Why are they still protesting? What do they want?

[Adamek]

Have they really? Do you think Trump has heard them? How much by way of meaningful action (e.g. changes to law or policy to address the concerns) has happened that demonstrates they have actually been heard?

OK. Getting back to basics. To the best of my knowledge, and it is far from complete, Trump has nothing to do with local police inforcement. Nothing. MInnesota should be working on laws to protect its citizens. It is local government, and in the case of Minneapolis, the mayor and the police chief (both democrats, btw) who need to step up to the plate. But they are not. They are not interested in solving these problems. Let the riots continue.

 

[Socrates92]

Not including you, Socrates, but if someone thinks this is just a way to blow off steam or is anarchy on the streets or is just an opportunity to riot or is a way to push left wing views then that person is part of the problem.

Ok, but that still needs to be proven. I mean, there is a strong argument, given that the world has been in lockdown for months, and 40%ish are out of work and possibly very desperate as a result, that that is a bigger contributor to the riots that the George Floyd murder and the presumed racial motivation behind it.

 

[Socrates92]

Not including you, Socrates

Also, why go out of your way not to implicate me? If you’re going to make a strong statement, you should stick by it and all its logical implications… Just say what you mean, and don’t worry about being over-sensitive about it.

 

[Adamek]

Putting a bumper sticker on your car does nothing. Discussing the matter at a bbq with friends does nothing. Ringing your local rep does nothing. Standing outside your local government office with a placard does nothing. Marching in protest on any given day with a hundred people does nothing. Marching with a few thousand does nothing. Voting in one oarty as opposed to another does nothing.

But if you have tens of thousands of people protesting in every state for days on end and that protest spreads to London, to Sydney, to Hamburg and it’s the lead story in all papers and in all new outlets every day…

…then everyone takes notice. Then everyone knows there’s a problem. And maybe each one of us can help to solve it by thinking about how we interact with others. How we view others. How we discuss others. How we remain silent sometimes when we should speak out.

This is a great post and I thank you for it. You have described in some detail the problems with our two-party democracy. An indivudal has few resource at his/her disposal to affect change. Only a mob can try to force an issue and ultimately force the faceless bureauacracy to make some changes in the system.
I have little confidence in the effectiveness of these changes in solving real problems, but it is one way of dealing with problems.
You also mention the global aspect of these protests. it seems that racism is not a strictly American problem.
You save the best for last. When you say that “maybe each one of us can help…”, you are hitting the nail on the head. It is individual sense of responsibility for one’s actions and for the community that will help resolve most issues. Be responsible and stand up for the downtrodden. This is what has to happen.

 

[LilyM]

LilyM:

Have they really? Do you think Trump has heard them? How much by way of meaningful action (e.g. changes to law or policy to address the concerns) has happened that demonstrates they have actually been heard?

OK. Getting back to basics. To the best of my knowledge, and it is far from complete, Trump has nothing to do with local police inforcement. Nothing. MInnesota should be working on laws to protect its citizens. It is local government, and in the case of Minneapolis, the mayor and the police chief (both democrats, btw) who need to step up to the plate. But they are not. They are not interested in solving these problems. Let the riots continue.

This is way more than a local.issue. Australians are.protesting becauae we have our own issues of oveepolicing, including indigenous deaths in custody, ond overincarceration of indigenous people.

Aren’t civil rights and racial discrimination in the purview of the federal government? . . .

 

[Irishmom2]

I wish you had provided a complete quote from blacklivesmatter.com, because I think what you have chosen to show is not actually what it says in its entirety. I think your chosen parts may mislead some people into thinking something that is not intended.

 

[Freddy]

Freddy:

Not including you, Socrates, but if someone thinks this is just a way to blow off steam or is anarchy on the streets or is just an opportunity to riot or is a way to push left wing views then that person is part of the problem.

Ok, but that still needs to be proven. I mean, there is a strong argument, given that the world has been in lockdown for months, and 40%ish are out of work and possibly very desperate as a result, that that is a bigger contributor to the riots that the George Floyd murder and the presumed racial motivation behind it.

Why do you say riots? People aren’t rioting on behalf of equal rights. People are protesting about it and some are then taking advantage of that fact to riot. Please concentrate on the protesting.

 

[Adamek]

And when you have Trump implicily endorsing racism a few years back by calling Neo-Nazi sympathisers ‘good people’, he needs education and to get planks put of his eye as much as anyone

Sometimes it is good to separate the wheat from the chaff. American media reporting on Trump could not be relied on for objective treatment. If you bother to investigate this issue a bit and consider the context and the actual statements, you might be surprised. Only if you are interested in seeing things a little more objectively.

 

[Freddy]

Freddy:

Not including you, Socrates

Also, why go out of your way not to implicate me? If you’re going to make a strong statement, you should stick by it and all its logical implications… Just say what you mean, and don’t worry about being over-sensitive about it.

I simply responded to your post because you wanted an answer as to what people wanted. But I didn’t want to imply that you were ‘part of the problem’ by doing so.

