They target those neighborhoods because the problem is more dense... you're fooling yourself if you think drug selling and using doesn't occur outside the urban areas..The peaceful protesters probably feel they way you describe, but most of the rioters and looters do not...you're giving them way too much credit. It's mostly a mob mentality with them and something fun to do..it's really that simple. Do you really think they targeted CVS??? really?? it was just convenient.. they also burned a black neighborhood residents house AND business. They lit a black churches senior housing center on fire...I guess they thought they owned the pols and police too
Over the last 100 years, peaceful protests have produced results, rioting has not. Rioting does nothing but disgust the general public, who in turn ask their elected officials to make it go away.
They target those neighborhoods because it's easy picking. They can't afford lawyers, they get public defenders that railroad them into jail. Affluent people get decent attorneys. Affluent suburbanites don't get their doors kicked in for abusing their Xanax prescription.
I agree there is a mob mentality going on, but based on the Salon.com article, which is a relatively large publication, there are organizers behind this. Sure, there are people out of control burning and looting, but it seems to me there is a small organized group that are target specific. They aren't organizing at the community rec center.
Peaceful protests in America have led to nothing but to the highest incarceration rate in the world. And it has been felt disproportionately by inner city black youths. Bill Clinton, George Bush, and Barack Obama have all used illegal drugs yet they were able to escape the long arm of the law and rise to become presidents of the USA.
They target those neighborhoods because it's easy picking. They can't afford lawyers, they get public defenders that railroad them into jail. Affluent people get decent attorneys. Affluent suburbanites don't get their doors kicked in for abusing their Xanax prescription.
I agree there is a mob mentality going on, but based on the Salon.com article, which is a relatively large publication, there are organizers behind this. Sure, there are people out of control burning and looting, but it seems to me there is a small organized group that are target specific. They aren't organizing at the community rec center.
Peaceful protests in America have led to nothing but to the highest incarceration rate in the world. And it has been felt disproportionately by inner city black youths. Bill Clinton, George Bush, and Barack Obama have all used illegal drugs yet they were able to escape the long arm of the law and rise to become presidents of the USA.
Peaceful protests have led to voting rights for blacks AND women. Ill conceived or not, peaceful protests led to the great Society programs. Peaceful protests contributed significantly to the change in public perception of the Vietnam war.
There is a lot more to the situation of urban blacks than just "targeted" incarceration. The flight of black fathers, the young black females that are mothers before they can vote, drink, or smoke legally...the societal factors can't be ignored. Statistics show that a TWO PARENT black household w/ children have above/below poverty rates comparable (lower, but not by much) than other race groups. And most of those two parent black households ARE middle class.
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
I never said that people should "stand quietly by." Peaceful demonstrations are certainly appropriate. Rioting, looting and other lawlessness is NOT the answer.
More importantly, I do not accept your premise that all police are bad and that all minorities are victims of abuse. Yes -- there are some bad cops ---- but the overwhelming majority (95+%) are good and decent people. Furthermore, close to a of the police in Baltimore are Black, the Chief is Black and the Mayor is Black. So the "race card" won't work in this situation.
The police do NOT target neighborhoods. The criminal element targets the neighborhoods and police have to go in to take care of that.
I never said that all police are bad. You simply made that up out of thin air.
Lawlessness in response to the law enforcers killing, maiming and imprisoning targeted people for victimless crimes, yes, it is appropriate.
I never played the race card.
I agreed with the victims that the police used the race card to beat, kill, mai8m, imprison and terrorize them for decades.
The victims of the targeted neighborhood.
Neighborhoods are absolutely targeted.
Based on circular reasoning; whereby most historical data shows most arrests were made in the targeted neighborhood, therefore that's where we direct all of our efforts.
The historical data used to justify future targeting, was based on targeted enforcement
Using this logic, police can justify anything.
People who live on Hamilton Hill are known for being uncooperative when the police ask for help or witnesses.
This stems from years of mistreatment by the police when they interact with anyone in the targeted neighborhood.
If you live in the targeted neighborhood, and you call the police, when the police come, they will look for reasons to arrest the person that called them, or anyone else in the are, regardless of the complaint that they are responding to.
These residents have learned that calling or cooperating with the police will not help them in any way.
