It should be noted that nearly the entirety of the increase in murders happened after the BLM protests began in May [1]. Before that, 2020 was on track to be an unremarkably violent year.

Given that this is exactly what happened in Ferguson and Baltimore after those cities’ riots, the increase was sadly predictable. Baltimore’s experience bodes especially poorly for the country; its homicide rate has stayed elevated ever since.

The slaughter of an extra 3000-4000 people in the span of seven months is a colossal tragedy. I hope that the cheerleaders of future racial reckonings will do all in their power to prevent similar disasters.

[1] https://www.thetrace.org/2020/12/shootings-data-philadelphia...