https://www.facebook.com/NowThisPolitics/vi...c5NTc1NjE1MjMw/

 

The best video I've seen today.

I saw this earlier, it's one of the most powerful things I've seen. This very much WON'T 'die down' as the right wingers, the establishment and most of the American police I'm sure are hoping.

I suddenly realised my white privilege and how I was wrong to have said what I did about the violent protesting! I understand that I can never understand but I stand with them. It's actually really upset me and I apologise for my previous views, I've learnt more again.

One of the best things we can do as white people in this time is learn! I think because it's all some people have ever known, they don't even think about their prvielege and probably just can't get into the headspace which sadly can cause complete and utter ignorance, if people don't bother to seek things out and learn. That's why I think the blackout if used properly has had a real impact, we've been able to tune out the excess noise and try to amplify information (as well as ofc donation links) as much as we can so that people can find and learn, that in itself has so much power.

What are people's thoughts on this social media blackout thing? I get that it's done with the best intentions but it's interfering with the sharing of important information and preventing the conversation to continue.

 

It was a nice sentiment but it seems to have brought about some really ugly exchanges and as you say, it's ended up covering up a lot of important information.

 

Like you always say in your later post, I just can't at people going about their usual business on their story and sticking a black square amongst it :/

First time commenting - the police officers actions in Minneapolis are of course inexcusable. Unfortunately the actions of a small minority of US police officers has cast the whole institution in a bad light.

 

There is also obviously some institional racism to do with a false narrative of black people being more violent when the vast majority of the murders you hear about in America are carried out by white people.

 

I really understand the reason for the protests but fear that the mass gatherings associated with the protests,

even though people were wearing masks, are going to lead to an increase in coronavirus cases and deaths though . Having said that there was going to be a rise in cases in America because of the too early reopening of states anyway.

Edited June 3, 20205 yr by The Snake

My friend in Washington DC who is a republican incidentally hasn't taken to well to the rioting I argued pro protesters obv:

 

"Let's not forget we had a black president for 8 years so no excuse that politics doesnt work or that certain people can never be represented in the Oval Office. What other major western style democracy had a minority as a leader other than the US and ironically now Ireland."

 

"What law needs to change? Cop was arrested and charged with murder. Cant stop all bad actors just need to bring justice to them which they are doing. The daughter of the mayor of NYC was arrested for rioting. The son of the MN attorney general who is prosecuting the cop openly supporting ANTIFA. That wont help change."

 

I'd respond to your friends comments with:

 

Obama tried to do what's right but was stymied at every attempt by a Republican blockade that is the same one holding a Constitutionally-ignoring tyrant in Power, who abuses his power on a daily basis. That is Rich Privilege, and the poor remain powerless. That minorities suffer the most-heavily, as they always have, is wrapped-up in White Privilege as part of the Wealth Power stranglehold. That Black Minorities now have the ability to rise in US society is directly down the Civil Rights movement of the 60's, but it ain't fixed at all, it's still a broken system, and making excuses that everything's fine is to bury your head in the sand, which makes you part of the problem.

 

Cop was arrested after world-wide protest only. Had there been no video footage nothing would have happened. Bringing in examples of some people getting arrested (and being of wealthy stock most likely will get a slap on the wrist) is attempting to change the subject. This is why I don;t support riots, it's ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS used as an excuse to ignore the problem and ultimately gives the wealthy an excuse to continue to ignore the problem.

 

ANITIFA is a description not a unified organisation. During WW2 everyone who fought for democracy was anti-fascist, that includes President Eisenhower. Pro-fascists are the KKK, who still haunt the USA freely spreading their vile hatred.

 

Feel free to quote, that should sort his argument out......

😂I was busy at work when answering and couldn't be bothered keeping it going!

 

Thanks for the responses though Pop!

