Let me share a little bit about protests and revolutions and the media obsession with #Riots . We know most of the coverage is tainted by the racial bias of the news outlets covering the events, but it goes a bit deeper than that. Sometimes they just plain old lie
People out in the street protesting state violence are 98% of the time not the people destroying property. The property destruction, is often the result of police violence, and inaction. Happened in Ferguson, Baltimore, just about everywhere and it's seldom covered
Do you know how hot tear gas canisters are ? Do you think police flares just 'disappear' once the camera stops rolling? Often police munitions, being used with reckless abandon, spark the fires and destruction that is blamed on protesters. I've seen it in person
I talked to Ferguson residents who complained that police munitions set off garbage fires, but their calls to the cops and local fire departments to put out the blaze went ignored. In some cases the police were just a few feet away. This is seldom covered
Also, the disruption and chaos caused by violent police ATTRACTS criminal activity. When cops start beating down peaceful protesters and shooting gas opportunistic criminal activity jumps up. Like stealing cars because you know everyone is inside distracted by the news
I have been at quite a few protests and without a doubt the police response to black and brown and left leaning white activity is universally more hostile and aggressive than white or conservative protest groups. When is the last time you saw Pro-Lifers get tear gassed?
Further, don't get fooled by camera angles. Oftentimes the largest property damage is one area or a few blocks. local and national press knows that it's a better ratings grab to make everything look like the No Church in the Wild video even if it's not that serious
Most importantly: #GeorgeFloydWasMurdered in broad daylight by police. Less than a month after #BreonnaTaylor #AhmaudArbery and a white lynch mob harassed a black family in NC. The focus on property damage over the loss of LIFE is a crime in and of itself
