We've already had our discussions about understanding the violence that occurs at protests, and the racist, institutional violence perpetrated by our own government that these protests are designed to combat. But let's put that aside for a second to take a closer look of the aftereffects of the protest violence.
(
edit: I'm going to take out this comment since it's merely anecdotal, and it's distracting from the main thesis of the OP)
Take, for example, this guy:
https://twitter.com/deliangoncalves/status/823646460784836610
http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/vandalized-businesses-return-after-inauguration-protests/391426530 (VIDEO report also in link)
”I still get that sinking feeling," said Muhammad Ashraf of Nationwide Chauffeured Services.
His driver, Luis Villarroel, was attacked while sitting in his limousine Friday.
He had just dropped of someone attending inauguration when a group of protestors smashed through his windows.
He said his driver just managed to get out in time before most of the damage but his hand was cut pretty badly. The limo was then torched.
”Why do they play with people's lives," wondered Ashraf. ”One of those rocks could have hit him in the head."
http://redalertpolitics.com/2017/01...n-muslim-immigrants-livelihood-torching-limo/ (note: right wing source, but the only other outlet that interviewed him. I'm trying to leave in just quotes and excise the editorializations)
In an exclusive interview with Red Alert Politics, Ashraf said he wasn't a supporter of Donald Trump during his campaign, but Friday's protests were completely counter-productive.
”I have a different point of view," Ashraf told Red Alert. ”I did not agree with many of the things he said, but that still does not give me the right to go and affect someone's livelihood."
Ashraf noted that the Women's March on Washington and in other cities around the country was a model for how to peacefully protest.
”I really don't think we need to take this [violent] route."
”[We've] been in business for over 25 years and this is the first time this has happened," Ashraf said.
Ashraf explained that with the loss of the vehicle, his company is now in the hole for $70,000 (if insurance doesn't cover riots) plus commission and the medical bills for his driver.
Also, this other guy, an Asian immigrant:
Sam Komol had just opened the doors for lunch at Sushi AOI on New York Avenue in Northwest, D.C. when he saw a group of Inauguration protesters coming down 12th Street.
They smashed windows at Bobby Van's restaurant then headed his way.
”In 15 seconds, I locked the door and they were pulling it trying to get in," he said.
He then heard a loud smash and saw vandals had busted one of his windows with a hammer. Thankfully, no customers were sitting by that window.
So we have two examples here that involve brown people being harmed by an anti-racism protest. This is not meant to discredit the idea of protests in general, but to encourage reflection to find a way to protest that does not harm the very people one is trying to help via protesting.
This is why supposedly nuanced positions like this are still not so nuanced:
Blanket statements like "violence is bad" are way too simplistic. Violence against innocent people? Bad. Violence against property? Not so much.
When the government is doing the former, we shouldn't be clucking our tongues at the latter.
Essentially, the violence against those people of color's property directly harms their ability to make a living, which is in effect violence against their person as well.
Thoughts?
PS: Weird coincidence - the logo for the sushi restaurant looks like an anarchy sign
http://www.thesushiaoi.com/
