The embedded video is entitled "A Sunday drive through Minneapolis." Is this the America that Antifa and BLM (the organization) wish to create for America? This looks like war zones I have seen. This is not the creation of something good. It is the destruction of our homeland and the things we hold dear.
We, as Americans, already have long agreed with the sentiment that black lives truly do matter. We, as Americans, already have long agreed that the rare instances of illegal and unwarranted police brutality should be swiftly punished through legal means. What then are these "protesters" trying to accomplish? Surely this is about much more than fighting racism. 95% of America already agrees with that stance. Look beyond the surface of BLM's website and you will find what this is really all about.
13 comments:
Look beyond the racism. There is no evidence any person affiliated with BLM was involved in vandalism.
Did you notice the burned out Autozone Store? Guess who started the destruction of that business?
White nationalist sites urged their groups to go to Minneapolis to agitate crowds and initiate destruction.
Remember "Umbrella Man" smashing the Autozone windows in Minneapolis? He's a white nationalist Trump supporter.
Police: 'Umbrella Man' was a white supremacist trying to incite George Floyd rioting
And their crime rate is still up while the council voted themselves police protection while wanting to take down the police for the neighborhoods. It's a very depressing time to be an American knowing that there are those voting for destruction in the name of some kind of misplaced idea of a higher good. :(
1) If "We, as Americans, already have long agreed with the sentiment that black lives truly do matter." then BLM wouldn't exist and we wouldn't be witnessing continued protest.
2) "We, as Americans, already have long agreed that the rare instances of illegal and unwarranted police brutality should be swiftly punished through legal means." - Sure, we can agree on a lot of things. I think the issue is more there is a perception that offenders often are not "swiftly punished through legal means". Look at the death of Breonna Taylor as just an example. Examples of excessive use of force. The common defenders of the Police response bring up the fact that they police were shot at first, and that's true. However, they arguably entered with a No-Knock warrant/didn't identify themselves and Breonna Taylor's boyfriend held a legal gun permit and thought the police were intruders. The police shot, what, 20 times, and in such a manner that they killed Breonna Taylor who was not involved in the shoot out or the target of the warrant they claimed to have had at the time. The officers were put on administrative leave pending the investigation. You have to understand this seems to be all too common a response to these sorts of police actions. The Police appear to have made some mistakes, a person is dead, and the offenders are put on administrative leave. This is not exactly closure or justice.
Honestly, you framing it as 'rare instances of illegal and unwarranted police brutality' is disingenuous. Even if it is a 'rare instance', one instance is too many. We went to war over the rare instance of terrorists flying airplanes into our buildings. We, America, need to come down on these 'rare instances' with a righteous hammer. Not excuses and conspiracy at the agrieved.
"What then are these "protesters" trying to accomplish? Surely this is about much more than fighting racism."
You really need to lay off the QAnon stuff, Darrell. They are protesting police violence and racial inequality. There's nothing nefarious. You simply dismissing their concerns and insinuating they are really just looking to burn their freaking neighborhoods to the ground because they are violent and want chaos in the streets is QAnon-ish BS. You want to dabble in conspiracy? Didn't they recently determine "Umbrella Man" at that same AutoZone in the video was a white-supremist agitator?
https://www.startribune.com/police-umbrella-man-was-a-white-supremacist-trying-to-incite-floyd-rioting/571932272/
Maybe we should be asking 'What then are these "white supremists" trying to accomplish'?
"Look beyond the surface of BLM's website and you will find what this is really all about."
Good advice. Try it.
Thank you for that video. I'm not really sure what it's meant to express here, it wasn't so much a drive but an edited view of like 4 blocks (5 if you count the one fire shown from two different directions)
Yes. The rioting and violence took away from the protests and shouldn't have happened. Do not distract yourself from the reason the protests erupted and do not fall into a conspiracy on what BLM's true motives are. Just because you haven't felt the need to take to the streets and protest, doesn't mean these people are doing it for shits and giggles.
