Support NeoGAF

[abuC]

ugh... CNN is filth.

The rioting and looting is criminality....

What about the police killing citizens.... Is that not criminality.....



This idiot keeps saying we need to trust police and trust the system that has a history of screwing us over....

Yup, same system that constantly lets police off the hook for killing black people.

 

[CassidyIzABeast]

Always interesting to hear the voices that cry out in the face of rioting but rarely, if ever during the events that spark the riot.

 

[msv]

I think its a fair question. Having the whole nation see you looting innocent businesses does not help anyone's cause, because you damn well know the media will focus on the negatives rather than spend more time discussing any progress.

Why is a store getting looted more important than nationwide institutionalized racism? Police immunity? One store getting looted is nothing compared to innocent people getting killed and jailed. You're just looking for reasons to look away. It's happened in every protest and riot. Well, guess what, looking away only makes it worse, on both ends.

 

[AmyS]

Wolf Blitzer: "It's hard to believe"

 

[shadyspace]

It's not gonna get dark for another 2 hours you tv bozo.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Wolf Blitzer: "It's hard to believe"

"that I have a job"

 

[Epsilon-delta]

Always interesting to hear the voices that cry out in the face of rioting but rarely, if ever during the events that spark the riot.

But private property though.

 

[PopeReal]

LOL @ CNN...

"Freddie Gray could have just as easily been killed by the black guerilla family or some gang..."

BUT GUESS WHAT? He was killed by the police. So please shut the fuck up with this nonsense.

 

[Coffee Dog]

Why is a store getting looted more important than nationwide institutionalized racism? Police immunity? One store getting looted is nothing compared to innocent people getting killed and jailed. You're just looking for reasons to look away. It's happened in every protest and riot. Well, guess what, looking away only makes it worse, on both ends.

Did he say that it was more important or are you putting words in his mouth?

 

[timetokill]

Wolf Blitzer: "It's hard to believe"

Kind of like Wolf Blitzer's Jeopardy score

 

[Script Kiddies LLC]

Always interesting to hear the voices that cry out in the face of rioting but rarely, if ever during the events that spark the riot.

Right. Asking what does CVS have to do with this, when they didn't ask those kind of questions when the Ravens won the super bowl, or really any time white people riot.

 

[Griss]

Always interesting to hear the voices that cry out in the face of rioting but rarely, if ever during the events that spark the riot.

I don't know how you tell the difference. Living abroad, there's been massive coverage of the police violence against black Americans in our papers pretty much all year with huge condemnation of police violence and institutional racism. Now I'm sure there'll be coverage of this riot, and condemnation of this too. It's quite possible to do both.

 

[Netherscourge]

Has the police department done anything about the officers involved with the killing of the guy they had in custody?

Desk jobs? Suspensions?

I think part of the problem is that they waited too long to do something. The cop who shot the unarmed dude running away from him a few weeks ago was immediately charged with murder and that stopped any major rioting from breaking out there.

 

[Lil'DigiOp]

CNN is so scared of these gangs.... not one gang member has shown up....

outgun the police...

what the fuck, if youre scared, go to church

 

[maquiladora]

Target of opportunity. If you value material things more than our lives, we will take which is most valuable to you. Seems simple to me.

I totally understand the rage being directed at police, cop cars etc. But looting/trashing the medications from local people who have their prescriptions at that store is just doing damage to that community more than anything. Anyway, the corporation that owns that place doesn't give a damn because its all insured.

 

[no maam]

Why does CNN sound like Stormfront right now.

Wolf blitzer is horrible. I do like their camera feeds though.

 

[LiK]

Has the police department done anything about the officers involved with the killing of the guy they had in custody?

Desk jobs? Suspensions?

I think part of the problem is that they waited too long to do something. The cop who shot the unarmed dude running away from him a few weeks ago was immediately charged with murder and that stopped any major rioting from breaking out there.

those 6 cops are currently suspended with pay atm. no charges yet.

Wolf blitzer is horrible. I do like their camera feeds though.

props to the TV director. Wolf is so bad.

 

[IISANDERII]

I don't want to gang up on you, but wouldn't you accept that there's a massive difference between understanding why a riot happens and condoning one? I understand fully why people would be driven to riots by the spate of police violence and murder in America, but despite that I cannot condone it.

The problem is that we've already condoned injustice for far too long and this is the culmination.

If we really didn't want riots, we should've fought harder to stop injustice.

