News Events around the George Floyd protests and riots, US and beyond

[scout86]

highly disappointed to see the violence that has come about because of Mr. Floyd's wrongful death

At the risk of going all "conspiracy theory" on you guys, I think this might be more complicated that it looks and I think that matters.

A friend of mine lives a few blocks from the 3rd precinct in Minneapolis. I talked to her the day BEFORE the worst of the arson and looting in Minneapolis. The day after the first violence though. She commented that she wondered about the people who were involved because the voices she heard included accents that didn't seem to be local. It's a pretty diverse area. You might hear a Somali accent, or a Hmong accent, an east Asian accent, or a plain old Minnesotan accent. I didn't ask her about it at the time, just thought it was odd. At the time, I was more interested in listening to her vent about the loss of her grocery store, the post office, the small businesses of her neighbors, etc. But she made the comment BEFORE any public officials mentioned outside influences.

We have a lot of hate groups in this country. Far as I'm concerned, most of them live in some version of the white supremacy universe. Their ultimate goal is some version of the same racist goal. These people have something to gain by sowing chaos. They have something to gain by burning down ethnically diverse neighborhoods, and they have something to gain by making people who support equal justice look bad. Besides that, I suspect a lot of them think violence is fun. (JMO, based on radical bigots I have known.) I really and truly think that a lot of the extreme violence was started by people from groups like that, or their wannabe followers. Were they all from out of town? I hardly think so. We have plenty of wackos of that ilk around here who'd be willing to drive a couple hours to the Cities to have a little "fun" supporting their cause. There's some media coverage of this locally. Sounds like it's being investigated at the state level, and maybe also by the FBI. I hope they pursue this and get somewhere, because these people are dangerous.

Sometimes it's even entire departments that goes bad and that is horrific and needs to be dealt with.

I don't think the entire department in Minneapolis is bad, but I DO think there's a strong undercurrent that is. On paper, it probably looks more or less fine. The last chief of police was a gay woman. This one is a black guy, born and raised in the area. Sounds pretty progressive. On the other hand, the president of the police union apparently doesn't see anything wrong with the way George Floyd's arrest was handled. local news The guy has a long history. He might just be doing his job, as a union rep, right now, but I've gotten the feeling over the years that he's not exactly what I think of as "progressive". I'm not sure the whole problem with the department is racism. I've had one, small, personal experience with the MPD. Seems like they've been trained in the school that says the best defense is a good offense and I doubt they are taught much about things like de-escalation. That has probably changed in recent years, but I'd be willing to bet that there's some old school folks who don't buy into the idea.

A perfect storm, really.

I think an added factor, in Minneapolis, is probably the last high profile case of a black guy murdered by police. Philandro Castile. (I probably misspelled his name.) I'm calling it murder. The officer was found not guilty in court. He looked pretty guilty to a lot of people. (Including me, obviously.) He was acquitted, basically, because he said he was "in fear for his life". He probably was. At the same time, his victim ALSO probably was in fear for his life. Bad situation. IMO, it was a case of bad training and maybe the guy never should have been a police officer. Anyway, there is a lot of public frustration with the idea that you can get shot over a broken tail light, if you're black. BTW, from what I've heard, George Floyd was arrested for MAYBE using a fake $20 bill. I get paid cash all the time. I've joked with people at the gas station about how "some day I suppose one of those might be fake". I sure don't expect to me ARRESTED if it happens and I DARN SURE don't expect to get thrown to the ground in the process.

The fact that all this is happening during a global pandemic is unfortunate. But, I think the feeling is "If not now, when?" I don't know if there will be permanent change. I hope so. I hope this is a tipping point. That's happened before. It's why we no longer have officially segregated schools. It's why you can marry the person of your choice, regardless of race or gender. It's a journey. We're a long ways from that Promised Land Dr. King spoke of. I don't know if we'll ever get there, but I know we'll never get there if we don't try.

