George Floyd / May 2020 USA Protests Megathread- Page 3

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 5/31/20 at 10:33am

Looting may not be my first response, or your first response, but we’re paying attention, aren’t we? Is stealing the biggest 4K TV you can find the point? No, but the general idea stands: when pushed enough, sh*t breaks.

This could all have been avoided if justice was served in any of the example cases we’ve seen break into the media whirlwind. If cops were treated with the same laws and expectations as the citizens they’re hired to police (I’d say “protect,” but we’re way beyond that at this point), a lot of these boys in blue would have been discharged and locked up immediately. We can’t even get civilians arrested properly for openly murdering people in the street. Look at Ahmaud Arbery’s killers - civilians with absolutely no justification for shooting and it took almost 2 months to get them in cuffs. Arrested peacefully in their homes; no guns drawn.

The people protesting and, yes, rioting are tired and angry. The police in their communities are doing nothing but stoke that anger. This has been the case for a long time before this moment, but the collective rage we’re seeing is the breaking point being televised. Not everyone is going to be able to swallow how it’s all happening, but it’s also not for anyone to dictate either way. People are fighting to have themselves heard - on both sides - and we’re in a particular moment where people actually have the energy and time to devote themselves to doing so.

Also, I really hope I never have to see someone on this board refer to Black people as “blacks” again.

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 5/31/20 at 12:16pm

 

[javero]

Posted: 5/31/20 at 12:57pm

1. Get the protesters laid

2. Slow the spread

3. Vote Trump out

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/31/20 at 2:39pm

It should be made... abundantly clear. These protests did not start violent. They were pushed by police. Who were assaulting peaceful protesters, pepper spraying them, pulling them off bikes, etc.

VIOLENCE BEGETS VIOLENCE. 

Some people taking advantage and looting stores because this pain has given them cover to do so is not a reason to ignore what this is all about. That people feel the need for everyone else to answer for looting of TVs is nothing but a distraction. As for those making statements about how "Oh... how will they feed their families" every single one of these businesses are insured. You can't have a business without it being insured.

Police need a complete nationwide overhaul because it's a breeding ground for people with anger management issues, other psychological issues, & racist ideations and those who give them a pass and keep cleaning up after their mistakes. Will this do it? Probably not. We're 30 years from Rodney King and nothing has changed since then. 

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 5/31/20 at 3:05pm

 

[ArtMan]

Posted: 5/31/20 at 3:26pm

So you think just because a business has insurance that everything will be fine and dandy.  The businesses burned to the ground will receive an insurance check tomorrow?  Boy, do you need a lesson on the facts of life.  Or at least on the long, long, long  process of filing  an insurance claim. Then on the long, long, long process of rebuilding, especially if you are a family owned business.

Updated On: 5/31/20 at 03:26 PM

[MikeInTheDistrict]

Posted: 5/31/20 at 3:29pm

There is growing evidence that a lot of the violence and the looting has been sparked by agents provocateurs in order to de-legitimize and undermine the protests and, worse, spark a race war. When Dylann Roof murdered those people in that church in South Carolina, he said he wanted to provoke a race war. He was not a lone wolf. He was radicalized by propaganda from a network of websites like Stormfront and dog-whistle rhetoric from alt-right leaders like Richard Spencer. He was symptomatic of a larger, insidious movement within this country that is hoping to stir up racial tensions to a fever pitch, polarize the American people along race lines, and establish white supremacy (because this country is majority white and controls the majority of the resources, they believe they would win such a civil war). White supremacists have infiltrated the military and the American police force.

The majority of the American public are unaware of this dangerous underground of white supremacy, but social media and the mainstream media have begun to track them and their tactics and document them and bring this all to light. This is really important and frightening.

Updated On: 5/31/20 at 03:29 PM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/31/20 at 3:47pm

ArtMan said: "So you think just because a business has insurance that everything will be fine and dandy. The businesses burned to the ground will receive an insurance check tomorrow? Boy, do you need a lesson on the facts of life. Or at least on the long, long, long process of filing an insurance claim. Then on the long, long, long process of rebuilding, especially if you are a family owned business."

No, what I'm saying is attempting to use that redirect the conversation is a bunch of bull**** especially when it's pushed on them by police who are indiscriminately assaulting peaceful protesters. Nobody is saying it's the right decision, but for people who a pushed further and further without resolve what exactly is your next step? They've attempted peaceful protest and NOBODY in power is listening. 

Not to mention the property damage done by outside actors in attempts to rile up protesters.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 5/31/20 at 3:52pm

But now that they’ve proven the looting and whatnot was started by cops - in some cases - can we all agree that’s not the way to go about it? Setting a dudes car on fire is not sending a message when you don’t know the person.

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 5/31/20 at 4:02pm

I won't post a link here, but as you may know, a gofundme page has been created for Mr. Floyd's family.  When I became aware of the page a few minutes ago, I saw that it has currently raised more than $5 million.  This is just an FYI on my part, not a request that you do (or do not) donate.

