A shattered Statue of Liberty figurine rests among the debris outside a looted souvenir shop, remnants of the protests following the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The chaos spilled over into New York City on June 2, 2020.
I have a friend, Sarah, who lives just a couple of blocks from where George Floyd was killed. When their local Target was looted, I reached out to see how they were faring. Both Sarah and her partner were safe but understandably anxious. They had anticipated unrest for some time and loved their city, recognizing the mounting tensions between law enforcement and the Black community. They believed that, although painful, this turmoil was a necessary precursor to change.
Interestingly, they didn’t blame the Black community for the destruction; they understood that many involved in the riots were outsiders connected to extremist groups. This perspective sharply contrasted with the outrage I witnessed online. Initially, many were horrified by the footage of George Floyd’s murder, but soon the conversation shifted to anger over broken glass, overturned vehicles, and looting. Questions like “What does this accomplish?” and “Why would they harm their own community?” began to dominate the discourse.
It was jarring to see the divide between those who lived through the turmoil and those who simply expressed outrage from afar. What seems to have been lost is the capacity for empathy. People are searching for rationale in the chaos of riots without understanding the deep-rooted frustration that fuels them. Riots are expressions of anger, borne from years of being marginalized and ignored, a reaction to a system that has repeatedly failed to listen.
During my college years, I studied works emerging from the aftermath of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, particularly Anna Deavere Smith’s Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992. This powerful one-woman play presents oral histories from a diverse range of voices impacted by the riots, capturing the complex emotions surrounding that pivotal moment in history. It serves as a poignant reminder that riots occur when communities feel unheard, when their calls for justice and safety go unanswered.
As the protests unfolded, the shattered glass along city streets was a painful visibility of the rage within. Those questioning the violence must contemplate the frustration and hopelessness that leads to such acts. The individuals who seem more distressed by broken windows than systemic injustice often do so from a place of privilege, feeling secure in their surroundings, while many others feel they have nothing left to lose. The reality is, when people feel their voices are consistently ignored, they may resort to extreme measures.
I want to clarify that this isn’t a justification for violence or destruction. Rather, it’s an attempt to explain the circumstances that lead to such actions, especially for those who are fixated on property damage while remaining silent on issues of systemic racism and the unjust killings of Black individuals. We need to shift our focus from the glass on the ground to the broader context of suffering and anger that drives people to riot.
It’s essential to recognize that people have voiced their concerns for years. From high-profile athletes kneeling during the national anthem to community leaders calling for justice, there have been ample opportunities to address these urgent issues. Yet, despite the numerous pleas for change, little has materialized, and here we find ourselves once more confronting the same injustices.
The deaths of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, and countless others are profound injustices that become even more tragic when society remains unresponsive. The real problem is not the looting or the destruction; it’s the urgent need for substantive change—a need that has existed for decades. If we continue to ignore these calls for justice, we should not be surprised when history repeats itself.
Riots are the voice of those who feel unheard, and the only way to prevent them is through genuine listening, understanding, and action. For further insights on this topic, check out our other blog posts here and explore guidance on pregnancy and home insemination at Women’s Health. If you’re looking to understand the journey of couples undergoing fertility treatments, visit Make a Mom for authoritative resources.
Summary
The article explores the underlying causes of riots, emphasizing the frustration of marginalized communities over systemic injustices. It contrasts the perspectives of those who experience the unrest with those who merely comment on it from a distance, urging readers to shift their focus from property damage to the need for real change. The piece also highlights the historical context of civil unrest and the necessity of listening to those affected.
Keyphrase: broken system vs. broken windows
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