2020 Protests megathread

[NOVA Green]

It's interesting how quiet this thread is, now that the protests appear to have reached more of a "critical momentum", which larger protests in most cities than previously, uniformed police officers in scores of cities marching or escorting peaceful protesters, taking the knee, etc...

Splits within the elites, as increasing number of elected leaders and figures voice their support for the fundamental aim of the overwhelming majority of the protesters, including even some Republican members of the US Senate.

While members of the 82nd Airborne and other soldiers deployed or ready to be deployed with bayonets into the streets of DC courtesy of the Commander in Chief, after Military Helicopters were deployed last Night....

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

It's interesting how quiet this thread is, now that the protests appear to have reached more of a "critical momentum", which larger protests in most cities than previously, uniformed police officers in scores of cities marching or escorting peaceful protesters, taking the knee, etc...

Splits within the elites, as increasing number of elected leaders and figures voice their support for the fundamental aim of the overwhelming majority of the protesters, including even some Republican members of the US Senate.

While members of the 82nd Airborne and other soldiers deployed or ready to be deployed with bayonets into the streets of DC courtesy of the Commander in Chief, after Military Helicopters were deployed last Night....

This is occurring? That's very welcome news.

[NOVA Green]

It's interesting how quiet this thread is, now that the protests appear to have reached more of a "critical momentum", which larger protests in most cities than previously, uniformed police officers in scores of cities marching or escorting peaceful protesters, taking the knee, etc...

Splits within the elites, as increasing number of elected leaders and figures voice their support for the fundamental aim of the overwhelming majority of the protesters, including even some Republican members of the US Senate.

While members of the 82nd Airborne and other soldiers deployed or ready to be deployed with bayonets into the streets of DC courtesy of the Commander in Chief, after Military Helicopters were deployed last Night....

This is occurring? That's very welcome news.

Much of it is behind the scenes and mainly visible on local news, and frequently in smaller communities...

For example you can find some stories from North Carolina right here.

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article243201931.html

I was reading earlier today about Salem, Oregon where there were actually a couple nights of clashes between predominately peaceful protesters and City police that used tear gas and other "tools" to eliminate protests, declared an 8 PM curfew (Which is virtually unheard of especially in a City without a history of militant demonstrations),

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2020/05/31/protestors-march-downtown-salem/5304906002/

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/crime/2020/06/01/george-floyd-protests-salem-oregon-curfew-8-pm-police/5308756002/

The taking the knee thing for uniformed police officers has now become so common, that it's almost a given now in many places from Iowa to Oregon to New Jersey....

Now if we could only get kaepernick back to the NFL 100% vindicated and recognized as someone who was way ahead of the curve and willing to take the hit and get blacklisted for it if need be....


https://www.theroot.com/inspired-by-george-floyds-death-former-nfl-exec-comes-1843857774

[Fight for Trump]

Self-proclaimed "allies" who think that they will be spared from the mob because they're on the "right side" are mistaken:

https://twitter.com/AmiHorowitz/status/1267908030206816259

If they're on their side, they should be out there looting and burning instead of staying inside playing beer pong and date raping sorority girls.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

It's interesting how quiet this thread is, now that the protests appear to have reached more of a "critical momentum", which larger protests in most cities than previously, uniformed police officers in scores of cities marching or escorting peaceful protesters, taking the knee, etc...

Splits within the elites, as increasing number of elected leaders and figures voice their support for the fundamental aim of the overwhelming majority of the protesters, including even some Republican members of the US Senate.

While members of the 82nd Airborne and other soldiers deployed or ready to be deployed with bayonets into the streets of DC courtesy of the Commander in Chief, after Military Helicopters were deployed last Night....

This is occurring? That's very welcome news.

Much of it is behind the scenes and mainly visible on local news, and frequently in smaller communities...

For example you can find some stories from North Carolina right here.

