As angry as people were watching a black man being treated like a subhuman by police, Tuesday evening's protest was largely peaceful.....and unifying. People of all races, class and political stripes were commiserating over the tragedy and coming together in an outcry for justice. In fact, the wheels of justice were legitimately in motion as the four police officers were terminated within 24 hours of the incident. If the police's own union is declining a more thorough investigation, essentially saying they've seen all they needed to see, then criminal charges are certainly soon to follow. All good things.
Unfortunately, a few thugs decided to take matters into their own hands by firing shots into the crowd and then vandalize the Third Precinct building as well as the cop cars parked there. Sadly that was mere child's play compared to what took place Wednesday evening.
Minneapolis shuddered with violence overnight Wednesday, as rioters ignited fires and looted stores all over the city, standing in stark contrast to the mostly peaceful protests outside of a South Side police station over the police killing of George Floyd.
Early Thursday, city and law enforcement officials were still tallying the full toll of the night, which saw at least five people struck by gunfire, one fatally when the owner of a pawn shop opened fire on a man he believed was burglarizing his business. Dozens of businesses were either looted or torched, or both, mostly in the area of Minnehaha Avenue and E. Lake Street, but also along business corridors on the city's North and South sides.
Local media outlet Alpha News was on site and captured the shocking footage.
There are several other videos linked here.
Naturally the excuse-making on behalf of the rioters/looters was out in full force on social media. You can probably guess how it goes, stuff like "We have to understand their rage" or "This is the only way we'll get justice." Yeah, I'm sorry, but destroying the livelihoods of those in your community (who were also making fervent calls for justice) is in no way productive or helpful to the cause. Nor is it the proper way to honor George Floyd's life.
There was also the false equivalency of a bunch of white people gathering at the governor's mansion to protest the stay-at-home order were not hit with rubber bullets or tear gas but black protesters angry over police brutality get treated that way. It's absurd on its face for one basic reason: the anti-lockdown assembly was neither setting anything ablaze nor randomly firing shots in the air. That would seem to be a key distinction, no?
The death of Mr. Floyd was universally abhorred and the community was largely coming together to peacefully (but earnestly) demand justice. Sadly the rioting and looting caused more injustices as a result.
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