Tanzania Bans Protest, Bloomberg Finds Authoritarianism Only 'Over There'
Bloomberg breathlessly reports that Tanzania has banned Independence Day protests, with authorities warning citizens to stay indoors unless facing 'emergencies.' This, according to the prestigious financial news outlet, is a clear sign of authoritarian creep. Funny how 'emergencies' are defined differently when they involve suppressing public dissent, isn't it? One might almost think this kind of
state control over public assembly is a uniquely 'developing world' problem. Yet, somehow, when protesters against police brutality or endless wars are met with militarized police forces, 'no-go zones,' and mass arrests in Western democracies, it's merely 'maintaining order.' The optics of a government silencing inconvenient voices are only truly scandalous when the country isn't a strategic ally,
it seems. Funny how these 'freedoms' are universally lauded, but only universally applicable when pointing a finger in a convenient direction.