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article243201931.html

I was reading earlier today about Salem, Oregon where there were actually a couple nights of clashes between predominately peaceful protesters and City police that used tear gas and other "tools" to eliminate protests, declared an 8 PM curfew (Which is virtually unheard of especially in a City without a history of militant demonstrations),

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2020/05/31/protestors-march-downtown-salem/5304906002/

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/crime/2020/06/01/george-floyd-protests-salem-oregon-curfew-8-pm-police/5308756002/

The taking the knee thing for uniformed police officers has now become so common, that it's almost a given now in many places from Iowa to Oregon to New Jersey....

Now if we could only get kaepernick back to the NFL 100% vindicated and recognized as someone who was way ahead of the curve and willing to take the hit and get blacklisted for it if need be....


https://www.theroot.com/inspired-by-george-floyds-death-former-nfl-exec-comes-1843857774

The main takeaway from this is that the media keeps selling this image of rioters and looters ravaging everything when this is in fact a distortion.

[jaymichaud]

https://twitter.com/NPR/status/1267709439467020288

I support the protesters and all, but does anyone else find this to be actual insanity after they have been barking at anyone who’s came within 2 meters of another person for the last 3 months?

[Fight for Trump]

I support the protesters and all, but does anyone else find this to be actual insanity after they have been barking at anyone who’s came within 2 meters of another person for the last 3 months?

Someone told me scientists only ever say facts and don't let political correctness get in the way?

[Anti Democrat Democrat Club]

Protests have gotten violent in Brockton. Police are firing tear gas into the crowd.

[Fight for Trump]

Welcome to ignore.

[Tartarus Sauce]

What an absolutely repulsive suggestion. You are advocating for state-sponsored execution of unarmed civilians.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

White liberals seems downright eager to cheer on something that will majorly kill older African Americans.

The only demographic in the Morning Consult that did not have a majority agree that would contribute to an acceleration of the COVID pandemic was Under 45 African Americans. 76 percent of White Democrats believe it will contribute to acceleration, which was among the highest of the subcategories. Given their understanding of what will happen, encouraging this intentional widespread death would be the most reasonable use of the word "murderer" throughout the entire pandemic.

[Progressive Pessimist]

My sister attended a protest in Clifton. It was entirely civil from what it seems. I'm proud of her for going, she has way more balls than I do-I'm still wary of the virus. Though, granted, it may have been more out of boredom than zeal, especially since she went with her friend. She pays attention to politics very casually, but isn't that knowledgeable about it, so that's why I say that. But regardless, she sure made me look like a slacktivist.

When she gets home maybe I'll share the details she gives me about it. I hope she didn't get infected though.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

https://twitter.com/NPR/status/1267709439467020288

I support the protesters and all, but does anyone else find this to be actual insanity after they have been barking at anyone who’s came within 2 meters of another person for the last 3 months?

I'm worried about the impact 2-4 weeks down the road, and I wish there were an equally vehement and effective way to respond. But given that we were being told weeks ago that sacrifices needed to be made so that the hyper-wealthy could get wealthier, being willing to take that same risk to stand up to defend life, liberty and the future against the oppression of '"white nationalism" seems  pretty reasonable.

[Mr. Morden]

At least one Republican has joined in:

https://twitter.com/HurdOnTheHill/status/1267953208674209794

[Progressive Pessimist]

At least one Republican has joined in:

https://twitter.com/HurdOnTheHill/status/1267953208674209794

Good for Will Turd. This doesn't make up for voting against Trump's impeachment though.

[NOVA Green]

It's interesting how quiet this thread is, now that the protests appear to have reached more of a "critical momentum", which larger protests in most cities than previously, uniformed police officers in scores of cities marching or escorting peaceful protesters, taking the knee, etc...

Splits within the elites, as increasing number of elected leaders and figures voice their support for the fundamental aim of the overwhelming majority of the protesters, including even some Republican members of the US Senate.

