Since FuzzyGobo brought up MLK, here’s his quote on riots:
“But it is not enough for me to stand before you tonight and condemn riots. It would be morally irresponsible for me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society. These conditions are the things that cause individuals to feel that they have no other alternative than to engage in violent rebellions to get attention. And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the negro poor has worsened over the last twelve or fifteen years. It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice and humanity.”
There is no way I can condone violence. I have too much empathy for the innocent people who might be caught up in the fray and hurt by protesters. Still, the conditions that have existed in this country for years should’ve been a warning sign that something like this was coming. When people are not heard through their words, then this is the ultimate outcome. And with the virus holding everyone down, feelings are being exacerbated. The death of Mr. Floyd is the straw that broke the camel’s back.
I don’t know what the outcome of this will be. Hopefully something negative can result in a positive — change. But it could be that protesters will be beaten back by police and government. We’ll just have to see.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that I don’t condone the violence, but at the same stroke I understand where the rioters are coming from and that while this is a morally repugnant choice to me, a lot of the blame lies on the system for being set in such a way that this sort of thing would be the outcome.