The Murder of George Floyd & Subsequent Protests/Riots

[FemMecha]

There was a George Floyd Protest in the Twin Cities because four officers murdered a black man while restraining him on charges of writing a bad check (I think that's the final word - at first I heard it was forging coupons). I just saw the vandalism live. Holy fuck. Entire buildings gutted, burned, and destroyed. Cars completely smashed down. This is all extremely scary. The murder was horrific and the population destabilizing with violence during this pandemic is also terrifying.

It looks like a war zone.

Daylight reveals destruction in Minneapolis after night of Floyd protests | MPR News

 

[FemMecha]

It escalated in part because during the peaceful protests the police were firing tear gas, etc. into the crowd.

 

[Virtual ghost]

Well this is how it usually starts, in the bad situation someone fires up the match .... and then it retribution after retribution.

 

[Kingu Kurimuzon]

This is why left wingers need to bring guns to protests. You look at footage of right wingers at protests, loaded up with guns, and the cops tend to keep their distance. Socialist gun clubs should be providing security to these events, similar to how hippies sometimes had black panthers with guns at their events.

I have a feeling the cops would be a little more cautious before deploying the tear gas and firehoses were this the case.

 

[Virtual ghost]

This is why left wingers need to bring guns to protests. You look at footage of right wingers at protests, loaded up with guns, and the cops tend to keep their distance. Socialist gun clubs should be providing security to these events, similar to how hippies sometimes had black panthers with guns at their events.

I have a feeling the cops would be a little more cautious before deploying the tear gas and firehoses were this the case.

Maybe, or they will just decide it is the time to call in an air strike.

 

[FemMecha]

In my earlier post I wasn't sure what to call what's happening in Minneapolis, but it's the "George Floyd protests". People are protesting today as well, but I'm not sure what will happen tonight, whether or not there will be more damages. A lot of people were helping clean up today.

If you comprehend fully what happened to George Floyd, if you picture your own father or brother being killed in that manner, you can understand that level of rage. It's a really messed up society, and I hope and pray more people don't get hurt.

When I see the damage to the city I have to confess that I have no idea how people could even do that. I don't think I even could do that if I was enraged. I feel kinda amazed by the level of damage done without large equipment and military arsenals, as far as I know.

 

[Maou]

In my earlier post I wasn't sure what to call what's happening in Minneapolis, but it's the "George Floyd protests". People are protesting today as well, but I'm not sure what will happen tonight, whether or not there will be more damages. A lot of people were helping clean up today.

If you comprehend fully what happened to George Floyd, if you picture your own father or brother being killed in that manner, you can understand that level of rage. It's a really messed up society, and I hope and pray more people don't get hurt.

When I see the damage to the city I have to confess that I have no idea how people could even do that. I don't think I even could do that if I was enraged. I feel kinda amazed by the level of damage done without large equipment and military arsenals, as far as I know.

I would say its more than just Floyd's murder causing this. Tensions have been high for a while in USA due to the pandemic. This should also be an example, of just how powerful the people can be when they are unhappy with the government.

 

[FemMecha]

I would say its more than just Floyd's murder causing this. Tensions have been high for a while in USA due to the pandemic. This should also be an example, of just how powerful the people can be when they are unhappy with the government.

It's true there are a lot of tensions. About 2/3 of the protesters were wearing masks according to social media friends reporting on it (I have several because I live a couple hours away), and also video footage I watched. Also, a great many were cleaning up afterwards.

There is a long history of tension with the police force from what in understand. This is based both on the large-scale issue of racism with police profiling and then more anecdotal information from locals.

Starting with the horrific murder, then moving to peaceful protests that were met with tear gas, mace, and rubber bullets, and which also looked a bit like a war scene, it pushed people over the edge. I think there was a feeling of dehumanization and dismissal to the utmost and a lot of people snapped. I'm sure the whole pandemic stress didn't help, but I do think the history with racial tensions and police force issues was the core of what triggered people.

 

[ceecee]

It's true there are a lot of tensions. About 2/3 of the protesters were wearing masks according to social media friends reporting on it (I have several because I live a couple hours away), and also video footage I watched. Also, a great many were cleaning up afterwards.

There is a long history of tension with the police force from what in understand. This is based both on the large-scale issue of racism with police profiling and then more anecdotal information from locals.

Starting with the horrific murder, then moving to peaceful protests that were met with tear gas, mace, and rubber bullets, and which also looked a bit like a war scene, it pushed people over the edge. I think there was a feeling of dehumanization and dismissal to the utmost and a lot of people snapped. I'm sure the whole pandemic stress didn't help, but I do think the history with racial tensions and police force issues was the core of what triggered people.

Yeah this has little to do with COVID and likely more to do with the fact that this cop killed this man, is a chronic offender, with zero discipline in a system where human garbage like this can flourish and a union so corrupted that these cops can simply move to a town a few miles away and do the same thing.. But this one was especially bad.

Officer accused in Floyd's death opened fire on 2 people | Hosted

A white Minneapolis police officer who knelt on George Floyd's neck opened fire on two people during his 19-year career and had nearly 20 complaints and two letters of reprimand filed against him.

And this. I assumed there was more to this story and it appears that there is.