 

[BokehKing]

What does any of this accomplish?


Nothing, I mean my god look at this, this is nuts

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

Reports saying 500-600 fans inside the stadium at the time of the lock down.

 

[shadyspace]

The problem is that we've already condoned injustice for far too long and this is the culmination.

If we really didn't want riots, we should've fought harder to stop injustice.

This is the real truth.

 

[MHWilliams]

I can't believe there are people implying the riots are somehow justified, as if Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement accomplished nothing without resorting to senseless violence.

Let me help you understand what others saying, using the words of Dr. King, since you hold him in high regard.

Now I wanted to say something about the fact that we have lived over these last two or three summers with agony and we have seen our cities going up in flames. And I would be the first to say that I am still committed to militant, powerful, massive, non­-violence as the most potent weapon in grappling with the problem from a direct action point of view. I'm absolutely convinced that a riot merely intensifies the fears of the white community while relieving the guilt. And I feel that we must always work with an effective, powerful weapon and method that brings about tangible results. But it is not enough for me to stand before you tonight and condemn riots. It would be morally irresponsible for me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society. These conditions are the things that cause individuals to feel that they have no other alternative than to engage in violent rebellions to get attention. And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the negro poor has worsened over the last twelve or fifteen years. It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice and humanity.

And so we must still face the fact that our nation's summers of riots are caused by our nations winters of delay. As long as justice is postponed we always stand on the verge of these darker nights of social disruption. The question now, is whether America is prepared to do something massively, affirmatively and forthrightly about the great problem we face in the area of race and the problem which can bring the curtain of doom down on American civilization if it is not solved. And I would like to talk for the next few minutes about some of the things that must be done if we are to solve this problem.

He delivered this speech a month before he died. Five years after "I Have a Dream". A year before, in his book, the Trumpet of Conscience?

I am aware that there are many who wince at a distinction between property and persons—who hold both sacrosanct. My views are not so rigid. A life is sacred. Property is intended to serve life, and no matter how much we surround it with rights and respect, it has no personal being. It is part of the earth man walks on; it is not man.

The focus on property in the 1967 riots is not accidental. It has a message; it is saying something.

If hostility to whites were ever going to dominate a Negro’s attitude and reach murderous proportions, surely it would be during a riot. But this rare opportunity for bloodletting was sublimated into arson, or turned into a kind of stormy carnival of free-merchandise distribution. Why did the rioters avoid personal attacks? The explanation cannot be fear of retribution, because the physical risks incurred in the attacks on property were no less than for personal assaults. The military forces were treating acts of petty larceny as equal to murder. Far more rioters took chances with their own lives, in their attacks on property, than threatened the life of anyone else. Why were they so violent with property then? Because property represents the white power structure, which they were attacking and trying to destroy. A curious proof of the symbolic aspect of the looting for some who took part in it is the fact that, after the riots, police received hundreds of calls from Negroes trying to return merchandise they had taken. Those people wanted the experience of taking, of redressing the power imbalance that property represents. Possession, afterward, was secondary.

A deeper level of hostility came out in arson, which was far more dangerous than the looting. But it, too, was a demonstration and a warning. It was designed to express the depth of anger in the community.

Which is to say that King was no a proponent of violence, but he at least understood why it was happening.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

Wolf "These People" Blitzer is getting on my fucking nerves...

 

[DrForester]

Police just took down someone who was trashing that police car.

Dumbass almost got away.

 

[Black Republican]

Ice Cube just posted this

 

[AESplusF]

Man I really hope things are better and not worse by the time my parents drive up to take me home.

 

[crazyprac]

Why is a store getting looted more important than nationwide institutionalized racism? Police immunity? One store getting looted is nothing compared to innocent people getting killed and jailed. You're just looking for reasons to look away. It's happened in every protest and riot. Well, guess what, looking away only makes it worse, on both ends.

?? I'm not looking at anything. I'm stating that the way media, the way it is now, it will focus on that negative aspect. I don't know what you are trying to argue? I'm condemning media, are you arguing for the looting?

 

[Jakten]

I totally understand the rage being directed at police, cop cars etc. But looting/trashing the medications from local people who have their prescriptions at that store is just doing damage to that community more than anything. Anyway, the corporation that owns that place doesn't give a damn because its all insured.

This area is largely poor and exists in a food desert. Many of these people are probably seeing this as an opportunity to finally eat.

 

[no maam]

those 6 cops are currently suspended with pay atm. no charges yet.



props to the TV director. Wolf is so bad.