It's very misguided to believe that riots gain the kind of attention required to enact change...demonstrations do have that type of positive effect, but riots do just the opposite... they detract from the intent and focus direction on the criminality of what they are doing.
You are correct in theory. But folks are PISSED OFF!!! Our entire government system is a rigged system. From voting to taxes to wars to police to government to schools to healthcare (all levels) NO ONE is listening to 'we the people'!! Voting turnout is soooo low that the pres wants to making voting MANDATORY!!!! Ya...like that'll remedy the people's mind thought! It appears that the days of 'peaceful demonstrations' are over. 'back in the day' Sharpton and Jackson would be leading march's all over the place. Folks don't even want them around anymore since they have obviously been ineffective. So folks are taking it upon themselves....GOOD FOR THEM!! 'BOUT TIME! Like it or not....right or wrong......
Do you really want that type of change? Libya is such a mess that people would rather die on a raft than stay there. Egypt isn't far behind. And there's Syria..yup, sign me up for the result of violent protest changes.
There was a time when violent protest did result in change in the US.. about 160 years ago, that time has passed.
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
They absolutely target those neighborhoods. The people in these impoverished neighborhoods are filled with hopelessness and dispair. As a result, they turn to drugs to cope with the miserable conditions they are subjected to. Then laws are passed to crack down on illegal drugs, and the police target these impoverished neighborhoods where people are most likely to turn to drug use to cope. The drug addiction is a symptom of their circumstance, and the U.S. treats them like criminals for selling drugs to those that use them to escape their misery. It's a disgusting cycle.
The rioters that feel they've been abused by police over the years aren't paying for their police service. They don't have any money to purchase the politicians that control the cops. Political parties don't except food stamps for campaign contributions. You know who contributes to political campaigns and pays taxes to fund the police? CVS. The building they burned down.
Absolutely right on the money.
CVS is an extension of the government through government licensing of them as exclusive legal dealers of illegal controlled substances.
The police are the government, who use the power of the state to terrorize and decimate targeted neighborhoods.
All the while claiming that the state is the victim of those who dare to copy CVS without a license.
And the judges, lawyers, cops, guards and prison factories live it up on the taxpayers dime.
Living large, and hunting the poorest Americans to extinction for being in the neighborhoods targeted for eradication.
CVS is an extension of the government through government licensing of them as exclusive legal dealers of illegal controlled substances.
The police are the government, who use the power of the state to terrorize and decimate targeted neighborhoods.
All the while claiming that the state is the victim of those who dare to copy CVS without a license.
And the judges, lawyers, cops, guards and prison factories live it up on the taxpayers dime.
Living large, and hunting the poorest Americans to extinction for being in the neighborhoods targeted for eradication.
What about the BLACK CHURCH BACKED senior housing center that was NO WHERE NEAR the CVS? That was burned to the ground. What about the black business woman whose home and business were set on fire? I guess they are extension of the government too?
Your anti-government bullshit kind of falls flat when you look at the actual facts of what got lit and what didn't in Baltimore..
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
Do you really want that type of change? Libya is such a mess that people would rather die on a raft than stay there. Egypt isn't far behind. And there's Syria..yup, sign me up for the result of violent protest changes.
Those in charge have the choice.
They can resist change and end up living life in the US like Syrians, or they can change and not have to rebuild the entire country.
Having instant worldwide reporting of all actions by all governments is driving the people's demands for real change right now.
People around the world are pissed off by the actions of their own governments and by the US government.
How long do you think before the entire world stands together and demands governments that follow the will of the people, not the corporate masters they now serve?
One event may ignite worldwide protest that will change everything.
Change by force will result in the loss of all wealth.
Change by cooperation will allow infrastructure and wealth to remain intact.
The protests are growing every year.
The government cracks down harder and harder, defending every single cop that kills an unarmed person who committed no crime.
What about the BLACK CHURCH BACKED senior housing center that was NO WHERE NEAR the CVS? That was burned to the ground. What about the black business woman whose home and business were set on fire? I guess they are extension of the government too?
Your anti-government bullshit kind of falls flat when you look at the actual facts of what got lit and what didn't in Baltimore..
What about the 15,000 people dragged from their homes in the past 40 years from that neighborhood?