As an aside, I promise Dave and I didn't compare notes about Umbrella Man. :) When I made my comment there were 0 Comments associated with this post. Great minds, I guess.
Dave, I don't care if it is white supremacists or Antifa or BLM doing the arson, destruction, and looting. All of them should be arrested and imprisoned. Further, the fact that you imply that all of the damage done is at the hands of everyone besides the saintly BLM protesters is naive, politically myopic, or willfully ignorant. I suppose it was only white supremacists that destroyed Ferguson, Missouri after the criminal Mike Brown tried to take an officer's gun away and was shot. Couldn't have been BLM or those wishing to be a part of it that had anything to do with that one either, right? Look at all of the major cities from Seattle, to Portland, to L.A. Those doing the destruction and violence are not only a few white supremacists.
Rain, I am in agreement with you. I read an article yesterday that shows murders and violent crime are up double digits in the cities where these riots are occurring. And BLM and the left's solution is to abolish the police? The world truly has gone mad.
TB3, do you truly think that an overwhelming majority of Americans, including myself, don't agree that black lives absolutely matter and that what was done to George Floyd and Breonna Taylor was heinous? Those responsible should be held responsible accordingly. BLM the organization is protesting what everyone already agrees with. So why are they continuing on with their "protests"? Could it possibly be that they have an additional agenda in mind and are not letting a horrific crime go to waste?
Hey, I am right there with the peaceful protesters when perpetrators are not held accountable. We as Americans should continue to pressure our elected officials and public servants to ensure justice is done. I have always been prodigious in my phone calls and letter writing to officials when necessary. If the rest of us citizens would do the same, I think we would see results a lot quicker.
Further, I agree that one such rare instance of police brutality is too much; however, please show me ANY organization in the world that is made up of always noble, honest, and sinless people. We need to thoroughly screen police applicants, train them rigorously, and hold them accountable when they violate the law. Most police forces do this. There is always room for improvement however.
As for QAnon, this is something that wasn't even on my radar screen until you brought it up. I simply go where the evidence and critical thinking lead me, sir.
Yes, it was only four or five blocks in Minneapolis, six blocks in Seattle, and several in Portland. Surely we should not abandon business, residences, and public property in these "few" blocks just to satiate a riotous crowd, right? Right?
I agree with BLM's point that police brutality is unacceptable. The rest of their agenda is largely abhorrent to a free society that is founded on constitutional principles and law and order. Hopefully we can all work hand in hand to ensure that those principles and justice are meted out equally to all Americans, without violence. There is a goal that we all can and should get behind!
Just read this. Eighty-one percent of black Americans said they would prefer if police spend the same amount of time or more time in their neighborhoods, according to a Gallup survey released Wednesday.
The survey, which also includes responses from other racial and ethnic groups, indicates that 20% of black respondents said they want an increased police presence, 61% want the same presence, and 19% want less.
Interesting dichotomy.
"Dave, I don't care if it is white supremacists or Antifa or BLM doing the arson, destruction, and looting."
Neither do I, but I don't blame and accuse only one side or organization for the violence.
Here's the problem with this. The destruction is done by individuals, not organizations. "BLM" didn't set any fires. "Anitfa" didn't vandalize. And "white supremacists" didn't smash windows.
Criminal individuals did. They alone should be blamed and charged.
"The police" didn't choke a man on the ground, or knock a man to the pavement, cracking his skull. "The police" didn't club, gas, and assault peaceful protesters.
BAD cops did those things, and they have taken a significant role in agitating and contributing to more violence. If you haven't seen the numerous videos and reports by now of unprovoked violence by cops on protesters, maybe you need to be better informed.
Remember it was police violence that triggered all this to begin with. And far too often abuse by cops goes unpunished. There's plenty of guilt to go around. You're right that police departments need better training and screening, rather than more military hardware. Too many unqualified bullies or outright racists become cops.