While members of the 82nd Airborne and other soldiers deployed or ready to be deployed with bayonets into the streets of DC courtesy of the Commander in Chief, after Military Helicopters were deployed last Night....

This is occurring? That's very welcome news.

Much of it is behind the scenes and mainly visible on local news, and frequently in smaller communities...

For example you can find some stories from North Carolina right here.

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article243201931.html

I was reading earlier today about Salem, Oregon where there were actually a couple nights of clashes between predominately peaceful protesters and City police that used tear gas and other "tools" to eliminate protests, declared an 8 PM curfew (Which is virtually unheard of especially in a City without a history of militant demonstrations),

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2020/05/31/protestors-march-downtown-salem/5304906002/

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/crime/2020/06/01/george-floyd-protests-salem-oregon-curfew-8-pm-police/5308756002/

The taking the knee thing for uniformed police officers has now become so common, that it's almost a given now in many places from Iowa to Oregon to New Jersey....

Now if we could only get kaepernick back to the NFL 100% vindicated and recognized as someone who was way ahead of the curve and willing to take the hit and get blacklisted for it if need be....


https://www.theroot.com/inspired-by-george-floyds-death-former-nfl-exec-comes-1843857774

The main takeaway from this is that the media keeps selling this image of rioters and looters ravaging everything when this is in fact a distortion.

Short answer.... YES.

Depends upon what you mean by "the media"....

LONGER ANSWER:

The Movement against Police Brutality in the United States, especially within communities of color naturally goes back within Modern American History (Let's for the sake of simplicity start with the Civil Rights Movement in the Deep South, the extension of the movement to the Black Diaspora within Northeastern, Midwest, and West Coast Cities by the mid to late '60s etc...

The militarization of local police departments under Richard Nixon in the late '60s/early '70s, where military hardware was frequently added to the mix, combined with the formations of the first SWAT teams added in many places to tensions between local populations including Black Populations as well as generally political protesters.

Naturally the whole "War on Drugs" gave increased license to many police agencies to continue practices that had already been employed, but with increasingly lethal encounters as law enforcement officers frequently resorted to shooting first and asking questions later....

I could go on up to 2020....

I'm sure you already know all of this stuff, but just in case we have newer members /viewers tuning in that aren't familiar with stuff like the Civil Rights Movement, Black Panther Party, etc wanted to at least through that out there.

It is true that we have seen protester initiated violence in some localities this past week, but in many cases we have seen more frequent incidents of local police departments not disciplined in how to deal with massive numbers of angry individuals taking to the streets, who instead of using police tactics in how to deescalate mass angry protests instead have made them much worse than needed.

It is *also true* that we have seen individual protesters in many localities initiating acts of violence against property (spray painting buildings, damaging police vehicles, etc...), and sometimes even initiating violence against law enforcement officers from throwing projectiles, and occasionally firing guns at police officers, not to mention the side show called the "looting", which honestly really looks like the vast majority does not come at the hands of protesters, but rather either criminal elements exploiting the situation, and sometimes simply opportunistic residents of communities impacted by the chaos to grab booze, shoes, etc....

I reiterate that the overwhelming majority of protesters have been peaceful, and in many of the situations where "clashes" developed between police and protesters occurred because many of these police agencies are not properly trained and prepared in how to handle large crowd control situations without resorting to extreme force and violence.

[NOVA Green]

Seattle protests 2x the number compared to last Night.... just heard live on MSNBC.

[NOVA Green]

Weird...

Lawrence O'Donnell cuts off the live coverage from a protester talking to a journalist, cuts her off the air with the person wearing a mask, and then says 99.7% of protesters are peaceful.

Lawrence for everyone not familiar, grew up in Boston and his Father was an Irish Copper in the City and worked in various Government positions in the '60s and early '70s.

[Estrella]

Police unions and their disastrous impact have been mentioned in this thread before, but I've been thinking about something.

There have been some attempts to reform police forces in various cities, and most of them ultimately ended in failure.

