There is definitely an obvious contrast here. But there’s another one, less obvious, that people often miss.
The gun-toting protestors at the state house, people rioting after sporting events, driving over anti-racist protestors, are predominantly white, true. But, unlike rioters in Minneapolis, Ferguson, or LA back in the day, they’re not threatening the existing power structure. THAT’S the biggest difference.
Imagine a coal mine in West Virginia collapses and kills a couple dozen miners, and the evidence clearly shows the company knew the mine was unstable and sent them in anyway. If their fellow miners demanded en masse that the company be held accountable, and rioted when the company got off scot-free, do you think the establishment response would really be different? I think not. Historical precedent says definitely not.
The quickest way to invite tear gas, bullets, media shaming, etc. is to aggressively challenge the system. Those in power know they can use skin color to divide us. It’s William Lynch and “How to Make a Slave” 101. But the only color they really care about is green.
Will of The People
Riots, in Black and White
There is definitely an obvious contrast here. But there’s another one, less obvious, that people often miss.
The gun-toting protestors at the state house, people rioting after sporting events, driving over anti-racist protestors, are predominantly white, true. But, unlike rioters in Minneapolis, Ferguson, or LA back in the day, they’re not threatening the existing power structure. THAT’S the biggest difference.
Imagine a coal mine in West Virginia collapses and kills a couple dozen miners, and the evidence clearly shows the company knew the mine was unstable and sent them in anyway. If their fellow miners demanded en masse that the company be held accountable, and rioted when the company got off scot-free, do you think the establishment response would really be different? I think not. Historical precedent says definitely not.
The quickest way to invite tear gas, bullets, media shaming, etc. is to aggressively challenge the system. Those in power know they can use skin color to divide us. It’s William Lynch and “How to Make a Slave” 101. But the only color they really care about is green.
It’s about class and power, period.
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