Minneapolis cops slowly murder handcuffed man in front of crowd

[Calthrina950]

2020 is looking like the ending of the film Joker. The crowds rioting are also very multiracial and while I believe some are sympathetic to racial progress and equal justice it feels like more of a temper tantrum and backlash to everything.

Isn't it possible that some of this is being fueled by anger at the stay-at-home orders? Or anger with the entire situation? What I find also to be indicative of its effects is the history of the man who was murdered, George Floyd. He was laid off from his job as a bouncer because of the shutdown in Minnesota.

[Calthrina950]

What a terrible response from Mayor Frey.

The Mayor of Minneapolis is incompetent, as is the Governor of Minnesota. They both need to be voted out of office after this.

[Calthrina950]

No violence is justified, obviously.

I do wonder if there would be less violent protesting in major cities if the country weren’t locked down for 2 months (and were fed fear mongering lies)?

I honestly think that the connection is tenuous. People still would have been protesting over Floyd's death even if we weren't in the midst of a pandemic. The fact that so many protesters are still wearing masks suggests that their frustration isn't with the lock-downs.

I would have to disagree with you here. Polls have shown that the vast majority of Americans have seen masks as a necessary measure to contain the pandemic's spread, and even with the uproar over mandatory mask mandates (and I've made clear my concerns about those), mask-wearing is still a much less intrusive and more tolerable practice than many of the lockdown restrictions. I firmly believe that many people, who have lost their jobs because of this pandemic, who have been socially isolated, and experiencing great mental anguish, were pushed over the breaking point by this horrific incident. I would also say that the George Floyd incident represented a step too far for most in this country, revealing the extent to which police brutality, racism, prejudice, and discrimination continue to govern our society.

[Calthrina950]

No violence is justified, obviously.

I do wonder if there would be less violent protesting in major cities if the country weren’t locked down for 2 months (and were fed fear mongering lies)?

I honestly think that the connection is tenuous. People still would have been protesting over Floyd's death even if we weren't in the midst of a pandemic. The fact that so many protesters are still wearing masks suggests that their frustration isn't with the lock-downs.

I would have to disagree with you here. Polls have shown that the vast majority of Americans have seen masks as a necessary measure to contain the pandemic's spread, and even with the uproar over mandatory mask mandates (and I've made clear my concerns about those), mask-wearing is still a much less intrusive and more tolerable practice than many of the lockdown restrictions. I firmly believe that many people, who have lost their jobs because of their pandemic, who have been socially isolated, and experiencing great mental anguish, were pushed over the breaking point by this horrific incident. I would also say that the George Floyd incident represented a step too far for most in this country, revealing the extent to which police brutality, racism, prejudice, and discrimination continue to govern our society.

I'm sure it contributed, I just don't think it's really on the minds of too many as they're out protesting. The focus is still on criminal justice in this country.

I agree with you, that criminal justice and police brutality are the primary issues being focused upon by many of the protesters. I just don't think that we should discount all of the factors that may be contributing to the outbursts of violence and anger which we've seen.

[Calthrina950]

One hopes this leads to serious changes in US police practice and culture.

After what's happened over the past week, I am seriously doubtful that such changes will ever occur. Police brutality will continue to be an ongoing problem in this country, and I am deeply pessimistic that there will be any viable and sustainable solutions to that problem.