Violence Erupts on the Streets of….are some of the headlines we have been seeing about the protests related to the murder of George Floyd, yet another in a long list of deaths resulting from police brutality. Protests are occurring throughout the country and now globally and of course media outlets are covering the protests. Some endeavor to provide accurate, unbiased coverage and commentary. But some feature rhetoric that inspires fear and hatred or provides biased or factually incorrect information adding to the tension.
People have asked me where I stand on the use of violent protest. It is a complicated question that cannot be reduced to a yes or no answer. Violence was present long before the burning of the police station. We see it in the form of the structural violence of prejudice, discrimination, racism, poverty and the physical violence that we have seen disproportionately inflicted on African Americans by law enforcement. This is not opinion it is fact, an evidence-based statement. Nonviolent protest has been attempted with success (see the Civil Rights Movement) but if you remember nonviolent protest was sometimes met with violence by the authorities in charge, including the police, until public opinion forced change. Nonviolent protest is my first option. It is also the first option for the vast majority who have been employing it for decades despite facing violent reprisals for demanding equal rights. With all the achievements violence against African Americans continues. Everyone should he held accountable to embrace nonviolence starting with those whose duty it is to keep the peace. Some are still called peace officers. Nonviolent protest is a complicated undertaking. There are ways to subvert nonviolent protest that have been employed. Sending an interloper in to start a fight or throw a bottle can easily instigate a violent response from police. From there the narrative about violent protest takes hold and the reason for the protest in the first place can become secondary. Peaceful protest also takes a lot of training. Gandhi suggested “boot camps” to train people in nonviolent protest. The Woolworth Counter Sit-In participants were also extensively trained in nonviolence.
Adding some context as an “old white guy” I have rarely felt the sting of prejudice, discrimination, and racism and the few times I have it passed quickly with no long-term effects because I am in the privileged majority. I did not have to contend with being denied employment due to my race, being denied housing or being redlined. I was never profiled, followed around in a store or apartment building, or questioned about what I was doing somewhere because I “looked like” I did not belong there. Should a police officer stop me for some reason I do not fear that my life is in danger. The systemic violence perpetrated against African Americans has a long history in the US. And it continues. How many more incidents of violence have to occur before we wake up and understand this is a shared problem that we all have to address? What do you do next when your pleas are being largely ignored? When all you are asking for is “the inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. The act of violence that took the life of George Floyd has galvanized people to action some of it violent. Do you understand why? What would you do if this occurred in your community to someone you knew? What is justice? How do you achieve justice?
The solution is solidarity. People from all races and walks of life have to unify and say enough, this ends now. Law enforcement, the National Guard, military, and political leaders need to do the same. And some are. Some are actually laying down their weapons and joining the protesters. This is a powerful statement and a necessary one if we are to finally address the issues that we are confronted with. The lines being formed by people between protesters and police are inspiring. Each one of us who values a just and equitable country can literally step up and make our voices heard in an assertive nonviolent manner.