Imagine a show with wolf and shep smith. Wow.

 

[Allforce]

lol this woman on the live Fox 10 feed has absolutely no filter and is reading tweets willy nilly. I think she dropped the n-bomb without even missing a beat reading some idiot troll's tweet.

 

[Griss]

Why is a store getting looted more important than nationwide institutionalized racism?

It's not, never in a million years. It wouldn't be more important than even one unlawful death by the hands of the police, let alone hundreds. But right now there's a riot on and you have to expect the 24 hour news networks and twitter et al to follow it because it's an 'event'. Sucks, but it is what it is.

Rational people won't lose sight of what the real issues are:

1) Institutional racism in the police force
2) Militarization of police / poorly trained police / psychos on the force
3) America's gun problem

 

[Slayven]

Why does CNN sound like Stormfront right now.

Dropped the dog whistling

 

[ivysaur12]

Let me help you understand what others saying, using the words of Dr. King, since you hold him in high regard.





He delivered this speech a month before he died. Five years after "I Have a Dream". A year before, in his book, the Trumpet of Conscience?



Which is to say that King was no a proponent of violence, but he at least understood why it was happening.

Which is so important. You have at least understand why people are angry, and the legitimate nature of that rage and desperation.

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

Hard truth is there's too much profit in institutionalized racism to stop now

 

[dream]

Well, if the police's claim that the BGF, Bloods, and Crips are working together is true, now's the time for them to do it.

 

[PopeReal]

The problem is that we've already condoned injustice for far too long and this is the culmination.

If we really didn't want riots, we should've fought harder to stop injustice.

This a million times over.

 

[NobleGundam]

where are the cops? they're just gonna keep letting them loot it?

There's more of protestors and rioters than the cops.

 

[theignoramus]

I think its a fair question. Having the whole nation see you looting innocent businesses does not help anyone's cause, because you damn well know the media will focus on the negatives rather than spend more time discussing any progress.

I dont think Eric Holder would have ordered an investigation into the Ferguson PD if the protests there had been civil and orderly.

 

[msv]

Who mentioned black people? All I asked is how is it the fault of the CVS that the police shot and killed someone?

Making the same point as you.

It honestly doesn't matter anymore how the protests are being handled at this point. The first protest should've brought change, and that should have been that. Listen to the problems and solve them. If not, it will be done by force. It's the same in any police arrest right. First say kindly, then demand gently, then demand, then use force.

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

There's more of protestors and rioters than the cops.

That, and the store is in a poor neighborhood

 

[Script Kiddies LLC]

Man I really hope things are better and not worse by the time my parents drive up to take me home.

Better for who, exactly?

 

[IISANDERII]

CNN is fucking garbage. Their heavily pro Israel distortion of facts during the Palestinian conflicts made me fucking ill.

 

[LiK]

hah, CNN reporter at the scene saying that some young people who were bystanders were trying to ask police about the situation and got chased away by the cops instead. geez

 

[PopeReal]

That, and the store is in a poor neighborhood

Yep, the closer the people get to nice neighborhoods, the more you will see the police move in. They know who they work for.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Better for who, exactly?

Obviously for his parents and himself.

You have to look out for your own well being after all.

 

[djplaeskool]

ESPN reporting Camden Yards is on lockdown.
Game may be canceled.

 

[Script Kiddies LLC]

Obviously for his parents and himself.

You have to look out for your own well being after all.

Yep, probably so they can go home and not have to worry about those uppity negroes in the streets wanting fair treatment. Priorities, after all.

 

[Enzom21]

Always interesting to hear the voices that cry out in the face of rioting but rarely, if ever during the events that spark the riot.

Yep, none of these people were in the thread about Freddie Gray being killed by police, or in the protest thread until the riots. Their agenda is pretty transparent, and it becomes more so when they bring up MLK as a form of admonishment.

 

[AESplusF]

Better for who, exactly?

Safe enough to travel through the streets in my car better

 

[akira28]

Hard truth is there's too much profit in institutionalized racism to stop now

No Labor. We're just putting bad people away, and locking them up to protect the good ones. Why does it have to be about race? Broke the laws so they need to be punished, whatever happens to them they earned. Be it brutalization, being terrorized, being profiled, being followed around or facing discrimination day in and day out. And even if they didn't earn it, they should just deal with it, because yes maybe its not cool, but change takes time.

there's no reason to act out though.