The agenda of BLM is what THEY say it is, not what YOU say it is. They are protesting racism and police brutality, NOT waving pictures of Stalin and Mao, singing "The Internationale".
If you have evidence they do that, please share it. Otherwise understand you are echoing words of ignorant bigots and racists and implying guilt by association.
Do you really need to misrepresent the entire organization based on the opinions, not even the actions, of a few?
Have you honestly examined the facts and reasons for your reaction?
I understand introspection is difficult for conservatives, because they really do believe they alone have all the right answers. "liberalism is a mental disorder" doesn't fly in good faith discussion.
My mind is open to facts that counter my statements. How about you?
Rain,
Crime has indeed spiked in Minneapolis, for obvious reasons.
However:
From October 2019:
“A new report from the FBI shows violent crime went down 8 percent across Minnesota last year. In Minneapolis, it went down 26 percent. St. Paul saw a 3 percent drop.
Violent crime is also down by 3.3 percent nationwide, according to the report.”
https://www.fox9.com/news/fbi-violent-crime-rates-down-in-minneapolis-statewide
Dave, you were doing fine on your comment and then you started to become... well... Davish. Against my better judgement, I posted it anyway.
I do find agreement with you to a certain extent, particularly with many of the, shall we say, less informed of the BLM protesters. They are probably indeed out protesting for just reasons. Unfortunately some of the hierarchy has used unacceptable rhetoric threatening violence. (as I already provided the quotes, I am not doing so again) Some people marching with BLM are guilty of violence and looting. That is undeniable.
Antifa, is another matter altogether. Regardless of what you say, there is plenty of video evidence of Antifa, anarchists, or just plain thugs out destroying and rioting. And yes, I imagine there are some white supremacists guilty of this too; however, as they are grossly outnumbered by protesters that would be less than cordial towards them, I think their numbers are relatively small. Regardless, I agree that the criminal element responsible for the mayhem is who should be singled out, arrested, and prosecuted regardless of their group affiliation or not. I also realize that this is not immediately possible in a mob situation.
That said, I find it interesting that you take offense to my characterizations of violence at the hands of BLM or Antifa as groups, but then you seemingly have no problem castigating the "group" of cops as bad actors. I don't condone any unwarranted violence on behalf of the police... ever. That said, they are under siege - literally in the Mark Hatfield Courthouse in Portland. These ass-hats have shot industrial fireworks at them, frozen bottles, metal, sling-shotted projectiles, and have actually blinded several officers with lasers. I think that their temperance in response has actually been quite remarkable. If you don't want to get caught up in the police response, do NOT hang out where the violent rioters are acting out.
Lastly, I am not misrepresenting BLM the organization. One wonders if you have a memory problem or a reading comprehension problem. I provided you evidence of their own words what their agenda was. It was not just protesting police brutality, but also ABOLISHING the police and prisons, capitalism, and other typical traits of AMERICAN society. Your characterization that I am simply spouting bigots talking points suggest that you didn't even read the evidence you so desperately wanted me to provide. Or you are simply in complete denial of the evidence given to you.
Oh, and violent crime is up by double digits in Minneapolis currently when compared to the same time a year ago. Do you think that the city council getting rid of the police will help that go back down?
Since not all of Mr. Dubya’s latest comment is fit to print, I will extract snippets that are acceptable and worthy of response.
“It was not just protesting police brutality, but also ABOLISHING the police and prisons, capitalism, and other typical traits of AMERICAN society.” ~ Darrell
“This is a deliberate misrepresentation, NOT their stated beliefs, and not their purpose. You insist on judging a movement by the opinions of a few and actions of even fewer. Instead of making an effort to understand BLM, you paint them all as invading horde of commies with no regard for human life. You choose to see are Hammers and Sickles and judge them on that standard alone.” ~ DD
Well Dave, let’s look at the ACTUAL STATEMENTS from two of the BLM FOUNDERS regarding their communist designs:
"We actually do have an IDEOLOGICAL FRAME. Myself and Alicia [Garza] in particular, we're trained organizers. We are trained Marxists. We are super versed on ideological theories." — BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors, July 22, 2015.