 

[Irishmom2]

Do you really think that if they are found guilty that that should satisfy people? That is not enough. Laws need to change. Police practices need to change. People’s hearts and minds need to change.

And if they are somehow not found guilty, I would join those who are unsatisfied.

 

[jlc2k2]

The protests continue because this is not some one off incident that has only ever happened in Minnesota. There have been repeated incidents for years. And every time there are protests that eventually die away…and then it happens again. The protests continue because if they don’t then nothing will change.

So I honestly don’t think there’s some magic thing that any one person could do or say to end the protests at this point. Because saying “hey we’re going to make this change” doesn’t really hold a lot of water until that change is actually made.

It’s kind of like someone coming out and saying “hey we’re going to outlaw abortion”. Do you think that would actually mean there would never be another March For Life? Or do you think the March For Life would continue until something was actually done?

 

[Freddy]

LilyM:

Have they really? Do you think Trump has heard them? How much by way of meaningful action (e.g. changes to law or policy to address the concerns) has happened that demonstrates they have actually been heard?

OK. Getting back to basics. To the best of my knowledge, and it is far from complete, Trump has nothing to do with local police inforcement. Nothing. MInnesota should be working on laws to protect its citizens. It is local government, and in the case of Minneapolis, the mayor and the police chief (both democrats, btw) who need to step up to the plate. But they are not. They are not interested in solving these problems. Let the riots continue.

We don’t need new laws. We don’t need to change existing ones. What needs to change is us. All of us. Individually. To admit to our failings.

Maybe if these protests had occured before Floyd was killed them just maybe one of the officers that was standing by while he was choked to death might have said something to his colleague. Maybe he would have thought about why people had protested and what he could do to prevent further deaths. Maybe he would have taken personal responsibility.

 

[ZemD]

My point in posting those excerpts was not to mislead, but to demonstrate that the group behind many of these protests directly advocates for many policies and ‘ideals’ that are arguably not at all related to police brutality against black people.

Also I personally think the group is disingenuous as they don’t direct their efforts to curbing crimes against blacks committed by other black people. There are thousands of black lives lost every year to these crimes. And there are thousands if not hundreds of thousands of black lives lost to abortion every year as well which the group does not oppose.

I’m glad you went to thier website! That was my goal, for people to read what black lives matter reports they stand for.

I hope you have a good evening.

 

[Socrates92]

Why do you say riots? People aren’t rioting on behalf of equal rights. People are protesting about it and some are then taking advantage of that fact to riot. Please concentrate on the protesting.

Why concentrate on one to the exclusion of the other? They’re both happening.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

If you are one of the protesters, then share with us - what do you want?

I went on a protest a couple days ago because I wanted my neighbors and community to know I cared about them and wanted to do what I could to make them feel more secure and less sad, scared, or uncomfortable.

I also get tired of some of the people in this area being scared of every big gathering that comes to town, whether it’s a George Floyd march or a Trump rally. I think a lot of people here (and also in other places) need to get a grip on reality.

I am okay with our local police (they were at the protest too, their chief and the county sheriff marched and spoke at the rally), and whether Trump stays or goes is irrelevant to what happens in the local areas I frequent.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Why concentrate on one to the exclusion of the other? They’re both happening.

Many, many places in USA are having fairly large protests with no riots.
The media is focusing on the places where rioting is happening and not covering the protests that stay peaceful. Because “if it bleeds, it leads”.

 

[petra22]

Except in places like China…

 

[1cthlctrth]

Good one. Notice that the Governors with the strictest lockdown orders (Michigan, California, New York…) in the name of “social distancing” are the same Governors who are encouraging large clusters of protesters, who ignore all “social distancing” measures.

 

[RolandThompsonGunner]

This is classic. “I shouldn’t have to tell you what’s wrong. It is enough that I am upset.” I used to get that from my wife at times. LOL.
And it is abundantly clear that you have nothing to say. Otherwise you would have said it.

This makes it sound like you’re not really asking in good faith. The protestors aren’t an official hierarchy with a manifesto and an itemized list of demands. The basic theme is “more accountability for cops who are too quick to use physical force.” If that’s too vague and ephemeral for you, then I think you’re just going to be unsatisfied.

 

[petra22]

In a backwards state like mine EVERY January is dedicated to Black history month. There are parades and speeches and teachers in every school teach the children that it isn’t right to treat people differently because of the color of their skin. Teachers are faithful about it. We also teach the children that policemen are helpers, someone you can trust. Someone to call when you are in trouble. I KNOW, though I’m a retired teacher, that when school gets back in session there will be many lessons on bad policemen who abuse their power and for the children to be sure NEVER to be one of those people.

Am I on the right track? Is my state on the right track? Or should I tell the children to NEVER support the police in our state? NEVER vote to fund the police who protect us?
Who should I tell them to call when they are in trouble and their parents can’t help them? Their teachers can’t help them? It’s just so confusing and it will confuse the children, too!