1. Unarmed black man is shot by a police officer
2. Media firestorm
3. Protests and rallies
4. Outrage
5. Calm
6. Unarmed black man is shot by a police officer
And repeat.
It’s a cycle rooted in centuries of oppression and fear. From Ferguson to Charlotte. From 1619 to today. But arguably one of the most interesting aspects of the cycle is the reappearance of the same question:
“Is violent protesting OK?”
Upon first glance, it might seem to be a harmless question. But let’s break down its actual connotation.
It’s a leading question. It suggests what the proper answer should be, and typically, that answer is no, violent protesting is not OK. It prioritizes certain forms of protests, while simultaneously condemning loud, confrontational events as immoral.
When discussing the shooting of Keith Scott, the media decided to focus on the emboldened reactions of those who took to the streets. Lawlessness and looting were attributed to the protests, which further pushed a narrative about the questionable morality of the protesters involved.
The question in itself is not wholly innocent.
It says to people who engage in contentious forms of protest that they're too loud, their methods are inconvenient and they're ungrateful.
Such assertions are selfish, especially from someone who may not be part of the oppressed group. In situations of outrage, it is not our place to question the reaction of the oppressed, but to analyze and change the behavior of the oppressor.
That’s why we must ask better questions.
Arguably, questions of violent actions and reactions do have their place, but if we want to have a discussion about the issues we see today and how to prevent them, we need to contextualize the protests and analyze what events surfaced to cause the issue in the first place.
The truth is that people interrupt and craft their own space when they feel they have not been heard. That space is not for others’ convenience, nor is it for their debate. It’s about recognizing injustice and countering it.
When we see a trend of public servants killing unarmed black men and then walking away without repercussions, we should ask questions about the underlying causes of that specific phenomenon, not raise questions about the proper way to voice fears and anger.
Still, in the wake of such events, some people advocate for law and order. It’s way past time we recognize that when law and order are built on systems of oppression, it only makes sense that some of the most oppressed will join together and reject it.
The question isn’t about what form of protest is OK. It’s about why people feel the need to protest in the first place.
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It’s simple. Think about it.
