Widespread protests this summer triggered by repeated, unjustified (7 shots in the back is hard to justify) police shootings of black people sends a clear message that racial injustice still exists in America, despite what Nikki Haley told you, and that there is widespread sentiment against it. These audacious police shootings are the result of racism and bad policies that allow police immunity. People are sick of it. The police think they are so immune that they keep doing it right in the lens of streaming video. Everyone with a brain understands that elimination of police forces is not the answer. “Defunding” is simply the shorthand slogan for fixing the problem. By creating this unfortunate slogan, subject to misunderstanding and manipulation, the protesters have played right into the Trumpers’ hands.
The protests are mostly peaceful, but anarchists on both sides have been keen to exploit them into violence. Just look for the out of towners, with Trump flags or just plain thugs, and you can sort out the anarchists from the protesters. Listen to the protesters and arrest the anarchists, who are nothing but violent interlopers.
Although the violence is inexcusable, we must look through it and consider the protest message. It is a valid one and the federal posture to contain it with force is misguided. Mark Meadows’ tunnel vision about force on Meet the Press (August 30) was astonishing. His/Trump’s offer of more federal force was his only solution to the nationwide protests. He didn’t even consider that acknowledgment of a problem, discussion of underlying causes, and examination of possible solutions was a possible alternative to force. His spin was a perfect representation of Trump’s bully philosophy – might makes right. The same philosophy as Trump’s US foreign policy – forget diplomacy, slap on sanctions, and build up the army.
The overt support of anti-protest anarchists (such as the defense of Kyle Rittenhouse’s murders), a more subtle encouragement through silence of Trump flag wavers in pickup trucks shooting protesters, and Conway’s comments that this violence could be good for Trump’s election is reminiscent of Hitler’s and Stalin’s playbooks. Is this where America is headed? Trump refuses to own these issues, which are occurring on his watch (he already ran in 2016 on “law and order”; how is that working out 4 years later?). He wants you to be so fearful that you will welcome his marshal rule. When Pence tells you that only Trump can ensure that American virtues survive, he is either delirious or lying through his teeth.
Some of America’s greatest moments have been reactions to widespread sentiment. This is one of those moments. Trump would have you believe that this summer’s protests are mere exceptions in Democrat enclaves. They are not. The whole world knows that. And Congress is asleep. All of it is shameful.