"We are living in political moment where for the first time in a long time we are talking about alternatives to capitalism." — Alicia Garza, BLM co-founder, March 2015.
Sounds like they are very much for advancing Marxism with their BLM movement to me.
"If this country doesn't give us what we want, then we will burn down this system and replace it. All right? And I could be speaking figuratively. I could be speaking literally. It's a matter of interpretation.... I just want black liberation and black sovereignty, by ANY MEANS NECESSARY." — BLM activist Hank Newsome, June 25, 2020.
"Stay in the streets! The system is throwing every diversionary and de-mobilizing tactic at us. We are fighting to end policing and prisons as a system which necessitates fighting white supremacist capitalist heteropatriarchal imperialism. Vet your comrades and stay focused." — BLM Chicago, Twitter, June 16, 2020.
Sounds like they are willing to utilize violence, “end policing and prisons”, capitalism, and the “heteropatriarchal” society that they see as America. Yep, this does sound like hordes of invading commies. Again, the rank and file marching for BLM probably are ignorant of these greater designs and are actually protesting for altruistic reasons. They are being used though as ignorant minions for a greater evil cause. Regardless, I am not misrepresenting them simply because they have not explicitly stated these things on their website, but leadership has spoken to these very issues elsewhere as the quotations above show.
“You condone his hate, racism and lies and want him re-elected.” ~ DD
This is what you can accurately call a “misrepresentation” or a lie. I have repeatedly said I don’t like nor approve of a lot of Trump’s personal statements and tweets; however, his actions have generally been good for the advancement of freedom and prosperity in line with Constitutional dictates, especially for people of color. Since Biden is feeble, cognitively impaired, and has become a far left radical, I really don’t see an alternative in voting. I’ll hold my nose and vote for Trump. I can stomach his “hate, racism, and lies” over the hate, racism, and lies being spewed from the Biden camp. Evidently if you don’t vote for Biden, “You ain’t black”. And every leftist knows that there is no “diversity in thought” among blacks according to Biden.
“I'll take a Marxist over a Nazi any day.” ~ DD
Yeah, well I won’t condone either. That said, Marxists killed scores of millions more people than did the Nazi’s in the 20th century, and they are still going strong in some countries today like Venezuela and North Korea. Interestingly, some celebrities and even some of our elected officials support Maduro and his heinous regime.
On Tuesday night rioters converged on Portland neighborhoods chanting, "Every city, every town. Burn the precincts to the ground."
Yep, these are "peaceful protesters" alright. It is time to bring in the national guard and restore order in Portland.
https://www.theblaze.com/news/portland-rioters-paint-elderly-woman
Sigh! Got another tantrum diatribe from Mr. Dubya that isn't fit to publish. I'll leave you all with this concluding part though:
"We aint gonna see Trump on Mt. Rushmore, on public buildings, or highways. Why? Same as with Nixon. They are racist crooks. Biden isn't. 'Nuff said." ~ Dave Dubya
First, I don't recall ever saying that Trump would be honored in any such way. I certainly wouldn't champion that cause. Further, Biden IS a racist crook. He covers for lots of crimes for his ne'er-do-well son in China, Ukraine, and God only knows where else. There are myriad (more than two) allegations of inappropriate behavior from women staffers, acquaintances, and so forth, including a credible sexual misconduct allegation by Tara Reid. Continuing, Biden has long voted against black interests, including for incarceration for black Americans which Trump remedied via First Step. Lastly, Biden thinks all black Americans are easily manipulated as they all think alike and don't have the "diversity of thought" that Hispanics have. This is so true to his feeble mind that if you don't vote for him, "You aint black". So who is the racist crook?
Please, it is a rhetorical question. Don't bother to respond with your DNC talking points, Mr. Dubya. Cheers!
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