How do you avoid being polarised while the world protests?

I’ve seen this movie before.

Might as well talk about how it’s going to play out.

For a few days it felt like we were “united” behind people who’ve been systematically oppressed, forever. The gist - #BlackLivesMatter - how could this have been allowed to continue for so long? 

Well, you’re about to find out.

Because now we’re moving into our smaller “factions”. Peak divide and conquer.

See, those aren’t just three words. This is military strategy, which works. It’s worked forever and it will work forever. 

The best defence? Wise up, and know it’s happening to you all the time.

To be fair, it would help if we learned our own colonial history in schools because then we may see the patterns repeat. But we don’t, so I digress.

For now, you should expect to see lots of perspectives show up which look something like this:

• I support the movement but protests during a pandemic are irresponsible. They’re risking lives.
• These are the same people who are most vocal and angry about the gov handling of the pandemic, now clearly risking lives. Hypocrites.
• #BlueLivesMatter #AnimalLivesMatter - peaceful protest is fine but the violent behaviour of some protesters is a disgrace. (Often with Britain First style memes)
• If you’re one of the people who thinks the protests are a pandemic problem but not the VE day parties or packed beaches, please remove me from your friends list.
• I understand the protests in the US but not over here. Those people weren’t there to fight, they were there to have fun.
• I’m black and I don’t stand with these thugs.

And so many more.

Already you can see how we’ve stopped talking about the huge systemic injustices of a lifetime. The focus has completely changed. 

But if you look closer, you’ll also see we’re in an impossible situation. Which is why polarisation is so perfect for maintaining the status quo.

Take my first few examples - supporting the protests vs risking lives. I’ve got sympathy with these arguments because the timing is frankly, horrible. More people will die, and we know black people and POC are more vulnerable to COVID deaths because of their work and life conditions. 

So the #BLM movement loses twice.

And in defence of angry commentators, of course it’s confusing. This directly follows more than 3 months of being called selfish for doing basic things you've taken for granted your entire lives, like visiting family and friends. 

But it’s also important to remember what this is all about. Justice. Feeling safe and protected. Basic human rights.

No one asked for the incidents of police brutality and injustice which brought us to where we are today. And while “peacefully protesting in socially distanced conditions” is a lovely idea - it rarely plays out that way.

Why? Well, for one, in the most high profile places where protests are happening - like near the White House or Downing St - the police are using a containment tactic called “kettling". This slowly pushes crowds together to make them easier to contain. You can read about that here.

Then you’ve got gut wrenching pictures flooding social media of injured horses. But no one ever really knows how these incidents happened because you've only got bits of phone footage to go on. 

But please - take a moment to ask yourself, why are horses even there? Maybe I’m naive, but I feel like there must be more effective and humane ways to do crowd control in 2020. 

I'm confident the media will now use the BLM movement as a handy scapegoat for the next wave of COVID deaths. Instead of looking at gov inaction and mixed-messaging around what we should have been doing as a nation to contain the virus. 

This is tragic. Because as a country, we need our elected representatives to be held accountable. And what we really don’t need is more people pushing blame and shame on each other.

“5g COVID towers, anti-vax, flat-earther Karen” is a meme character who finds herself in our collective consciousness at this time. She’s just as good at silencing those who try and question the motives and actions of power, as she is at shutting down genuine bullshit. 

So, if I say “this is probably what the toxic media wanted all along” you can decide for yourself if I deserve a Karen badge. #LondonRiots was trending days before any of this happened, for no reason at all. 

Do I think violent protest will help further the cause? Absolutely not. But I’m also aware that there are white supremacist infiltrators in the US inciting violence.

Does that mean I’m saying there’s no genuine violence from protesters? No, I’m not saying that. 

But when there are people in the arena who will prey on human weaknesses to make sure “peaceful protest” doesn’t happen, don’t be surprised when peaceful protest doesn’t always happen.

And if you can, try to understand that many of the people rioting have witnessed and dealt with injustice for their entire lives. Unless you’ve got “zen” like patience yourself, try and put yourself in their position to see how that must feel.

Because that’s real empathy. And that’s where this gets even more tricky. 

It’s my privileged position to sit here, as a white person living a comfortable life, and judge someone else for their actions to further a cause which doesn’t directly impact me day-to-day. 

Because I can’t really understand what it’s like to be there. And I definitely don’t understand what it’s like to be them. 

And my skin colour isn’t my only privilege. 

So is my level of education. The conditions I find myself in. My thirst for knowledge. And more. Even knowing I have privilege is in itself, a privilege. This thing has levels. 

I guess what I’m asking you to do, if you can - is please be patient with other people.

Because the spirit of the white community organising behind the #BLM movement after George Floyd’s death was so special.

But there’s one particular thing I heard again and again which I’d like you to reflect on.

“How could this happen for so long?”

This is how. Divide and conquer. A tale as old as time.

So. Maybe it’s time to finally write a new book?