What's the purpose of an union? Protecting its workers and negotiating better conditions for them, of course. Higher wages, better equipment and yes, unfortunately sometimes also protection from being fired despite obvious incompetence.

Incompetence is always harmful, but not all unions are created equal. A bad power-tripping teacher can never do as much harm as a bad power-tripping cop.

So why do we allow an instiution armed up to its teeth to boss around elected representatives of the people? If this wasn't America but a poorer, browner country and these people's uniforms were green instead of blue, this behavior would be - rightly - called out as an authoritarian deep state. Just as there needs to be civilian control of the military, there needs to be civilan control of the police. Effective control, that is.

[Virginiá]

https://twitter.com/patrickgiqueer/status/1267277654832615426

[Stranger in a strange land]

Police unions and their disastrous impact have been mentioned in this thread before, but I've been thinking about something.

There have been some attempts to reform police forces in various cities, and most of them ultimately ended in failure.

What's the purpose of an union? Protecting its workers and negotiating better conditions for them, of course. Higher wages, better equipment and yes, unfortunately sometimes also protection from being fired despite obvious incompetence.

Incompetence is always harmful, but not all unions are created equal. A bad power-tripping teacher can never do as much harm as a bad power-tripping cop.

So why do we allow an instiution armed up to its teeth to boss around elected representatives of the people? If this wasn't America but a poorer, browner country and these people's uniforms were green instead of blue, this behavior would be - rightly - called out as an authoritarian deep state. Just as there needs to be civilian control of the military, there needs to be civilan control of the police. Effective control, that is.

Right to Work for Police Unions

[lfromnj]

Police unions and their disastrous impact have been mentioned in this thread before, but I've been thinking about something.

There have been some attempts to reform police forces in various cities, and most of them ultimately ended in failure.

What's the purpose of an union? Protecting its workers and negotiating better conditions for them, of course. Higher wages, better equipment and yes, unfortunately sometimes also protection from being fired despite obvious incompetence.

Incompetence is always harmful, but not all unions are created equal. A bad power-tripping teacher can never do as much harm as a bad power-tripping cop.

So why do we allow an instiution armed up to its teeth to boss around elected representatives of the people? If this wasn't America but a poorer, browner country and these people's uniforms were green instead of blue, this behavior would be - rightly - called out as an authoritarian deep state. Just as there needs to be civilian control of the military, there needs to be civilan control of the police. Effective control, that is.

Right to Work for Police Unions

Already the case
Thanks to Janus

[Frodo]

https://twitter.com/MatthewBorgard/status/1267297260251025408

[Estrella]

HOLY COW

https://twitter.com/ppollingnumbers/status/1267941135521067011?s=21

That's quite a contrast to the reactions of the country in the wake of civil rights protests and riots in the late 1960s.  We've come a long way indeed over the past fifty years....

https://www.crmvet.org/docs/60s_crm_public-opinion.pdf  

I know it's easy (and justified) to be pessimistic, but nothing says "it gets better" more than this (from page 4 of that pdf)

Gallup Poll (AIPO) [October, 1964]

PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS ABOUT THE NEGRO DEMONSTRATIONS. WITH WHICH VIEW DO Y OU AGREE? SOME PEOPLE SAY THE NEGROES SHOULD STOP THEIR DEMONSTRATIONS NOW THAT THEY HAVE MADE THEIR POINT EVEN THOUGH SOME OF THEIR DEMANDS HAVE NOT BEEN MET. OTHERS SAY THEY HAVE TO CONTINUE DEMONSTRATING IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE BETTER JOBS, BETTER HOUSING, AND BETTER SCHOOLING. (WITH WHICH VIEW DO YOU AGREE?)

73% NEGROES SHOULD STOP DEMONSTRATIONS
19% HAVE TO CONTINUE
8% DON'T KNOW

[GM Team Member and Deputy PPT WB]

https://twitter.com/MatthewBorgard/status/1267297260251025408

this will be a meme template in no time.