>>oftenw+(OP)
Folks - don't be obtuse. Police commanders know exactly what will happen when they escalate with tear gas and rubber bullets.
Pro-police forces WANT mayhem. It makes people watching on TV afraid of the protests, and it changes the subject away from the widespread peaceful opposition to racist police violence.
>>just_s+k8
Police are not the only ones who have the incentive to escalate. There are clearly people (likely political anarchists) who mingle with the crowd with the specific intent of escalating and causing mayhem.