You can fight them, and risk everything being burned to the ground.
Or you can get off of your judgmental high horse and demand change, along with them.
There will always be a bigger, more violent riot, until real changes are made.
Peaceful protests have led to voting rights for blacks AND women. Ill conceived or not, peaceful protests led to the great Society programs. Peaceful protests contributed significantly to the change in public perception of the Vietnam war.
There is a lot more to the situation of urban blacks than just "targeted" incarceration. The flight of black fathers, the young black females that are mothers before they can vote, drink, or smoke legally...the societal factors can't be ignored. Statistics show that a TWO PARENT black household w/ children have above/below poverty rates comparable (lower, but not by much) than other race groups. And most of those two parent black households ARE middle class.
Wow, the race card.
Blaming the black fathers.
Blaming everyone except the government who actually put them in the situation they now exist in.
Blacks haven't received equality at all.
They are targeted for eradication for crimes that others are allowed to commit through government licensing.
Every single aspect of American life now requires government licensing, or you will be sent to slave labor prison factories.
More riots are needed to gain the attention of the 'powers that be'. And this isn't just for blacks. It's happening EVERYWHERE in the country to all races!!! This country resembles a POLICE STATE for God's sake!!! This ain't the 60's anymore! It's not just 'black oppression'.....it's AMERICAN OPPRESSION! And America has had a Revolution in it's history....yes? And history does repeat itself......yes?
You are correct, it is not a racial issue, it's a government gone wild issue.
They can resist change and end up living life in the US like Syrians, or they can change and not have to rebuild the entire country.
Having instant worldwide reporting of all actions by all governments is driving the people's demands for real change right now.
People around the world are pissed off by the actions of their own governments and by the US government.
How long do you think before the entire world stands together and demands governments that follow the will of the people, not the corporate masters they now serve?
One event may ignite worldwide protest that will change everything.
Change by force will result in the loss of all wealth.
Change by cooperation will allow infrastructure and wealth to remain intact.
The protests are growing every year.
The government cracks down harder and harder, defending every single cop that kills an unarmed person who committed no crime.
The government is out of control.
The NSA.
The US military.
yeah, yeah, the Occupy movement is going to change everything... how did that work out?
The protests are not growing in any significant number, are they better covered? sure, because the media knows people don't want or understand real news, so they'll give them the Jerry Springer/CSI version of it. One thing I do see for sure is a more socialist US, as more demand more from the gov't
Committed no crime??? Let's see, Michael Brown just strong armed a convenience store and at the very least resisted arrest, Freddie Grey was selling illegal handguns, Walter Scott ran from Police and had a bench warrant out fornon payment of child support...The common thread here? All above did not cooperate and essentially resisted arrest... Chris Rock said it well years ago.
Now, should the police have used deadly force in those situations? maybe, maybe not...but where the personal responsibility lie? Doesn't self-preservation play a part? I liken it to the pedestrian who gets hit by a car driver and could have avoided being hit by turning their head and looking both ways...Is the car driver at fault? sure...but who cares? the pedestrian is just as dead...
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
What about the 15,000 people dragged from their homes in the past 40 years from that neighborhood?
You can fight them, and risk everything being burned to the ground.
Or you can get off of your judgmental high horse and demand change, along with them.
There will always be a bigger, more violent riot, until real changes are made.
15,000?? where did you dust off that figure?
As I thought, your "tool" of the government theory falls flat on its F'ing face when presented with the evidence in Baltimore.
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
Blaming everyone except the government who actually put them in the situation they now exist in.
Blacks haven't received equality at all.
They are targeted for eradication for crimes that others are allowed to commit through government licensing.
Every single aspect of American life now requires government licensing, or you will be sent to slave labor prison factories.
can't you READ??? From my post "There is a lot more to the situation of urban blacks than just "targeted" incarceration. " That doesn't appear to be blaming everything other than the government. The facts are what they are, you have urban fathers that fly the coop when the baby comes...no equalization of schools or police are going to fix that.
The race card??? This is what the demonstrations in Baltimore are all about!!! Race, and how the police and/or gov't treat races differently...
The people of Baltimore don't want the Police? Pull them out... but before you do, take a look at video of the LA riots..because that is what you will get.
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown