Had a very interesting discussion

[nashville_brook]

17. the question should be, are these acts strategically net positive

spraypaint isn't a violent crime, but it's can be a very stupid thing to do given time/place/manner. graffiti art is one thing -- that's an acceptable "manner" if the "placement" of it is acceptable. but, if your group spray paints the park where the camp is, that's strategically a stupid "place."

here's another problem with vandalism -- if people in your group employ vandalism as a form of "speech" then every act of vandalism in your community is going to be blamed on you.

in our group we've managed to keep the vandalism down to a minimum (there's been one or two problems that were quickly addressed within the group). we encourage street art, with chalk -- and fought a legal battle over it that became a decent teaching moment about speech issues and selective prosecution. if spray paint had been the issue, we wouldn't have had the media win and would have lost the opportunity to speak to the community about selective prosecution.

the community will get behind you if you're strategic in your means of direct action. but know that they are fickle. the second you take the low road you'll lose the battle of hearts and minds.