ALL 4 OFFICERS RESPONSIBLE FOR GEORGE FLOYD’sS DEATH ARE GETTING CHARGED

 

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/03/us/george-fl...rges/index.html

 

They got the George and Ahmaud cases, now what about the team involved in Breonna Taylor’s death? Was anything done about that?

Great news. :cheer: But it's a small victory - let's see them all tried, convicted and sentenced first.

 

I'm confused by this bit:

 

Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng, who helped restrain Floyd, and Tou Thao, who stood near the others, were not initially charged. Lane, 37, Kueng, 26, and Thao, 34, are now charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

 

Second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree murder are punishable by up to 40 years in prison. Manslaughter and aiding and abetting manslaughter are punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

 

Surely it is one or the other; second-degree murder or second-degree manslaughter - not both? :wacko: If I'm being stupid please tell me. :lol:

That's really great news! It's also been really encouraging to see information and conversation continuing to be shared today, not just yesterday.

I hope I don't sound tone deaf and I know few on here will agree with me but I feel uneasy about some of the protests taking place outside the US. I am completely with the protests in the US considering what they have had to deal with a heavy handed approach by authorities and of course the justified anger of people towards a racist killing happening again in their country. But the protests elsewhere risk too much a big spread and rise in coronavirus deaths happening, especially as few of them seem to be fully socially distanced. I am all for showing solidarity with the US protesters but surely there were better ways to do this in places outside the US than having these protests without social distancing. I am aware that some of the protests did have social distancing and I really applaud those who took part and organised those ones.

It would be dangerous to think of racism as a US-only problem. It's in the UK too, it's everywhere.

 

It is also vital to not ignore this moment when all eyes are on the issue to make a massive stand (and plead that it not be ignored in a week either), and in defiance of government laws regarding mass gatherings is in the spirit.

 

obviously please don't take this as a sign that I want everyone to get the rona or am not concerned about it. The US is hit worse than anywhere, and peaceful protests don't preclude anyone's ability to take precautions like masks, keeping themselves spread out to an extent and not spitting in people's faces or immediately dashing off to visit their grandparents.

There have been some alarming photos on Twitter of protesters apparently being hit by police-fired rubber bullets. :mellow: At first I thought it was make-up but looking at it more idk... :unsure: that's ****ed up if legit!

Coronavirus isn’t going away and the UK will see a second wave with England in particular opening up too fast and the government ready to blame the public for not using ‘British common sense’ rather than take any blame themselves. So given that is going to happen anyway, people may as well be out protesting.

Ah, rubber bullets, reminds of a brilliant record, and the "good old days" of the 60's and 70's when it wasn't a proper news bulletin without the latest footage of officials of the State shooting at protestors in the UK and USA.

 

When protesting about war and violence got you killed, and protesting about inequality got you killed. Good times.

I hope I don't sound tone deaf and I know few on here will agree with me but I feel uneasy about some of the protests taking place outside the US. I am completely with the protests in the US considering what they have had to deal with a heavy handed approach by authorities and of course the justified anger of people towards a racist killing happening again in their country. But the protests elsewhere risk too much a big spread and rise in coronavirus deaths happening, especially as few of them seem to be fully socially distanced. I am all for showing solidarity with the US protesters but surely there were better ways to do this in places outside the US than having these protests without social distancing. I am aware that some of the protests did have social distancing and I really applaud those who took part and organised those ones.

Not tone deaf but as Iz says it is very dangerous to assume the UK doesn't have the same issue.

 

This is anecdotal but just in the last couple of days at work I've heard people say "of course the monkey buys bananas" to a black man (wlel, not to ofc, after he had gone), and "they should just kill them all, that or they should be bloody thankful thye aren't slaves", both times ofc I told the miserable disgusting old farts they aren't welcome anymore. It's not just about the killings, of course they were a catalyst and we need justice, but they symbolise everyday racism that has driven the deep rooted and intrisic attidues that end up manifesting in such horrific and unspeakable ways. When we protest, when we educate, when we speak up, we're speaking up against all of that as well as the police brutality etc., and God knows we've got enough racist attitudes over here, and in a hell of a lot of othhr countries.

