Normal Cities Are Becoming War Zones

It shouldn’t be that way

There is too much violence

Since the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer who held his knee on Floyd’s neck until he couldn’t breathe, the world has changed. Already reeling with the coronavirus pandemic where people were asked to stay at home, turmoil came to the cities as demonstrations against racism and police brutality of Black men came to a head. Cities throughout the United States, which had been quiet with the pandemic, suddenly erupted into places of protest.

Systemic racism against Black people is nothing new. It has gone on for too many years. There have been numerous other cases where Black men were unjustly killed because of racism. Yet this time with George Floyd’s death caught on video which went viral, people became outraged.

Peaceful protests turning violent is not new either.

Back on March 3, 1991, Rodney King was pursued by the police. A civilian filmed the incident from his balcony. He sent the footage to a local news station. The coverage showed King as an unarmed Black man being beaten severely by the police. Riots broke out in Los Angeles. Rodney King was saddened by all the rioting and violence. He did not proclaim to be innocent, but the beating was uncalled for and brutal.

Since those Los Angeles riots almost thirty years ago, there have been numerous demonstrations held throughout the nation. Some of the more recent ones were for Trayvon Martin in Florida, Freddie Gray in Baltimore, Maryland, and Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Those demonstrations for Black men who were senselessly killed were mostly localized unlike those which have taken place since George Floyd’s death.

Colin Kaepernick, a former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, tried to bring attention to the issue of inequality and racism by taking a knee during the National Anthem during some of his professional football games four years ago. He tried to use his platform to peacefully bring awareness to an issue of great importance. Again no one listened and made changes, but he was criticized and punished.

Killings and shootings keep happening, and the demonstrations persist. Normal cities are becoming like war zones.

People in Kanosha, Wisconsin, where peaceful protests were held and riots have taken place, are calling their city a war zone. Store fronts are boarded up, and destruction has occurred. Too many cities have become war zones as demonstrations, which were to bring attention to the issue of racism and police brutality toward Black men, have turned violent.

A lot of trouble, violence, rioting, looting, destruction, and criminal behavior could have been avoided if people would have listened years ago, even just four years ago.

Change is long overdue. Inequality and racism must end.

[Source: ABC News]