Minority Status
In addition to everything happening due to covid right now, our country must take responsibility and stand up to police brutality in the wake of George Floyd's murder. Another Black life lost in the long list of publicized and unknown police-caused deaths.
Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests erupted form coast to coast. #BostonProtest took place as part of them on May 31. Over three hours thousands marched from one end of the city to the other, I was among them. Chanting, holding signs, walking along with seniors, young adults, dogs and even children. Everything was peaceful. At the end of the march, arriving at the State House closer to 9 p.m., a large group was already waiting for the BLM collective.
It is unclear if this awaiting crowd was part of the organized protest or from a different coalition. What was physically clear is that their attitude, and even their attire, was different. When you join an organized protest there are rules, dress codes, routes, and plans to follow. As a protester this helps you know who's "in" and who is an outsider joining last minute or causing trouble.
Equally, the police presence changed. The cops in bikes and normal uniforms that we saw through the afternoon changed into SWAT-looking agents with helmets, goggles, and bullet-proof vests.
Things took a different turn once MLB protesters dispersed and these other individuals took over the day's attention. True, some protesters clashed with police over public transportation not being available at key sports that would have made the process of dispersing easier. Which makes me wonder, who approved the closure of these exit sources, and why was this done if the intend was to mobilize people quickly?
Clashes also exacerbated when police became aggressive, pushing people to disperse and yelling at them. Both sides, both changed groups, were at fault; both handled what was a manageable, peaceful situation badly. This is what most of the media, government leadership, and the general public have chosen to focus on. Minutes are given to the peaceful protesting that has happened across the country and hours to the looting and violence that occurred.
While not condemned, to a certain degree this behavior is understood. Anger, frustration, and need give way to the looting. Members of a community with nothing, earning minimum wage, being pressed for generations with no chance or clear way of getting out of systematic poverty, will act out- regardless of race. This emotion-driven attraction to rioting can be explained.
What happened after Boston's peaceful protest, which replicates other cities, is organized rioting.
People planning to fight and destroy, and not out of anger over Black deaths at the hands of police or white vigilantes. These groups include white rioters, I saw them, and young minorities, not just Black men as the media continuously portrays.
It is encouraging that several leaders have pointed out these individuals, and gone as far as clarifying how people from other towns, cities, and states, infiltrate protests to instigate and damage the peaceful movements. This tactic is one that so-called third-world countries employ. I know, I've seen it too.
In Mexico it is well known that when a peaceful protest is planned the opposition will pay and transport people to loot and riot. The United States is not incapable of this. However, believers in U.S. democracy can't phantom the idea that our government is so corrupt it would resort to using developing nation maneuvers.
One good thing trump's presidency has given us is the confirmation of corruption in our nation's governance.
What we chose to do with this knowledge is what worries me. People can choose to keep living in fantasy, believing America is untouchable to such corruption and that what elected leaders and the media profess is truth. Or, people can question everything they read, listen, and watch until their psychosis is proven right or wrong.
Believing everything we are told right now will ensure another 4 years of disaster. Further allowing the manipulative brain washing our our minority youth. Young men and women who are organized into "action" with violence, theft, hate. If ISIS does this to recruit white Americans, isn't it probable white America does the same with its communities of color?
Again, violent response will continue to happen and can be expected to an extent, just not in every city where the same protests have taken place to support the same message. This rioting has been intentional. It reinstates the stereotype that non-Whites are savages. "Animals, "monkeys," "rats" these have already been used extensively in the messaging and have been successful in their ROI.
Allowing our youth of color to be used to spread a message that by day minorities are clam but once the night falls we can't be trusted, will ensure nothing changes. We will continue to be oppressed. Lives will continue to be taken. Black communities will continue to suffer. The largest populations in the US will continue to have "minority" status.
Question everything and get involved.
Get involved.
Keep the peaceful protests going. Advocate in your own communities. Reach out to at-risk youth. Ask your local officials and leaders to not just react but to learn. Our opposition - the people who believe democracy means one race, religion, business, or culture has a right to be above others- IS out there. It IS trying to divide us. It IS instigating within us. It IS willing to give up more lives to maintain the status quo if we don't keep pushing against them.