A protester stands next to the road with a sign; a bully stands in the road to stop you from driving

It’s increasingly clear some causes are just licenses to people to unleash their inner bully, and it’s time we point that out because we are never safer when bullies win.

Three Extinction Rebellion extremists stopped the Grand Final parade. Picture: 7 News

I protest. This story about Melbourne’s Grand Final parade last Friday used a word that’s fake news: “Three Extinction Rebellion protesters leapt the barriers before sitting down in the path of a ute carrying the premiership cup.” 

“Protesters” is wrong. That’s not the right word for the three Extinction Rebellion extremists who stopped the parade, even trying to glue themselves to the road.

Protesters are actually people announcing they are against something, hoping to get others to join their fight.

But these three couldn’t have thought for a second that stopping fans seeing their football heroes would win their cause a single friend.

Protester is not the right word for these people. Picture: 7 News

Indeed, that same newspaper report said police “managed to drag the protesters away to loud cheers from the thousands of Collingwood and Brisbane supporters”.

No, these people are really “bullies”.

Here’s the difference. A protester tells you what they think; a bully tries to force you to give in.

A protester stands next to the road with a sign; a bully stands in the road to stop you from driving by.

What’s more, it’s increasingly clear that some causes are just licenses to people to unleash their inner bully.

Global warming is one. This year climate activists felt entitled to stop a US Open tennis semi-final in New York, a world snooker championship in Sheffield, the second Ashes test in London, and a tennis match at Wimbledon.

Jonny Bairstow removes a ‘Just Stop Oil’ pitch invader during the second Ashes test match. Picture: Getty

In contrast, people against their climate extremism haven’t stopped a single game or race. Nor have they attacked paintings, blocked roads or invaded the homes of gas executives, as have climate extremists.

See, they don’t have that same licence to bully.

Race politics is another such licence. Race bullies have set fire to the old Parliament House, trashed a federal politician’s office and screamed insults at people going to hear anti-Voice speaker.

Some of our most famous philosophers have warned of bullies like this. CS Lewis claimed they were the worst: “Those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.”

Bertrand Russell had their number: “Much that passes as idealism is disguised hatred or disguised love of power.”

Look now at many Voice activists, claiming to be against racism while really fighting to give their preferred race more power.

They’re just bullies, and we must be clear and say so, because we are never safer when bullies win.