Conservatives automatically assume

If Black people riot, it’s “BLM”
If white people riot, it’s “antifa”

The goal is to demean these groups via guilt by association. It doesn’t matter if the “rioters” are in fact local gangs having no connection to BLM or white gangs like the Proud Boys not connected to antifa, and in some places, even fighting with antifa.

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SW-User

Although I agree there's certainly a contingent of people who're purposefully using these protests as a shroud for blatant criminal behaviour, I also believe that these groups (i.e. BLM) are comprised of a significant number of individuals who see violence as a vehicle for change, and often as late the line between criminal and protestor is blurred.

Let's not pretend, for instance, that almost every single protest in Portland recently hasn't reliably deteriorated into utter violence and chaos - that simply wouldn't happen if the majority of participants were dead set on a peaceful protest.

In short, I don't believe we're talking a small minority of rabble-rousers here, I think we're talking about a movement who seems to believe that to enact change, there has to be violence. Unfortunately, that violence is severely undermining their goals and I don’t think they have the foresight to see how.

Happy to be challenged on these thoughts, but this is the way I’m currently seeing events, having started out by siding with such movements. I wouldn’t identify as a conservative either; I think Trump is an egotistical narcissist unfit for the position he holds.

MistyCee

@SW-User I'm about as Anti-Trump as you're likely to see, and I agree with you that violence and even protests are playing right into Trump's hand.

LeopoldBloom · M

@SW-User The problem in Portland as well as a few other places is that the majority of violence is being perpetrated by the Proud Boys and other right-wing gangs. The Portland police have even been caught coordinating with them, and protecting them when they get into fights with antifa.

SW-User

@LeopoldBloom I'm sorry sir, but the vast amount of footage coming out of Portland of these riots demonstrates that isn't the case. Sure, I'm happy to concede that some of these issues are being caused by groups on the far right, but it's clear that the majority of the violence is being enacted by those aligned with BLM.

If all we're going to do is pretend as though there isn't a real issue in the BLM movement right now, then there's no way things are going to get better. They need to hold themselves to a better standard if they're sincere in their intentions.

Speedyman · 70-79, M

Nonsense. I the BLM protests over here there were attacks on police and property with many officers injured. Protesters hurling missives at the police. . @LeopoldBloom

SumKindaMunster · 51-55, M

@SW-User Thank you!!!

LeopoldBloom · M

@SW-User That's the narrative on Fox News. I know people who live there who have a different impression.

LeopoldBloom · M

@Speedyman Those people don't represent BLM any more than the Spanish Inquisition represents Christians.

Speedyman · 70-79, M

Sorry mate but those people write BLM over statues and what they deface. I heard one BLM representative on the news saying that violent looting was fair game. We have also had death threats from BLM people to others who will not take the knee. @LeopoldBloom

SW-User

@LeopoldBloom Simply not true. There's so much footage coming out of Portland that's not shown on the media - Twitter, Youtube, Facebook; first hand accounts of the violence perpetrated by those aligned with BLM. If all you're going to do is pretend like BLM aren't part of the problem right now, then you are part of the problem.

LeopoldBloom · M

@SW-User @Speedyman If you’re going to ignore the right wing gangs that are clearly involved, while deifying the cops when they shoot a Black person, then you’re part of the problem.

SW-User

@LeopoldBloom I think you're struggling here. I started this conversation by acknowledging that yes, there are some right-wing activists responsible for some of the riots we’re seeing.

But you are literally ignoring a very large contingent of BLM activists that are causing way more unrest right now, and you're doing so because it doesn't fit your narrative.

Let me put it into perspective for you - the George Floyd protests resulted in over $500 million dollars of damages. This isn't a small number of rioters we're talking about, or a right-wing conspiracy - this is unabated violence being perpetrated by those aligned with BLM who clearly believe violence and unrest is a vehicle for change.

SW-User

deifying the cops when they shoot a Black person

I'll defend cops who take the necessary actions to stop a suspect who poses a deadly threat to them or the public.

That's not deifying, that's simply acknowledging basic use of force procedures. Show me a cop who used deadly force where it wasn't necessary and I'll call them a bad cop (i.e. Derek Chauvin) - but this has become something much uglier; we're maligning cops who have done nothing wrong. I'll defend those cops all day.

Speedyman · 70-79, M

Interesting when right wing gangs turned up in London the next week no police were injured at all and like the week before when it was just BLM supporters and about 30 police were injured. Your problem is these people like you want to just blame it all on some vague right wing and ignore the real issues. You’ve got your head in the clouds@LeopoldBloom