zlacker

>>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
Many people want mayhem, but I think your comment is wrong.

> Pro-police forces WANT mayhem ... it changes the subject away from the widespread peaceful opposition to racist police violence.

I don’t think that typical “pro-police forces” want to own the narrative of their cause being racist and violent.

>>dfee+k9
> I don’t think that typical “pro-police forces” want to own the narrative of their cause being racist and violent

I think they do. Many cops seem to be very racist and very violent. It doesn't seem like they care who knows it. Even when they do care, they might not turn on body-cams which should be a fireable offense and now it finally is in at least one case in Kentucky.

>>somebr+E9
Many cops seem to be very racist and very violent

Citation needed. I think most cops are just normal people trying to earn a living.

>>boolea+Ub
You say “most” which implies that you agree that some police are racist and violent “bad apples.” Why, then, do the “good cops” not speak out against the bad cops? Surely they could use their overwhelming numbers to get rid of the racist and violent bad apples?

>>evan_+Bf
Why don't the "good protesters" speak out against the looters? Why do you demand the cops do what you wont do? (maybe you personally do but most protesters are not speaking against the looters). Often times it's dangerous to speak up or separate groups entirely. I'm sure the oakland police department is less racist than some random cop Jackson, Mississippi.

>>km3r+Fw
Bad analogy. You might as well ask why firefighters don’t pull teeth. It’s not their job.

Police swear an oath to uphold the law and it’s ostensibly their job to, when observing illegality, say “hey knock it off.”

Protesters do not swear an oath as a prerequisite to protesting. Protesters frequently do speak out against- and even forcibly prevent- looting and vandalism within their ranks, but if they don’t, it’s not a dereliction of duty in the same way as when cops ignore abuses in their ranks.