Things were drastically improving until the Federal government showed up in full camouflage uniforms and started antagonizing people.
Citation for "millions of dollars in damages"? Yes there have been broken windows, and there were significant riots in the immediate aftermath of George Floyd's murder. Since then (and absolute in the last 6 weeks) the protests have been peaceful with the exception of a few broken windows and some graffiti. Absolutely not millions of dollars in damage.
And how many people have been murdered as a result of the protests? Please stop fear mongering.
At least two: the 16 year old boy killed in Seattle and the 8 year old girl killed in Atlanta.
They were both shot by BLM "security". And they were both Black.
EDIT: Downvoted for facts? What is this, Reddit?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8480217/PICTURED-16...
https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/breaking-atlanta-police-...
Two may not be a lot (along with those merely shot), but they are still dead.
It's a problem when you try to use it as an example of the protests being lawless and violent as a justification for extreme police responses and unidentified federal agencies arresting people in a different city.
While there has been some property damage in Portland, OR there has been very little violence so it’s odd that the federal government is ramping up a military like response in Portland, OR.
Meanwhile, taxpayers have been robbed blind by the damage to our infrastructure by looters yes but also corruption, greed, and abuse of power not seen at this scale in the entire history of our democracy. Even the Secretary of Transportation and Husband, Mitch McConnell, made off with millions in loans paid for by your tax dollars. The current USPS head, who may be slowing delivery to damage the agency, may be taking direction from a guy whose old company received $700 million in bailout even though it is only worth 1/10 of that.
You and I might have seen $1200. Millionaires got $135 Billion in tax loopholes. That's more than hospitals were allocated to deal with the virus.
So do go ahead and complain about looters at protesters. It's important their bad behavior be recognized and flushed out. But don't lose sight of the larger issue, billions of taxpayer dollars going to the rich, donors to the current administration, and even directly to members of the administration and GOP party leadership. The corruption is obscene.
A New Yorker in Minneapolis: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/06/22/the-heart-of-t...
USPS issues: https://www.salon.com/2020/07/15/disturbing-memo-reveals-tru...
Millionaires: https://www.forbes.com/sites/shaharziv/2020/04/27/proposal-u...
The process of arresting and charging those who have broken the law should not change either.
Walking around downtown recently and finding little more than a single broken window and an "I'm hatin' it" spray-painted on a McDonald's makes this kind of fearmongering comment truly laughable.
I witnessed rioters shooting mortars at PPB on the 4th of July. PPB sent teargas and flash bangs back at them. SW Broadway and Main looked like a war zone. They’ve been lighting fires around 3rd for weeks. The park around the justice center looks like a set from Escape From New York.
The Feds showing up didn’t start this. This nonsense has been going on in spurts since 2016.
What's important? That the Rule of Law is kept, or that the "right people" break the law?
The wealthy people who own those condos fund most of the local officials political campaigns so do you honestly believe local officials would be coming out against the federal government stepping in if they felt like Rule of Law had fallen apart?
It's simple. You undermine the public order, you are held accountable. If the boss doesn't want to do the job, the boss of the boss will do it.
What the hell do political donations have to do with this. People need to get better at the game of figuring out whether something is an actual game.
I bet you're a software developer. I'm one myself. We have a tendency to over-analyze the heck out of everything.
It’s important not to confuse property destruction with violence.
Not quite sure unmarked people kidnapping people into civilian-grade minivans is the best way to quell insurrection.
"""One of the people detained, Mark Pettibone, said in an interview that an unmarked vehicle stopped right in front of him around 2 a.m. on Wednesday and four people in camouflage jumped out. Given the lack of markings or identification, he had no idea who they were.
One of the officers said, ‘It’s OK, it’s OK,’ and just grabbed me and threw me into the van. Another officer pulled my beanie down, so I couldn’t see,” Mr. Pettibone said.
Mr. Pettibone said he was terrified and that at no point was he told why he was arrested or detained, or what agency the officers were with. He said he was ultimately held for about two hours before being released.'""
Most articles I've found are citing statements from one or two individuals (Pettingbone): https://www.opb.org/news/article/federal-law-enforcement-unm...
I haven't seen enough authoritative evidence to truly say that there are "unmarked vans driving around portland kidnapping protestors"; if the federal government is doing that to nonviolent protestors who are obeying orders, they put themselves directly at risk of being sued for civil rights violations.
I've noticed that WaPo is especially prone to rumormongering/anecdote amplification in a way that makes it sound like the problem is far worse than it really is. I find it necessary to read a wider range of news to get a fully informed view.
I know someone might say that's technically marked, but, when you're being pushed into a minivan, that's pretty vague. I know damn near any american reading this will have been told as a child not to go along with a stranger just because they said they were police.
There are the generic "POLICE" rectangle badges in there too. They are essentially unidentified.
1. https://twitter.com/matcha_chai/status/1283328232033411072
This is the only part I don't strongly agree with.