George Floyd's death has placed a harsh spotlight on a reality that faces so many people in our nation every day. Part of that burning anger is knowing that this would have been covered up had a camera not been present. His death was horrifyingly, terribly wrong, and it is only one awful example of the daily racism which is still persistent in our nation and even within the agencies that are supposed to protect our citizens.
The rioting is also wrong. What frustrates me more is that most of the people who went out to protest George Floyd's death did so peacefully, but now the actions of opportunists is now taking the center stage, wrapped up with the legitimate and peaceful protestors who are still seeking justice for Mr. Floyd's murder. Today, I've seen both sides of the political spectrum try to lump everyone involved in the peaceful protest with the riots that followed.
I've seen posts by callous commentators who have lumped all of Minneapolis into group of stupid degenerates. I've seen posts of armchair warriors make radical "woke" statements concerning the riots and vandalism as if they are some sort of heroism or, worse, tribute to George Floyd [Follow this link for what his girlfriend and family think about that idea]. By treating the mob and the people in the protests as one, both types of posts are detracting from the real issue and are dehumanizing entire groups of peace-loving people who were simply seeking fairness and positive change.
The riots do speak to larger, underlying problems. They speak of the desperation (hoping to get those TVs/jewelry/lamps they wanted while undetected in the chaos) and frustration (lashing out and destroying property in a type of catharsis) that some people feel even today, even here in our great nation. Unfortunately, these riots will be as effective as riots in the past have been. The riots will become the story ... for a while. They will be shut down and become a historical footnote that few people remember ... and the racism and miscarriage of justice will continue.
... and that angers me.
The rioting is also wrong. What frustrates me more is that most of the people who went out to protest George Floyd's death did so peacefully, but now the actions of opportunists is now taking the center stage, wrapped up with the legitimate and peaceful protestors who are still seeking justice for Mr. Floyd's murder. Today, I've seen both sides of the political spectrum try to lump everyone involved in the peaceful protest with the riots that followed.
I've seen posts by callous commentators who have lumped all of Minneapolis into group of stupid degenerates. I've seen posts of armchair warriors make radical "woke" statements concerning the riots and vandalism as if they are some sort of heroism or, worse, tribute to George Floyd [Follow this link for what his girlfriend and family think about that idea]. By treating the mob and the people in the protests as one, both types of posts are detracting from the real issue and are dehumanizing entire groups of peace-loving people who were simply seeking fairness and positive change.
The riots do speak to larger, underlying problems. They speak of the desperation (hoping to get those TVs/jewelry/lamps they wanted while undetected in the chaos) and frustration (lashing out and destroying property in a type of catharsis) that some people feel even today, even here in our great nation. Unfortunately, these riots will be as effective as riots in the past have been. The riots will become the story ... for a while. They will be shut down and become a historical footnote that few people remember ... and the racism and miscarriage of justice will continue.
... and that angers me.
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