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.

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

Actually I don’t think it does

Without the images of cities ablaze, would this now be dominating WORLD news, displacing pandemic of the headlines and images?

No, it would remain as another incident - filmed - in the horrific litany of 400 years of oppression and black men dying at the hands of white law enforcement

there is power in protesting but the real power lies in the ballot box from the bottom to the top

Yes because that has worked and given all the gerrymandering and voter ID laws which disproportionately affect black voters, who by the way actually turn out and vote consistently hence them being a target.

All this whataboutery yet black people are dying daily at the hands of the police and all you can talk about is material possessions.

All we hear you saying is our lives are worth less than all that tat for sale.

No cause for the looting.... except to be a thug

Ah thug the loaded word used for black people daring to have an opinion, be loud or display a human emotion that isn't gratitude to the system expresses oppresses us

Fuck that. The police are the thugs attacking people, planting decommissioned police cars and setting them ablaze and KILLING black people consistently since Jim Crow.

FUCK THAT

@alwayscheddar there are plenty of underlying reasons.

This is an interesting (short) article that contextualises looting.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/5290908002

It’s time people educated themselves and stopped being so naive.

Nobody is listening though are they? When you haven't been listened to or heard or understood or noticed or felt like anyone gives a damn whether you live or die for 70 years, it's time to get angry. US foreign policy since WW2 has looted far more countries and people than these protestors.

Think it’s a weird place to focus your attention in the context.

The looters are not the protesters. The looters are opportunistic idiots who aren't part of the peaceful protests.

And yes, they are peaceful until the police get there and start firing their rubber bullets and tear gas.

This whole thread has become so ridiculous and unfair accusations being thrown out.
When I saw the video of George Floyd I was so upset and horrified by it I barely slept that night. I'm pregnant, and spent the night worrying about what kind of world I'm bringing children into. I completely recognised as a white woman that if I felt like that how must black families and individuals feel during this time and I felt totally helpless and devastated.
I recognise the disparity between black and white people all over the world and the way that has manifested, particularly in the US. I signed petitions, spoke to family and friends, donated to the memorial fund.

I still feel heartbroken for all the business that have been destroyed during the riots. I absolutely agree with protesting whilst simultaneously being absolutely against looting and rioting.
Those things aren't mutually exclusive.
I've not seen ANYONE condoning the officers actions and/or defending them.
Please stop throwing accusations around that people that are against arson and theft are somehow racist.
We can be deeply upset and devastated by the racism and deaths whilst still not agreeing with some of the behaviours of people (of all colours) in regards to looting and setting fire to buildings.

I agree, @022 - but some of the posters condemning the black thugs have a clear racist agenda (like the now banned @toffee)

What about the white thugs?

@YouTheCat - but that type of poster on my condemns the black thugs

(Only, not on my)

I've just seen a picture of a black man with his dd on his shoulders with three police officers in front of him. Nothing about the black guy is threatening. All the officers are armed and one is pointing a rubber bullet gun at the man's face, just a few inches from his dd.

022828MAN

Your post has "I" or "I've" in it no less than 11 times.

That Scott Woods quote is perfect. It digs so deep into the white experience of hearing from black people about racism and not knowing how to ‘isolate’ the problem to deal with it.

Scooping out - yes, small price to pay but it’s the knowledge that it will have to be an ongoing, everyday, conscious effort that stops people doing t, I think. It’s the abstract, all around us, in the air nature of racism we ant grapple with (because we haven’t had to) unlike black people.

Such perceptive and intuitive words.

@FortunesFave

The reasons behind the looting are complex. There is crushing poverty and hopelessness in some communities. Those people are desperate for change, they feel worthless and hopeless. If they had been given more opportunities then they would not.

.... and everyone wants a widescreen TV and expensive trainers. Does anyone loot for nourishing vegetables for their hungry children? Is it ever women with children doing it to get baby clothes?

I know about "crushing poverty" but I managed not to violently wreck and rob a store. Most of you managed to stay decent people too didn't you.

Where there are riots and protests, there will always be looters. They are rarely there for the cause. These folk are never going to feel shame, are they? Opportunists don't. It's no different from the companies that buy businesses in recessions and asset strip them, or the companies that took advantage of government funding for academies and systematically creamed off funds into private accounts. Where there is opportunity, there will be looters.

It doesn't detract from the cause. The riots and huge peaceful protests across the country flag up that people have tried literally everything else - including the ballot box - to change things and bring justice, and everything else has failed.

The fact that cameras are ubiquitous now is the one hope that authorities cannot continue to conceal and deny but will have to effect change.

Jake Paul was spotted looting at one, a millionaire

*.... and everyone wants a widescreen TV and expensive trainers. Does anyone loot for nourishing vegetables for their hungry children? Is it ever women with children doing it to get baby clothes?

I know about "crushing poverty" but I managed not to violently wreck and rob a store. Most of you managed to stay decent people too didn't you.*

This is willful ignorance. Do some research on how poverty and disenfranchisment works. It's about more than the objects being taken.

@StopMurderingUs

No cause for the looting.... except to be a thug

Ah thug the loaded word used for black people daring to have an opinion, be loud or display a human emotion that isn't gratitude to the system expresses oppresses us

Fuck that. The police are the thugs attacking people, planting decommissioned police cars and setting them ablaze and KILLING black people consistently since Jim Crow.

FUCK THAT

@StopMurderingUs That poster NEVER made any comment about race. You’re the one being racist here. Grow up.

People are assuming the looters are also protesters. They aren't.

FortunesFave

Your post has "I" or "I've" in it no less than 11 times.

Wow what an enlightening contribution. Is that supposed to prove that I'm a self centred racist or simply that you can count?

@Smilethoyourheartisbreaking I’m not, have never said that I am. Just because I made a post about looting doesn’t mean that I automatically think it’s the most important issue. It’s far from it but still a valid thought