Not tone deaf but as Iz says it is very dangerous to assume the UK doesn't have the same issue.

 

This is anecdotal but just in the last couple of days at work I've heard people say "of course the monkey buys bananas" to a black man (wlel, not to ofc, after he had gone), and "they should just kill them all, that or they should be bloody thankful thye aren't slaves", both times ofc I told the miserable disgusting old farts they aren't welcome anymore. It's not just about the killings, of course they were a catalyst and we need justice, but they symbolise everyday racism that has driven the deep rooted and intrisic attidues that end up manifesting in such horrific and unspeakable ways. When we protest, when we educate, when we speak up, we're speaking up against all of that as well as the police brutality etc., and God knows we've got enough racist attitudes over here, and in a hell of a lot of othhr countries.

What the f***. I hope you just stopped ringing their shit and told them to f*** off each time.

 

And OBVIOUSLY they would never say that to a person's face, just shows how utterly pathetic and cowardly racists are. Why do they think that saying these disgusting things to a white person is also okay? Do they expect approval?

It would be dangerous to think of racism as a US-only problem. It's in the UK too, it's everywhere.

 

It is also vital to not ignore this moment when all eyes are on the issue to make a massive stand (and plead that it not be ignored in a week either), and in defiance of government laws regarding mass gatherings is in the spirit.

 

obviously please don't take this as a sign that I want everyone to get the rona or am not concerned about it. The US is hit worse than anywhere, and peaceful protests don't preclude anyone's ability to take precautions like masks, keeping themselves spread out to an extent and not spitting in people's faces or immediately dashing off to visit their grandparents.

 

Yes I know its important not to ignore this issue. If the UK didn't have protests there is a danger that we will be seen as silent in the face of this. And yes sadly racism is still a problem in the UK.

 

Actually in the US maybe coronavirus spread will be less in individual protests because of the higher emphasis on wearing masks there compared to some of the UK protests where less masks are worn.

This is anecdotal but just in the last couple of days at work I've heard people say "of course the monkey buys bananas" to a black man (wlel, not to ofc, after he had gone), and "they should just kill them all, that or they should be bloody thankful thye aren't slaves", both times ofc I told the miserable disgusting old farts they aren't welcome anymore. It's not just about the killings, of course they were a catalyst and we need justice, but they symbolise everyday racism that has driven the deep rooted and intrisic attidues that end up manifesting in such horrific and unspeakable ways. When we protest, when we educate, when we speak up, we're speaking up against all of that as well as the police brutality etc., and God knows we've got enough racist attitudes over here, and in a hell of a lot of othhr countries.

 

Indeed with regards to racism, you only have to see the incidents at football matches that still sadly happen from item to time in the UK.

 

And yes with regards to police brutality the UK has had the police killings of Mark Duggan and Jean Charles de Menezes in the not too distant past. Thankfully none recently though.

Edited June 4, 20205 yr by The Snake

#RussianLivesMatter emerged a few days ago due to #Black_Lives_Matters (sic) (YUP, I cringe each time) trending here as well. While I think it's shitty they are stealing the black community's thunder like that, it's good that it's putting a spotlight on countless cases of police brutality and torture over here. We have a huge problem with that and it's going to end in riots at some point. Before we start tackling racism, something needs to be done about the current government :') That's part of the reason why I'm supporting the protesters so much I guess. Although it's from a non-racial perspective, I feel the same (don't come for me for this, I know it's not the same same) fear going outside or walking by the police.

Perhaps I'm reading too much into it, but something doesn't sit right with the fact this latest 'development' in the Madeline McCann case (I say in inverted commas as this was apparently already known about) is now the cover of every newspaper and all across social media, almost like it's a distraction and something to put the police in a positive light.