” Others labeled the group as crazy or suggested that their presence somehow encouraged bullying, as if speaking out in an unconventional way was something shameful.
One user wrote, “No, it’s not. This is completely performative. They should try organizing or getting involved in local politics. That’s real work. This is just play.” A handful of people admitted they didn’t even understand what the protest was about or what message the black-clad protesters were trying to send.
At the same time, others believed that the protest was effective simply based on how much outrage it sparked. One user commented, “I love how this was so threatening to so many people that they just had to come out here and complain about it on Reddit lol.”
