I think Ferguson prosecutor released decision at night to inflame the crowds so their behavior would become the story, not the decision.
I think regardless of what time he released the decision, this would have happened. It was his speech and the grand jury's findings that are the problems, not the time. He could have delivered that at church on Christmas morning, and we'd still have this.
I think Ferguson prosecutor released decision at night to inflame the crowds so their behavior would become the story, not the decision.
Someone said the business owners should sue the city for inciting a riot. I said that was a very privileged view considering it's obvious the court system doesn't offer justice.
Everything was going fairly well in another discussion I was participating in about this decision and then someone posted a "human beings acting like animals" with regard to the protesters last night.
Post by mrsukyankee on Nov 25, 2014 14:25:12 GMT -5
So this is the Facebook thing that happened:
Friend: So starting fires, smashing windows and stealing is the way to make people not stereotype you. Disgusting behavior by pathetic excuses for human beings. Maybe if they had jobs to go to they wouldn't have time to destroy and steal.
Me: Friend, people of all races and economic situations do this in the world. In London, they found some of the riches people stole after rioting. Don't add to the stereotyping as you don't know these people.
People get tired. And the people of this area have every right to be pissed off. Folks are tired of watching black folks get shot and unless you just so happen to be black and the one committing it, everyone else gets off scott fucking free. All people want is some semblance of justice.
As very lucky white people who aren't sitting around pondering how their kids could go to the store and may never come home because they've been shot for loud music, jay walking, and just being in a neighborhood, we CAN'T JUDGE. It adds up. And it boils over. People are tired and angry and they have every right to be.
Do I like the riots? No. But if you look back to August when the people were protesting peacefully and yet were approached by cops in riot gear and tear gas, then of course, violence is going to come. When met with violence and the expectation that you are going to be violent, most people respond this way. And I'm hoping that perhaps someone in that area will listen and try to fix the system - but unfortunately, they probably will just think that this is a black people problem and thus the killings and racism will continue.
Friend: Starting fires and stealing is not protesting. I don't understand the point of destroying your neighbors livlihoods. I do know that I wouldn't want to be a cop these days. They have seconds to make a decision and if that decision means shooting someone who is commiting a crime, God,bless them if the criminal isn't the right color. I guess we will just agree to disagree.
I'm not racist. I'm against thugs of any color.
Some random: I agree with you Friend
Friend: Any privileges afforded to me were not because of my color. It was because I was lucky enough to have been brought into a family where my father worked his ass off 7 days a week and at 82 yrs old he still does. I have nothing against protesting, I do have a lot against destruction of property, arson, theft and flag burning.
Me: I do disagree with you, but politely. You are unaware of your white privilege which we both enjoy. WE do not have to fear that we'll be targeted because of our race, that we'll be followed around a shop because we're white, etc. I hate destruction of property, and think it's wrong to do, but I understand it. There's a difference between understanding and supporting.
And then I posted this:
If your concerns about violence are limited to property damage and looting, and you have never shed two tears for the history of institutional violence, murder, colonialism, segregation, lynching, genocide and police brutality against peoples of color, your words mean nothing; they mean less than nothing. Your outrage, in such a case is grotesque, an inversion of morality so putrescent as to call into question your capacity for real feeling at all. So long as violence from below is condemned while violence from above is ignored, you can bet that the former will continue--and however unfortunate that may be, it is surely predictable. If you'd like the former to cease, put an end to the latter, and then I promise you, it will. - Tim Wise
- I just don't understand in this day and age that someone doesn't get white privilege.
Can people explain what they think would have been different about the reactions to the news if it had been released earlier? I'm not sure I'm following.
Can people explain what they think would have been different about the reactions to the news if it had been released earlier? I'm not sure I'm following.
the acts of violence in early Aug happened at night. I have a few twitter people thinking they chose night so the snipers on roof tops were not as visible.
Can people explain what they think would have been different about the reactions to the news if it had been released earlier? I'm not sure I'm following.
I can't say for sure that the reactions would have been different if it was announced at a different time, obviously, since there's no way to do it over and compare. However it seems they have done everything they could to stoke the fire of upset over this situation, from calling in the National Guard long in advance to repeated admonishments over protests turning potentially into riots. I get that making the official statement in the evening gave people a chance to get home from work and school, however I don't believe that was their only motivation behind the timing. Perhaps I'm overly jaded at this point but I know I'm not the only one who feels like every move they make is suspect and has been since the beginning.
Can people explain what they think would have been different about the reactions to the news if it had been released earlier? I'm not sure I'm following.
I am curious about this, too, because I honestly don't think it would have been that different. I think a bigger factor here was announcing the reading of the verdict way in advance and pre-emptively bringing out police in riot gear when the police department already proved it handles any sort of public assembly like fucking assbags. The whole thing was set up to be a big dare for anyone to even think about stepping outside the lines so the police could crack skulls and say, "BUT THEY WERE RIOTING!" I don't think it would have been particularly different if everything was handled similarly but it had been at 3pm.
And if you're setting everything up to all but guarantee rioting, it's probably better not to do it at 3pm and have school kids and commuters be put in the middle if they don't want to be.
I guess my thought is that there are a fuckton of things to criticize the Ferguson PD and the district attorney for, and an 8pm announcement seems minor compared to the rest of the fuckery.
ESF I borrow your very well thought out post and posted it on FB and I wanted to share with you my aunt's response. Thank you for what you wrote, it made a difference in at least one person's life today I prefaced your writings with this - I borrowed this explanation from a friend. I don't love violence and I don't hate police. I'm privileged enough that I will never have to worry about my children being targeted because of their skin color. And believe me, I know it's a privilege. But I refuse to stand by silently because I'm not being targeted. This is a real problem and it's a HUGE problem and ALL of us need to stand up and let our voices be heard.
And her response - I love your ability to see and explain injustices others live with even though you have not, my dear niece. I am quite certain your grandfather is looking down at you with pride. Your biracial cousin has already texted me from school this morning upset about this matter, and I will use your post as a discussion point when we sit down to talk about it tonight. I love you.
Post by notsocreepylurker on Nov 25, 2014 16:08:51 GMT -5
Can anyone help me find another gathering in Houston that isn't tonight? I have found Occupy Houston is meeting tonight in Southwest of downtown but I cannot make it. I cannot find anything else in Houston.
ESF I borrow your very well thought out post and posted it on FB and I wanted to share with you my aunt's response. Thank you for what you wrote, it made a difference in at least one person's life today I prefaced your writings with this - I borrowed this explanation from a friend. I don't love violence and I don't hate police. I'm privileged enough that I will never have to worry about my children being targeted because of their skin color. And believe me, I know it's a privilege. But I refuse to stand by silently because I'm not being targeted. This is a real problem and it's a HUGE problem and ALL of us need to stand up and let our voices be heard.
And her response - I love your ability to see and explain injustices others live with even though you have not, my dear niece. I am quite certain your grandfather is looking down at you with pride. Your biracial cousin has already texted me from school this morning upset about this matter, and I will use your post as a discussion point when we sit down to talk about it tonight. I love you.
Can anyone help me find another gathering in Houston that isn't tonight? I have found Occupy Houston is meeting tonight in Southwest of downtown but I cannot make it. I cannot find anything else in Houston.
I was looking for another Houston location as well.
And I feel so guilty I can't go tonight. I have struggled ALL DAY with it. I really really want to blow off my meeting to show my support but have to put my health first and I am still struggling with feeling guilty I won't be going.
And I think a lot of my guilt is because I am white and I am priviledged and damn it I want to show my support!