To think that the looters should be ashamed of themselves

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I think that the protests are fully justified, and support them, but imo looting is ridiculous. Using the horrific death of someone as an excuse to steal?? This is not what George Floyd would have wanted. Probably quite the opposite.

It isn’t as simple as we would like to believe, this isn’t just about George Floyd; its about Ahmaud Arbery, social deprivation, systemic racism, opportunism etc.

Complex issues being reduced to a simple sound bite, right out of the Donald Trump playbook OP.

If I'm astounded that looting has riled up more people than the events that lead to unrest in the first place. If you thinks it's as simple as being angry about the tragic murder of George Floyd that has lead to looting, you are misinformed and need to do some serious research.

Exactly!

Protesting is completely justifiable given the huge issues at play.

Looting is not.

Looting on the other hand is purely opportunist criminality. There is no justification for it, and the fact that looting happens as part of the rioting diverts the attention completely away from the reasons for the rioting.

This. Someone asked me in another thread why I made an association between the looters & protesters, and this is it. The minute the looters start, our attention is diverted, our sympathies for the cause as external objective observers lessens, and the message is weakened.

It was great to see some protesters blocking looters in the USA over the weekend. They could see the damage (not just physical) that this was doing.

I was just looking at some pictures. The police seem to be the main instigators of violence. They maced a child ffs.

They are. I've seen a video compilation of the brutality from the police, it's fucking unbelievable. Literally approaching people who weren't anywhere near them and shoving them forcefully to the floor. I saw a woman standing quietly and still get deliberately maced. They've blinded a journalist, Linda Tirado, in one eye with a rubber bullet. In another clip the police were taking aim and firing at a camera crew who were miles away from them, and at least EIGHT police officers piled on to ONE black man who was on the ground.

A protester was interviewed on BBC news this morning and said he's seen people being arrested and restrained in the same way that killed George Floyd.

I can see who the real thugs are here, and it's not the protesters.

It's awful. In no circumstances is it acceptable to steal, set fire to buildings, destroy people's businesses.

It's also not acceptable to kneel on someones neck till they die.

Both are dreadful, and neither justify the other.

Here's someone who got arrested for destroying a building.

Check that skin colour- looks white to me.

m.facebook.com/burtstaggsnews/photos/a.339731556186984/1643065355853591/?type=3&source=48

@bushhbb

I love buildings, I work in this area. Yes it's awful, but unless you're crying over human lives... it just sounds a bit....

Oh for goodness sake. My post immediately above that one made reference to the absolute tragedy that is 5 people losing their lives in the riots. It's possible to be heartbroken about lives and upset about ancient buildings too (particularly when it bring home how in the midst of it my friends living there are).

@wink1970
If the sight of a group of people looting lessens your sympathy for an entire race being subject to state sanctioned murder then I'd say you had no sympathy in the first place. If you think that a few people looting weakens the message that murdering innocent people is wrong, then you didn't get the message in the first place.

They've blinded a journalist, Linda Tirado, in one eye with a rubber bullet.

There's a white man out supporting BLM who made a post on Twitter. A rub bullet was shot into his eye, he now has one eye. I wish I could post it, but it's graphic- you can see his empty eye socket.

The police videos are awful, shoving random men and women to the floor, macing actual children, arresting people who dare to criticise them. Bullies with badges and guns.

*Oh for goodness sake. My post immediately above that one made reference to the absolute tragedy that is 5 people losing their lives in the riots. It's possible to be heartbroken about lives and upset about ancient buildings too (particularly when it bring home how in the midst of it my friends living there are).
*
Of course, but it's brick and mortar at the end of the day. It can be rebuilt, it's not even that old. I'll cry for what matters. Maybe I am being harsh but I'm very passionate about this, I couldn't care less about a building tbf

@bushhbb

They've blinded a journalist, Linda Tirado, in one eye with a rubber bullet.

There's a white man out supporting BLM who made a post on Twitter. A rub bullet was shot into his eye, he now has one eye. I wish I could post it, but it's graphic- you can see his empty eye socket.

The police videos are awful, shoving random men and women to the floor, macing actual children, arresting people who dare to criticise them. Bullies with badges and guns.

If I'd been arguing that George's murder was an terrible aberration before this weekend, I wouldn't be arguing it any more.

Some police forces are notable because they have chosen to take a knee in solidarity with protestors. In those areas, the protests have stayed more peaceful. Funny that.

The ignorance is staggering. There have been peaceful protests against the treatment of black people as long as there have been black people. 2020 and black people are still being lynched.

From Emmet Till to Steven Lawrence to George Floyd with countless others before, in between and beyond.

What you really mean is that black people should know their place and stay there. We see you. Look deep inside yourself if you care more for property than every single black life taken up till now.

I dare you to look a black person in the eye and tell them they've no right to be angry. That they should sit quietly while state sanctioned slaughter happens with every passing generation.

This is what happens during peaceful protests. White people with guns can storm the chambers of power while black people are attached with tear gas for sitting down with a sign.

Peaceful protest? There is no peace when your oppressors are state sanctioned terrorists.

@bushhbb We're on the same side y'know xxx

I’m more
Angry about WHY they are protesting

It’s hopefully reached a tipping point as surely the stress of COVID 19 is going to be an accelerant

But their anger is justifiable

Enough is enough

This.

It was the same with the London riots years ago.

Reminds me of what happened with the London riots.

That riot was not just in London. It spread across the whole of England, unfortunately

But yes the opportunists always come out of the woodwork in a riot. Looters, people settling personal scores with neighbours, political grudges. I also think the weather plays a part, the riots mentioned in England were during an extremely hot few weeks, then add frustration during lockdown on top of that.

Innocent people always suffer during riots. Yes it was an horrific injustice but how anyone can try justify mob rule is beyond me

I dare you to look a black person in the eye and tell them they've no right to be angry. That they should sit quietly while state sanctioned slaughter happens with every passing generation.

Do you think all black people think exactly the same about everything. That all people of a certain colour, any colour, are a hive mind?

Exactly the same thing happened here in 2010. No way were the people smashing their way into JD sports bothered by Marc Dugan's death. Just an excuse.

Flax Hive mind? I can bet you anything they have had hive experiences. Does that help?

What was being discussed was reactions, not experiences

The police seem to be the main instigators of violence. They maced a child ffs.

They did not deliberately mace a child, mace can be spread over a wide area, and what kind of parent takes a child to a street protest anyway? Especially one that obviously has the potential to erupt into violence