Charlottesville riots

[WuDrWu]

Actually I think all BLM folks DO in fact hate cops. And yes, they are both wrong and abhorrent.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

If Canada, Europe and Australia can put sensible limits on what we might lump into the worst of "free speech", then we should be able to do it, too.

"Sensible"

I want nothing to do with the big brother policing of speech that is taking hold in other countries.

[ShockCrazy]

No. But, damn, it's really important.

Why? What does it matter at this point who threw the first punch? One side isn't more noble because the other threw the first punch. Someone died. It's irrelevant who threw the first punch.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

Actually I think all BLM folks DO in fact hate cops. And yes, they are both wrong and abhorrent.

Left: All Trump voters are racists.
Right: All BLM hate cops.

Me: Ugh.

[ShockCrazy]

Left: All Trump voters are racists.
Right: All BLM hate cops.

Me: Ugh.

Gotta love when people hate being stereotyped and lumped into one giant amorphous group, but then proceed to do the same to others. The cognitive dissonance is strong in this country.

[pinstripers]

Why? What does it matter at this point who threw the first punch? One side isn't more noble because the other threw the first punch. Someone died. It's irrelevant who threw the first punch.

So you blame both groups equally? OK then.

[ShockCrazy]

So you blame both groups equally? OK then.

No only one group had someone kill another person. That's where the discussion can end. Who threw the first punch doesn't matter, especially when it's not cut and dry as you want to pretend.

[pinstripers]

The killer should be executed if it proves to be intentional. I suspect it will. The death of that woman is on him, nobody else. All the violence prior to that goes on somebody else.

[shockmonster]

Left: All Trump voters are racists.
Right: All BLM hate cops.

Me: Ugh.

BLM are racists for racist black only rallies.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rv4fTGNrbMk

[Boss1786]

A hundred years ago, local govt put up a statue. (I'm ok w that)

Recently, local govt decided to take down the statue. (still ok)

Some folks wanted to protest that. (still ok, as long as the have their permit)

Some other folks wanted to protest the protesters (seems silly, but if they have their permit....)

The local police were told to stand down (I'm not ok with this at all and wonder why this was done)

Police become proactive and prevent physical disturbance = sued for violating rights to protest.

Police stands back and hopes people protest w/o violence = one lunatic rams his vehicle into the crowd killing one and injuring several other...get sued.

Bottom line is that police were in a no-win situation.

Three points:
1) Police is only one of several pieces of the permit approval process and likely very well are of the risk of violence but this call to allow the two assemblies came from a higher authority.

2) The right to protest/counter-protest is a constitutionally given right but is required to be done peacefully and lawfully. In theory, the protest has to be allowed until breach of the peace occurs (i.e. escalated to a physical disturbance...name calling and yelling back and forth do no count)

3) While outnumbered, the police were likely prepared to address a physical confrontation and crowd dispersement, if needed, but the mere nature and suddenness of the violent act forced them to have to change gears and render aid as well as protect those immediately injured. Those who choose to engage in violence after that had a choice to leave or participate.

Ultimately, the question becomes "How much longer do we protect the right of assembly and protest under the First amendment given the current climate?" Society has become increasingly more violent...and, especially with the younger generation, these acts of violence for 'your cause' are cosidered acceptable.

[Play Angry]

We have former players who have peacefully participated in BLM marches/protests. There are racist, extreme members and participants in that organization, but do not paint with too broad a brush. Many people, including pastors of sizeable congregations in my city, have participated in those events proudly and peacefully in a manner that I doubt would give any of you pause.

I watched the Dallas BLM march outside my office window for some time and there were both hostile, loud elements (although non-violent) and there were quiet elements carrying signs with bible verses. This was in the time leading up to the shooting of the police officers and civilians by the rat bastard who eventually met his maker in the parking garage very, very close to my office, where I worked that night until after 4 AM.

Naturally, the anarchists and unsavory elements of BLM and similar organizations deserve ridicule and condemnation. However, I would hesitate before lumping the tens of thousands of marchers in cities across the country in as members of a hate group or individually as "cop haters" as a result of the ten second clips you see on Fox News and dumbass interviews with folks who they know will make for a glorious YouTube clip.

Bad apples? Yep. A bunch of them? Sure. What percentage? No idea. All of them? Absolutely not.

[SHOXJOCK]

These two posts perfectly explain the absurdity of what you people on this forum.

Theres a severe case of "whataboutism" going on here. There were literally people marching through the streets of an American city proudly waving Nazi Flags, Confederate Battle flags and yet the only thing most of you can say is "well what about"

Remember kids. Nothing says MAGA like waving a nazi flag yelling Seig Heil because some piece of **** turned his back on his country so he didnt have to get his hands dirty working in the field or getting his own tea is having his statue removed.

"oh oh Antifa professional organizaton' shut the **** up. Most of you sound just like this piece of **** in this video https://www.facebook.com/vicenews/vi...t4&pnref=story

Actually I and about 95% of the people on this forum have said that Nazi and White supremacists are wrong. About 50% of us think that No matter how fu**ed up the Nazi's and the White supremacists views are they have the right to get a permit and have a protest. The debate should be about how the police screwed this up. And that's coming from a Dad that has a son that is a police officer. Both sides can protest all they want just keep then apart. Your post sent absurdity to a new level. But you do have the right to have it.

[WuDrWu]

Left: All Trump voters are racists.
Right: All BLM hate cops.

Me: Ugh.

Me: Can't believe someone as intelligent as you are cannot differentiate between a fringe group of maybe 5000 hard core BLM lunatic and the 60 million that voted for Trump.

THAT'S a real outrage.

[wufan]

Can we agree that not all BLM and not all Alt-Right are criminals?

[pinstripers]

I dunno who the alt-right is, Trump voters? . I had never heard of the antifa until this week, but I guess they are the ones against free speech?