Updated On: 5/31/20 at 04:02 PM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/31/20 at 4:28pm

SouthernCakes said: "But now that they’ve proven the looting and whatnot was started by cops - in some cases - can we all agree that’s not the way to go about it? Setting a dudes car on fire is not sending a message when you don’t know the person. "

If it's a cop car? Maybe not set it on fire because of bullet risks but absolutely beat the **** out of it. Random car in the street? Nah...

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 5/31/20 at 4:31pm

From the NYT Editorial Board, Mara Gay: The Nation’s Largest Police Force Is Treating Us as an Enemy

[javero]

Posted: 6/1/20 at 2:12am

This crisis has exposed a generational gap between my 83 year dad from the Silent Generation and me, an unrepentant Boomer.  His generation produced several leaders of the civil rights movement of the 60s so he's pissed that he can't join the protesters.  I'm relieved that he can't because he'd be armed to the teeth.

I'm no pacifist but just don't see the utility of sit-ins, marches, or any other forms of public demonstration, peaceful or otherwise.  And looting is absolutely verboten.  You don't f*ck with my person, my family, or my property, period, full stop.  I'm also not willing to split hairs over a distinction between personal and public property like a police station.  Public works projects are nearly universally funded by property taxes levied against private property owners and by municipal bonds purchased by bondholders who could very easily be any of us or our pension/retirement plans.  There is no free lunch!!!

I hate that George Floyd lost his life at the hands of a sociopath and his enablers.  I'll also share that the only two times that my own life has been seriously threatened, once at gunpoint and another time at knife-point in Baltimore and DC respectively, the perps were black like me which is a subject for another thread.

Psychological Research Explains Why People Protest

Updated On: 6/1/20 at 02:12 AM

[javero]

Posted: 6/1/20 at 3:06am

25-year-old arrested for allegedly setting fire to Nashville's historic courthouse

I'd like to know the average age of the protesters as well as that of the typical beat cop.

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 6/1/20 at 4:14pm

An independent autopsy shows death was homicide caused by asphyxia. 

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 6/1/20 at 6:51pm

Trump is speaking now.

As expected it is utterly tone-deaf and a dog whistle - although, it's not even a "whistle" anymore, it's obvious.

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 6/1/20 at 7:02pm

The protesters outside the White House were peaceful.....loud, but peaceful.  OF COURSE it was timed for the tear gas and the charging mounted police to break up the crowd at the exact time that the coward who occupies the White House began to speak.  

JOE   BIDEN   MUST   BE   OUR   NEXT   PRESIDENT

Updated On: 6/1/20 at 07:02 PM

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 6/1/20 at 7:08pm

CNN did a split screen when Trump spoke so we could clearly see the tear gas.

Trump has mobilized the military ostensibly to protect our rights - particularly "second amendment rights." And he is blatantly throwing away his regard for first amendment rights.

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 6/1/20 at 7:14pm

Now Trump has staged a photo op holding a bible in front of a church. This is disgusting.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 6/1/20 at 8:17pm

After his address tonight, it seems the violence is only just beginning. He is pure evil.

[javero]

Posted: 6/2/20 at 1:28am

Trump's predictable.  He's hardwired to operate from a position of strength even though it almost always requires someone else to do the dirty work.  Bunker Bully will most likely have his goons drop the hammer on a group of protesters in a solidly blue setting real soon to play to his base, and to suburbia.  He doesn't know crap about governing but he clearly gets authoritarianism.  He's been trying to run the government, and nation by extension, in the same way that he lords over his family business.  This could go horribly wrong if all sides are not careful.

[dented146]

Posted: 6/2/20 at 5:25pm

I have been voting since JFK. It is impossible to imagine anyone less suited to be President. If I had a child I would not want them to hear this President talk. Regardless of policy disagreements, which will always occur when the other side wins, his total lack of empathy toward people with whom he disagrees is astounding. Even if one accepts that looting and violence are wrong, Trump's rhetoric is absurd, dangerous, and likely to cause more harm. He has no qualities one hopes for in a leader.

Unlike most on this board, I feel Trump has made the right call in a few areas, such as trade. But he has no business being the leader of the free world. He hasn't grown into the job and he hasn't learned a thing.

 

[kdogg36]

Posted: 6/2/20 at 6:59pm

There’s a certain Sondheim show that runs a bit shorter than others. It could use another song.

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 6/2/20 at 10:56pm

It is reported that Vice President Biden will likely attend (and perhaps speak) at memorial services for Mr. Floyd in Houston on Monday, June 8.  There are two other services scheduled in different cities leading up to the Monday service.

[binau]

Posted: 6/3/20 at 1:55pm

This movement is definitely a big deal, and I can't think of many other moments recently (if any) that have been as successful at getting the public attention to racial equality as this one - especially outside the USA (since I don't reside there - if people aren't aware this movement is spreading so much across the world). I suppose that the proof will be in what happens from now, but it's hard not to feel like this a major moment for racial equality. While I think any reasonable person might question some of the tactics at play in these riots, and we could distract ourselves about the details of the specific killing, it seems rather pointless because this is about something so much bigger and more important than any individual action that has occurred. I am really curious to see what will happen now. I don't think we can ever go back from this..