George Floyd and cop who knelt on his neck worked together as security at the same Minneapolis club | Daily Mail Online

The black community deals with this and other injustices on a daily basis. So I have no issue with what is happening in Minneapolis or across the nation. And the pressure that is on the DA currently, needs to increase to bring charges, just like the murder in GA, or it will be swept under the rug.

Breonna Taylor: What to know about Louisville EMT killed by police

Family of Breonna Taylor sues Louisville police officers for wrongful death - CBS News

Taxpayers pay these huge lawsuit awards, not the cops themselves (unless they are sued civilly) so I often wonder where those loud voices that have no problem bitching about any other taxpayer funded thing are in these instances.

 

[FemMecha]

I saw this in my FB feed. Chauvin has a history of violent racial incidents. The police force needs to get these people off the force after the first incident.

 

[anticlimatic]

Is there any aspect of humanity more disgusting than mob mentality?

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Is there any aspect of humanity more disgusting than mob mentality?

voting for clowns

 

[anticlimatic]

voting for clowns

Democracy is more disgusting than mob rule?
Ate we going backwards in time?

 

[Kingu Kurimuzon]

Is there any aspect of humanity more disgusting than mob mentality?

authoritarianism and the people who support it for a fleeting feeling of security.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Democracy is more disgusting than mob rule?
Ate we going backwards in time?

Whnn they were being peaceful, they got gassed.

You're a second amendment guy, you should be supportive of people rebelling against tyranny. I'd assume armed rebellion that you cite as the justification for the second amendment isn't legal either.

Also, little history lesson for you. The founding fathers considered democracy mob rule. James Madison was quite clear on that point. But I'm sure you've read him.

 

[FemMecha]

authoritarianism and the people who support it for a fleeting feeling of security.

Agreed. Anytime an entire group or system suppresses others, that could be seen as a type of mob rule, but just more organized than masses of people in the streets.

I think it's easy to distance oneself when seeing tragedy, but one step towards empathy in this situation is to see for a moment the face of your own father, brother, or son in George Floyd. That moment of comprehension for this person changes it. For some people reacting to this with expressed rage there is also the overlay of the history of racism, the added issue of seeing shared physical features with the ones you love and knowing that is part of the reason it happened. I can understand how a person could actually snap psychologically. I think I would snap if I saw that happen to someone I knew and loved. When an entire group of people shared similar experiences of oppression, know a specific someone who was killed or assaulted for the same reason, it hits closer to home. It isn't an abstract, philosophical debate about how humans organize or their moral ideals. It becomes a response to issues of survival, trauma, and grief.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

I had a period where I though class trumped race. I still think it's important, but my thinking has evolved. Now, I think racism is the glue that holds American capitalism together. I don't mean to suggest that I'm perfect with all of these issues (I'm not), but I think it's telling that people who support the status quo (many of whom wanted to "blow up the system" 4 years ago lol) are all on one side of this, and people who think change is needed are all on the other, regardless of race.

Many of the people shocked and horrified by this wanted to "blow up the system" 4 years ago. Guess what guys? Riots are an excellent example of "blowing up the system.." I thought this was what you wanted. Getting cold feet? Or perhaps you only wanted to blow up the system peacefully and lawfully (with the threat of peaceful lawful armed rebellion always present, of course)?

Agreed. Anytime an entire group or system suppresses others, that could be seen as a type of mob rule, but just more organized than masses of people in the streets.

I think it's easy to distance oneself when seeing tragedy, but one step towards empathy in this situation is to see for a moment the face of your own father, brother, or son in George Floyd. That moment of comprehension for this person changes it. For some people reacting to this with expressed rage there is also the overlay of the history of racism, the added issue of seeing shared physical features with the ones you love and knowing that is part of the reason it happened. I can understand how a person could actually snap psychologically. I think I would snap if I saw that happen to someone I knew and loved. When an entire group of people shared similar experiences of oppression, know a specific someone who was killed or assaulted for the same reason, it hits closer to home. It isn't an abstract, philosophical debate about how humans organize or their moral ideals. It becomes a response to issues of survival, trauma, and grief.

For me there's also the undercurrent of hw the Black community is being disproportionately affected by this virus, in part because they are considered "essential" workers. Keep in mind that "essential" does not mean that they are entitled to a living wage or paid sick leave or anything.

 

[anticlimatic]

Is there any evidence beyond the media/political need for manufacturing racism that racism has anything to do with this incident? So far it just seems to me like a shitty power hungry authority figure being a shitty power hungry authority figure. One who was fired and pending an autopsy on the victim will be charged with some variation of manslaughter. Are there people somewhere defending this guy? I feel like everyone is on the same page here. At least to the extent that riots looting and burning down businesses and police stations are "uncalled for" at best.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Is there any evidence beyond the media/political need for manufacturing racism that racism has anything to do with this incident? So far it just seems to me like a shitty power hungry authority figure being a shitty power hungry authority figure. One who was fired and pending an autopsy on the victim will be charged with some variation of manslaughter. Are there people somewhere defending this guy? I feel like everyone is on the same page here. At least to the extent that riots looting and burning down businesses and police stations are "uncalled for" at best.

The second amendment is important because people have the right to rebel against tyranny, though.

This is blowing up the system. Didn't you vote for that 4 years ago, lol?

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

"um, no wait, now we really care about the rule of law"

lol