zlacker

> These protests are at least partly drummed up by out of state agitators

This is a scary response. We saw, today, a black CNN reporter arrested by state police on live television. If that’s how an educated, gently-speaking, Constitutionally-protected member of the press is treated, there is a root issue festering. Blaming it on agitators deflects from introspection.

A big part of the problem is Minneapolis’s moderates have turned a blind eye to the problems in their police force for years. That civic neglect has consequences. Those consequences are coming home to roost.

>>JumpCr+(OP)
If you watched an of the live feeds from the last two nights there are plenty of people who announce that they're from e.g. Nebraska and part of some Antifa faction.

>A big part of the problem is Minneapolis’s moderates have turned a blind eye to the problems in their police force for years.

I don't understand how people can honestly think this is true. The Police Commissioner is literally the guy from Internal Affairs who filed a lawsuit against the city for not promoting black officers fast enough. The state attorney general is the guy who has proudly photographed himself with an anarchist handbook. All across state and local government in Minnesota you find people who are, allegedly, the kind that are supposed to address the "civic neglect" you assume to exist. What more do you want?

>>remark+g2
For police to stop killing unarmed people. If I knelt on someone's neck for five minutes, I wouldn't get two days at home! Police need to be held to a higher standard, not a lower one.

>>JumpCr+(OP)
> A big part of the problem is Minneapolis’s moderates have turned a blind eye to the problems in their police force for years

that is a massive leap in agency that doesn't seem appropriate at all. any cities' "moderates" (??) have extremely limited agency over "the problems in the police force": if the head police officer is elected, that's one, and perhaps city council members who control budgets or other things related to police work.

since you're strongly implying that civic neglect is what caused this issue, what are the civic actions that this city's moderates should have taken in order to have prevented these problems?

>>remark+g2
> The Police Commissioner is literally the guy from Internal Affairs who filed a lawsuit against the city for not promoting black officers fast enough.

Looking after their own. Should I give them a cookie too and a belly rub?

The protests are not about officer promotions.

>>remark+g2
How about sending the bill for the civil suits from all these unlawful killings to the policemen's union instead of the city? How about cops who keep getting involved in officer involved shootings get their house taken to pay judgements?

>>remark+g2
I don't know if you've seen a map of the area, but outside of St Louis way to the south, Minneapolis is pretty much the only metro area near the states of ND, SD, NE, IA, MN. Many minorities in these states have felt marginalized for decades (particularly the Native American people, but that's a whole different story). Driving to the closest metro area in solidarity is the only choice for many people to be part of the cause they support without having to do it individually.

>>outwor+R8
And the protests are clearly also not about the death of George Floyd. Unless you think all of these small businesses being burnt to the ground were somehow complicit in his tragic death.