Someone upstream mentioned that in some areas where looting was taking place, stores were closed.
In Cleveland, some of the stores were open in the downtown area last night. The employers chose to close early so their employees could get home safely.
The nice thing i saw there was the group of people who got together today to help clean up the mess. These are residents of the greater Cleveland metro area who came together today to help.
I see the connection, @camathmom, I just do not think that is what is motivating the typical looter. If a social justice statement were the goal, just spraypaint or otherwise deface those precious purses. Stealing them is sheer self interest.
New York protesters have moved from Time Square to downtown supreme court house. It has been peaceful. Apparently someone threw a bottle at police and other protesters jumped on him. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they will continue to protest peacefully.
I have friends in the Twin Cities and what they have shared is truly frightening. There was talk yesterday of clearing out libraries to protect community resources. They also shared photos of clean up efforts similar to what thumper described.
D is in DC, West End. Vandalism in Georgetown, obviously near the White House. Her neighborhood appears safe for the time being.
Yesterday a local aviation company here had a “fly-over” salute to health care workers. I didn’t know this and when I heard the planes I had flashbacks to 9/11 and the aftermath. Full panic mode.
These are sad times for our country.
No, you don’t get it. Oh good grief. Yes, this is a crazy emotional scary time, but try to understand and not just blame. It is not just about the motivation of an individual looter.
And good grief, don’t give those looters excuses. I don’t buy it.
SMH
“Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms (D) announced the firing of two city police officers on Sunday over an incident involving alleged excessive force that occurred during a protest Saturday evening.
Bottoms told reporters at a news conference that the incident, which was captured on video and shows several officers dragging two people out of a car, also resulted in three other officers being placed on desk duty pending further review of their actions, The Associated Press reported.
The unidentified couple is seen on the video screaming in terror and demanding a reason for their arrest as they are led away by armored riot police officers.”
I empathize with the rage, but not the looting. Of any store, anywhere, by anyone. It hurts the righteousness of the protest and harms the community, IMHO.
I am pleased, relieved and joyful even that this town resisted the urge, given its history, to go violent And vandalism. All peaceful demonstrations. The town has just in recent years seen an uptick economically and COVID19 really has done damage. That restraint has been shown is a great step in recovery here as the state is slowly normalizing.
I’m sure the driver didn’t mean to drive onto a highway that was closed to allow peaceful protesters to march.
May 31, 2020, 7:59 PM EDT / Updated May 31, 2020, 8:55 PM EDT
By Phil Helsel
“A large truck was seen driving into a crowd of protesters on a bridge in Minneapolis at full speed, sending people running for safety, during protests on Sunday.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety called it “very disturbing actions by a truck driver on I-35W, inciting a crowd of peaceful demonstrators.”
The truck driver was injured and is under arrest, the department said. It doesn’t appear any protesters were hit by the truck, according to the department. The driver has been released from the hospital and is in custody, the governor said at a news conference.
The truck was swarmed and video from the scene showed someone on the hood as it moved.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called the incident “horrifying” and said the truck driver illegally entered the closed freeway. He was injured after being pulled from the vehicle, Walz said, and his motive was unknown.”
Considering that some of the looting and vandalism appears to be outside agitators with other intents and purposes trying to infiltrate or hijack the protests, perhaps that may be the intent of some of the looters.
I’m getting public safety phone alerts about violence in Kenosha, WI
Wait, are people here seriously equating the protesters with the looters (and outside agitators?) Gosh I really hope we have better critical thinking than that. I just hope the police rioting has gotten under control before any other citizens get injured or worse.
I am really weary of their showing it on all the channels. All it does is give them attention. If thy were really “protesters” they’d do this during the day not at night.
No, I think people are clearly delineating support for the peaceful protesters versus the looters
There is a curfew in Cleveland tonight. The Cleveland Police Department has stated that no media is permitted in downtown Cleveland tonight unless they are in their place of business.
If they are two separate groups, how come you say that the looting undermines the protests? Since one has nothing to do with the other?
That is typical of politicians (blame the “outsiders”) it’s as if they had no bad people in their communities. The Minnesota governor tried it until they verified 80% of the people arrested were from…Minnesota. Its laughable. Its also dangerous, as it continues this group identity thing going by claiming these “outsiders” (substitute Jews/Blacks/Hispanics etc.) are the problem.
I read somewhere that there is a statewide curfew starting at 8 pm in Arizona.
Because the events are largely occurring at the same time and place (protests/looting), they are bound to be lumped together in public perception, and peaceful protesters unfairly blamed and have their message hijacked. The very first thing social justice protest organizers stress is no violence and do not engage with counterprotestors, ever, to try to keep the message pure and on track.