 

[rightkindofme]

I’m so tired of all the violence all the way around on every side possible. It’s wearing on me so heavy. I’m not going to go into every issue I have surrounding all this. But one thing I do want to understand, so if anyone can enlighten me please do! Why was there not any of this same outrage over Tony Timpa? Why didn’t he matter this much? I’m not saying George Floyd doesn’t matter at all because of course he does. But the thing I’m struggling with I guess is this doesn’t feel like really for George Floyd, more that he’s being used as a reason to get going. I’m not denying there is heavy racism still playing out everywhere, there’s no denying that. But it feels wrong to completely disregard one life and jump to burning buildings for another when the circumstances were almost identical- only two differences one was black and one was white, one had no mental health issues and one had schizophrenia. But Timpa’s officers were never fully charged, it was dismissed, and they were allowed back on the force. Floyd’s officer is getting charged and the others better be as well because just standing there watching. . . I can’t. I just feel like the riots and the looting and the protesting aren’t actually for George Floyd. I don’t know if I’m making sense but I’m open to any discussion to help me clear my mind and figure this out.

One major factor is the lock down. People have no jobs to go to and they are scared. Folks have watched the creeping horror of four years of Trump. The whole country is a powder keg and this was just a spark not really the whole reason for the explosion.

 

[rightkindofme]

This post eloquently addressing the value of violent protest: The Truth You’ve Probably Never Heard About Riots

 

[LuckiLee]

The city my police officer nephew works in had a peaceful demonstration yesterday. Police escort and busses to take protesters back to their cars because it was hot. ❤

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Please don't: Why you should stop saying "all lives matter," explained in 9 different ways

I like the Reddit reponse and that's where I stopped reading as that made soooo much sense to me.

So, now, when I hear or read "Black Lives Matter" I will put a "too" at the end of that. "Black lives matter, too".

Ah, thanks! As I didnt quite understand why saying "all lives matter" was a problem. @Sideways, your reply made sense too and helped me to understand it better as well so thanks for that but I just love that Reddit reponse on that link.

 

[siniang]

Who thinks there aren't multiple agendas at play with the riots and the looting, might need to reconsider. There's been multiple reports all over the place of similar observations, by now.

Minnesota Officials Link Arrested Looters to 'White Supremacist' Groups

 

[siniang]

This is also happening and I love it!

Quite a sight happening in Lincoln tonight...

Lincoln Police announce the "Hold Cops Accountable" initiative with local black community leaders. Now, they're doing the Cupid Shuffle outside the Malone Center.

(?: Ellis Wiltsey 1011 NOW)

https://www.facebook.com/180466813056/posts/10158613927963057

 

[mamachick]

Im so tired right now so I won't go back and quote everyone, but there have been so many good comments here.
Someone said that this was the "perfect storm" and I do think that is exactly right. Pandemic, political division, financial, high unemployment. This straw broke the camels back.

There are definitely groups with their own agenda to make protesters look bad and further divide our people. We really need to pull together now more than ever because our president wants division.

Someone said "Floyds death"-It was murder and we need to remember to call it what it was. Floyd was murdered.

I didn't read the articles on protesting but have in the past, and unfortunately destruction does bring change often times. (sad as that is). Martin Luther King tried to make change peacefully, but he was assassinated, and here we are.

I have friends with black sons and they have to teach their sons, beginning at an early age to not run, if in a car and stopped to keeps hands visible, to not put hands in pockets, etc. This is heartbreaking.

So much good discussion-I will have to re-read posts tomorrow and links suggested.

Just so deeply saddened by all of this, not because of the protests or even destruction, but more because it has to be done for people to be heard and demand this behavior is not acceptable and that things have not changed through peace.

 

[Rainman8772]

There does need to be some facts put out though rather than just people fueling the fire. Only 10 “unarmed” black men were killed last year half of whom were killed by black officers. Also of those 10 half of those officers were not justified in killing the person and were charged. There was 21 “unarmed” white men killed by police. Also 40 something police officers killed last year in a country of 325 million people with roughly 700k police that does not constitute “systematic” police brutality or racism.

