Could it not be torches symbolizing the classic peasants coming against the aristocracy with pitchforks and torches?

Who knows what they intended to put across with those torches. It doesn't really matter. All that matters is how it was perceived. They evoked the Charlottesville rally (the only other rally people have seen with those tiki torches) which is an extremely bad look.

That's my point. These dummies shot themselves in the foot by not thinking this tiki torch thing through. Now they look like those Charlottesville white nationalists. Good luck getting your anti-lockdown point across to people who now think you're white nationalists. Making people think you're crazy isn't really a good first step in persuading them to see things your way. I don't know why this is such a controversial idea.

Could it not be torches symbolizing the classic peasants coming against the aristocracy with pitchforks and torches?

Who knows what they intended to put across with those torches. It doesn't really matter. All that matters is that they evoked the Charlottesville rally (the only other rally people have seen with those tiki torches) which is an extremely bad look.

That's my point. These dummies shot themselves in the foot by not thinking this tiki torch thing through. Now they look like those Charlottesville white nationalists. Good luck getting your anti-lockdown point across to people who now think you're white nationalists. Making people think you're crazy isn't really a good first step in persuading them to see things your way. I don't know why this is such a controversial idea.