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

[Justmehere]

Going to say this because it can't be said enough:

Regardless of where you stand on the current state of affairs, everyone everywhere needs to use the right words. Protesters protest. Looters loot. Rioters riot. A protest isn't a riot and vice versa.

Protesters and looters are about the same as voting (a civil right) and robbing a bank (a crime) are the same. Which is not at all.

I support actions by law enforcement to join protesters and make solid agreements for practical change like here:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1268541863600041985

Especially loved how they celebrated by dancing together.

But I increasingly agree with this:
Don't Let Cops Join Our Protests - The Appeal
They are changing it from protest to parade.... and looking good without real reforms.

For some of folks, these issues are part of the trauma histories and these days are super triggering. This is overlooked by the general public. There also is a crap load of virtue signaling and self righteousness happening on social media or by law enforcement. Not a lot of wrestling with the complex problems we face that need complex solutions.

 

[rightkindofme]

I always feel stunned by people saying that in the US violence isn't going to solve anything. Wasn't the entire foundation of the country on violence, rebellion, and looting?

 

[Rainman8772]

I always feel stunned by people saying that in the US violence isn't going to solve anything. Wasn't the entire foundation of the country on violence, rebellion, and looting?

The country was founded on rebellion because of taxation without representation. No where was looting involved.

I would advise anyone to get the free online courses offered by hillsdale college regarding the constitution of the US so everyone knows their rights.

 

[Ronin]

I always feel stunned by people saying that in the US violence isn't going to solve anything. Wasn't the entire foundation of the country on violence, rebellion, and looting?

You *are* aware people advocating non-violence may have extensive personal & professional interest in the US security, as well as experience with countries where violence is the applied fix-all... right?

People who haven't lived & / or worked conflicts just don't get to call for that response on theoretical grounds, or historically-theoretical.

 

[rightkindofme]

The country was founded on rebellion because of taxation without representation. No where was looting involved.

I would advise anyone to get the free online courses offered by hillsdale college regarding the constitution of the US so everyone knows their rights.

Boston Tea Party?

You *are* aware people advocating non-violence may have extensive personal & professional interest in the US security, as well as experience with countries where violence is the applied fix-all... right?

People who haven't lived & / or worked conflicts just don't get to call for that response on theoretical grounds, or historically-theoretical.

It really doesn't matter what I think or what you think. There are at least tens of thousands, probably more who are pretty darn pissed off and they don't care what you think they should do.

 

[Rainman8772]

Boston Tea Party?

Again learn your own history and I am not talking the junk a liberal arts teacher taught. Read the actual documents of the Constitution and Bill Of Rights and Declaration of Independence.

 

[Rainman8772]

I always feel stunned by people saying that in the US violence isn't going to solve anything. Wasn't the entire foundation of the country on violence, rebellion, and looting?

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation...

Continued: Full text for the US Declaration of Independence

<mod edit to provide link>

 

[Ronin]

It really doesn't matter what I think or what you think. There are at least tens of thousands, probably more who are pretty darn pissed off and they don't care what you think they should do.

You are talking to a Black man.

Who's in regular personal years long contact with the actually-relevant figures / activists in the BLM movement, since its inception.

Don't act as an authority on my own movement, and my own people, as I am certain they wouldn't agree with your point.

Angry or not doesn't make one difference where acting legally - and protecting own communities - is concerned.

Plus inciting violence, last I knew, is an actual crime, for a damn good reason. So careful with tip toeing that line.

 

[Justmehere]

3 facts:
1.) 10% of those killed by police are mentally ill while making up 25% of the population.
2.) 25% of those killed by police are black while making up 13% of the population.
3.) 50% of those killed by police have a disability while making up 19% of the population.
It gets worse.

Disabled individuals make up a third to half of all people killed by law enforcement officers. Disabled individuals make up the majority of those killed in use-of-force cases that attract widespread attention. This is true both for cases deemed illegal or against policy and for those in which officers are ultimately fully exonerated. The media is ignoring the disability component of these stories, or, worse, is telling them in ways that intensify stigma and ableism. When we leave disability out of the conversation or only consider it as an individual medical problem, we miss the ways in which disability intersects with other factors that often lead to police violence. Conversely, when we include disability at the intersection of parallel social issues, we come to understand the issues better, and new solutions emerge.
https://rudermanfoundation.org/wp-c...8/MediaStudy-PoliceDisability_final-final.pdf

This stuff against people with disabilities, it’s so ordinary, it’s not even news. One day, this will change. It is going to happen. It won’t be soon… but one day...

Something else to keep in mind:

Many people are saying in the US this is the WORST TIME ever, society will undergo a fundamental change as a result, we are about to lose our humanity.... Blah blah. This is extremely unlikely. There will be change AND much of American daily life will also continue mostly the same. Even with all of this, many of the changes with covid-19 are falling away fast. Many aspects of American are culture is robustly enduring, for better or for worse.

Rioting is fairly common throughout American history.
List of riots - Wikipedia
America’s Most Destructive Riots of All Time
Major Race Riots in the U.S.

In fact, the summer of 1919 was called the Red Summer. During the Spanish flu pandemic, there were race riots almost the entire year all over the nation. It passed. The nation improved over the long haul of history.

It was sort of inevitable for things to get ugly this year. Anytime in history unemployment rates hit a certain level, young people protest and there is civil unrest about underlying issues that were simmering for a long time. This is not unique to the US. This is likely to be a rough year, and we are likely to see the unrest continue into 2021.

I'm saddened and alarmed by the violence, encouraged by everyone peaceful and passionate to change things for the better. It will get better, it will change, and hopefully good changes will happen.

I long for justice for everyone wrongfully killed by police.

 

[Mee]

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.

It’s not just killed - that’s the tip of the iceberg of racism. It’s the arrests and prison population- differences in sentencing.


For example- my rapist and I were yelled over in her car the evening I was raped- this was the first inkling I had that she was dishonest. It turned out she had no insurance and no license to drive. The sheriff asked to see my ( not US ) licence and let me drive the Uninsured vehicle on to our destination. They also found out she had a warrant against her. I think the chances of them allowing a black man to drive away under those circumstances are —— slim?

 

[rightkindofme]

I literally left the US because the violence there makes me sick. But sure, I'm the problem for "inciting violence". I moved to a country where 2% of police officers are allowed to carry guns and any escalation of violence is met with a full inquiry. Cops have to pass psychological evaluations every year in order to continue having a gun.

But sure. *I'm* the problem.

 

[siniang]

It’s not just killed - that’s the tip of the iceberg of racism. It’s the arrests and prison population- differences in sentencing.

Very. much. this!

Remember Brock Turner? Who got 6 months for drugging and rape and was free after 3?

While I have personal POC friends who have relatives who had to go to prison after a car accident...no drugs, no alcohol, no texting while driving, no expired licenses...

Or that homeless mom who used a friend's address to enroll her kid in school who ended up with a 5 (F-I-V-E) years sentence? (Dead Link Removed)

POC killed by police IS just the tip of the iceberg.

And being white in America, there's just some things we/you will never understand. And that's just something we have to accept.

https://www.facebook.com/shola.richards.7/posts/10163797079620220

Man says he ran 2.23 miles holding TV to make point about Ahmaud Arbery killing in viral TikTok