What happened to him was wrong and the officers should be charged. I don’t condone it in the slightest but when put into perspective it’s clear to see how the media fans the flame to keep up ratings. The media is also making more about race than what actually happens as well.

 

[rightkindofme]

When you look at the statistics around who is in prison for relatively minor crimes, when you look at distribution of wealth by race, when you look at generational poverty by race... you can't say the US doesn't have a race problem.

And frankly police brutality needs to be stopped and if violence against black people is a bigger spark than violence against white people, ok. This is a trend that must end. Police officers need to be demilitarized. Police officers need to be taught how to deescalate instead of escalate. Police officers must be removed from the job if they show signs of behaving like rabid dogs.

Instead they are covered up and kept on the force through 4, 6, 10 infractions. The government views citizens as worthy of attack. That can't stand.

 

[blackemerald1]

The fact that all this is happening during a global pandemic is unfortunate. But, I think the feeling is "If not now, when?" I

^Well the first part of your comment must be the understatement of the day. Let's wait oh... three weeks and see how many people are infected and in a whole lot of trouble from covid. It's nothing short of tragic. The events leading to these protests, the protests and the consequences.

If not now, when?

Well, some would argue no time like the present; some would argue let's vote our way towards the answer & insist on using the Judicial system.

Police officers must be removed from the job if they show signs of behaving like rabid dogs.

^Oh too right. :rolleyes: Actually, lets remove anyone from anywhere that behaves like RABID DOGS. :oops: Get a grip! Talk about emotive rubbish speak.

Calm down and take a breath and stop being so insulting towards the vast majority of FR's and in particular LEO's. That sort of talk helps nobody at all and severely diminishes any prospect for progress.

Instead they are covered up and kept on the force through 4, 6, 10 infractions. The government views citizens as worthy of attack. That can't stand.

^More inflammatory rubbish. If you throw everyone out, if you engage in such emotive rubbish talk then you'll not see any action, any progress towards resolving the issue's. All you'll do, is burn out the sensible, thoughtful & actionable things that can be achieved.

 

[Neverthesame]

Police officers need to be demilitarized.

What does this mean to you?
Should they stop using a rank structure that shares similarities to the military?
Should they not be allowed to carry rifles, or shotguns as a secondary weapon? Even if it has wooden grips, instead of deadly polymer?
Should they not be allowed to wear body armour?

We should force them to work in today's society with a button-up shirt, peak cap and .38 special on their hip, like it was 1968?

Disband SWAT teams, make these much friendlier looking (albeit squishier) cops clear a house full of armed drug dealers with no formal training in doing so?

You know what is more dangerous than a group of highly trained officers clearing a house with military equipment?
A group of shit scared guys stumbling around in the dark with guns. With no idea where the bad guys are, civilians in the house and surrounding houses (even little .38 pop guns shoot through drywall and siding like paper) and each other.

That militarization stuff. Doesn't teach cops to kill everything that moves. It teaches them to keep thinking of their surroundings so they don't start firing at a bad guy standing in front of a park with kids playing in it.

Cops using an armoured military vehicle to approach a house they need to get into encourages restraint, not aggression. The faster they can get in, the less time the people inside have to grab weapons and the more likely they will bring the suspects out in cuffs, instead of body bags.

Also, I'm pretty sure most police departments do teach deescalation. Sometimes people just don't want to go peacefully.
Take a look at some of the footage of these riots. See how many times you see a cop beat the shit out of a protester for screaming obscenities at the police.
Then look at the Hong Kong protests. Tell me which set of police need to learn deescalation.

There's always room for improvement in how the police do their job, but I'd hardly call them rabid dogs.

I'm in no way excusing the officers responsible for George Floyd. That was a terrible atrocity.
But decrying the training and equipment that is designed to help more officers get home alive to their families every day, is not likely to have the desired effect.