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Talon Issue 2 Volume 13 Opinion
It’s Time for Change In U.S. BLM Protests, Capitol Riots Treated Differently The Black Lives Matter movement is a campaign protesting police brutality and racially motivated violence against Black people and other people of color. It highlights the demeanor of some white people who shamelessly display their concept of white privilege. The movement started around 2013 but has recently gained more attention out of necessity in society. There have been numerous unnecessary deaths from police brutality in the last several years. Examples of the extreme force used by police include choking, obstruction of the airway, shooting, beating, tear gas, tazing, etc. Some deaths have gained more media coverage than others, such as Breonna Taylor and George Floyd’s deaths that are now notably recognizable. NBC News reported that the risk of being killed by the police is more pronounced for Black men, who are 2.5 times more likely than white men to be killed by police, while Black women are 1.4 times more likely than white women to be killed by police. These tragic deaths, as well as countless others, have brought about unity and support in the movement to end racism and police brutality. This movement has given some déjà vu of the 1960s Civil Rights protests. To many, it is like nothing they have ever seen before and have only heard about in textbooks. The Black Lives Matter protests are inclusive, as any individual is
welcome to join and show support. Protests rang out in several cities. Thousands of people united for a common goal: justice for Black people and other people of color against violence from law enforcement and to change the negative attitude toward people of color and their culture. BBC News reported that the vast majority of protests across the United States were peaceful, although there were some high-profile confrontations and clashes between protesters and police. However, the National Guard was sent to protests by former president Donald Trump. These were the same people who were sworn to protect and serve all Americans, yet it seemed that they were there to intimidate protestors. USA Today reported that Trump called for a tough response to the protests in order to “dominate the streets” and threatened to call in active-duty troops to quell unrest in cities where local authorities were unable to do so. NBC News reported that Trump took the drastic step of sending thousands of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. They were not sent to repel a foreign attack on the nation’s capitol but to mobilize against American citizens peacefully protesting the senseless killing of George Floyd. Peaceful protestors were shot with rubber bullets, sprayed with tear gas and beaten. On Jan. 6, insurrectionists, including Trump supporters, white
Written by Fallyn Kowalski supremacy groups like the Proud Boys, several military personnel and veterans and other militia-type individuals gathered outside the U.S. Capitol. Many protesters believed the Nov. 3 presidential election was stolen from Trump. The Associated Press reported that none of the assertions about a stolen election were true. Each person had a different intent, but USA Today said that the insurrection illuminated how far Trump supporters were willing to go to vent their anger over the former president’s false claims of a stolen election. These actions were unruly, destructive and an unconstitutional obstruction on the democracy of our government. Some people believe the person who was in charge of bringing in the military to protect the U.S. democracy was the person inciting the riot, although the U.S senate did not convict Trump of inciting the riot during his impeachment trial. The New York Times reported that Trump had urged supporters to go to Washington, D.C., for a “Save America March’’ Jan. 6, when Congress would ceremonially count president-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.‘s win, telling them to “be there, will be wild,” via Twitter. This led to a delay in getting control over the situation earlier because the National Guard was not brought in until the mob had already started destruction of the U.S. Capitol.
