You Say "Tomato"...

[Bryce]

George Floyd's death sparked heated protests across US as many call for charges against officers

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/28/us/minne ... index.html

Fierce protests erupt after fatal arrest of George Floyd

https://www.msnbc.com/11th-hour/watch/f ... 4011077797

Protesters in Downtown LA Block Freeway, Smash CHP Windows During Demonstration Over George Floyd’s Death

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/loca ... h/2369523/

Protests in Minneapolis over the in-custody death of George Floyd escalated Wednesday night with a fatal shooting near the site of the demonstrations, widespread looting, multiple fires and the deployment of tear gas.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/co ... h-n1216096

So, at what point does a "protest" become a "riot?"

To me, this is a protest:


This is a riot:


I guess some outlets don't like to call a spade a spade. (Note to the ignorant, please see image below.)

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George Floyd's death sparked heated protests across US as many call for charges against officers

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/28/us/minne ... index.html

Fierce protests erupt after fatal arrest of George Floyd

https://www.msnbc.com/11th-hour/watch/f ... 4011077797

Protesters in Downtown LA Block Freeway, Smash CHP Windows During Demonstration Over George Floyd’s Death

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/loca ... h/2369523/

Protests in Minneapolis over the in-custody death of George Floyd escalated Wednesday night with a fatal shooting near the site of the demonstrations, widespread looting, multiple fires and the deployment of tear gas.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/co ... h-n1216096

So, at what point does a "protest" become a "riot?"

To me, this is a protest:


This is a riot:


I guess some outlets don't like to call a spade a spade. (Note to the ignorant, please see image below.)

If I was forced to pick one I think #4 sounds the best... but I agree.... it sure looks and sounds like a riot...

[Deleted User 12047]

So, at what point does a "protest" become a "riot?"

That's a good question. But the bigger question is..
at what point does the questioning of a suspect in a non-violent incident turn into the death of an unarmed person? Call it a riot if you want... doesn't change the underlying facts. And it doesn't make any protesters or rioter right either. But I read all four stories you linked. To me they all didn't shy away from the violence of the situation.

So please... what's your point?

[Rate This]

So, at what point does a "protest" become a "riot?"

That's a good question. But the bigger question is..
at what point does the questioning of a suspect in a non-violent incident turn into the death of an unarmed person? Call it a riot if you want... doesn't change the underlying facts. And it doesn't make any protesters or rioter right either. But I read all four stories you linked. To me they all didn't shy away from the violence of the situation.

So please... what's your point?

He is arguing that the media is purposely avoiding the use of a riot to be politically correct I think... why that really matters in the grand scheme of things I’m not sure...

[screen glare]

Hell yeah! You bet protest is now escalating into riots. And those burning, looting, riots will result in fear and white flight. Just as not too distant history shows us in LA, Detroit, and on other streets of other cities in America.

But whether bloodless protests finally escalate into full scale war in the streets, is the choice of the oppressors. As in The Revolutionary War - that birthed our nation.

Americans must formally, in writing, and by declaration end their tolerance of the constant murders of unarmed African American males by police officers. Period.

Until that deadly, unjust, vast, over decades, American law enforcement practice ends - a FINALLY AND LONG OVER DUE boiling anger response will take us back to the riots of the 1960’s.

Hell yeah. Riots in the streets are upon every American who by silence, indifference, racism have not demanded of all three branches of our government - STOP this systematic mass murder in slow motion of unarmed young black male American citizens by police.

Hell yeah! You bet! In the Revolutionary War spirit of our union’s founding. Act! Or be acted upon! Because every cell phone is a camera. And every citizen a reporter. It’s the NEW media, America. More MOVING (to action) than the pros could ever unwittingly be - with their microphones, hairspray, and lights.

[Bryce]

So please... what's your point?

Several...

Many, if not most, people will read a headline and form an opinion without reading the full article.

From all the evidence that I have been able to find, the police officer involved with the death of George Flyod should be arrested and charged with murder. The fact that he hasn't, is certainly a genuine cause for protest. It is not an excuse for a riot. Yet, that is what has transpired.

Labeling mob violence a "protest" is almost like excusing it.

[screen glare]

BTW - the image used in this thread as an example of a protest - is actually an example of a pro-Trump political demonstration.

[bmw]

Can you even begin to imagine the media reaction if a bunch of white dudes set parts of Lansing on fire as a "protest" against Governor Whitmer's lockdown?

[Rate This]

Can you even begin to imagine the media reaction if a bunch of white dudes set parts of Lansing on fire as a "protest" against Governor Whitmer's lockdown?

One element needed is that they would be setting their own area on fire... so if they want to burn down Perry or Owosso in protest your analogy works... most of the looters are locals taking advantage of no police presence and the stores closing early for employee safety. The protesters are largely from around Minneapolis too. The point that needs to be made to them is that they are only hurting themselves...

[km1125]

.....
Americans must formally, in writing, and by declaration end their tolerance of the constant murders of unarmed African American males by police officers. Period.

Until that deadly, unjust, vast, over decades, American law enforcement practice ends - a FINALLY AND LONG OVER DUE boiling anger response will take us back to the riots of the 1960’s.
....

We need to get rid of the police entirely. That should stop all the "deadly, unjust" force and put and end to the need for any protests regarding them.

Maybe the police officers will just quit. ALL of them. We can figure out what to do next after they're all gone.

[Bryce]

So please... what's your point?

So, it looks like honchos at NBC sent out a directive to its broadcast "journalists." Tell me now it's not agenda driven!

From Craig Melvin's twitter feed:

Craig Melvin
@craigmelvin
This will guide our reporting in MN. “While the situation on the ground in Minneapolis is fluid, and there has been violence, it is most accurate at this time to describe what is happening there as "protests"--not riots.”
11:37 AM · May 28, 2020

https://twitter.com/craigmelvin/status/ ... d-coverage


NBC's Ali Velshi reporting live from Minneapolis last night a little after 11:00 PM local time:

“I want to be clear on how I characterize this. This is mostly a protest. It is not, generally speaking, unruly but fires have been started and this crowd is relishing that,” Velshi told Williams. “There is a deep sense of grievance and complaint here, and that is the thing. That when you discount people who are doing things to public property that they shouldn’t be doing, it does have to be understood that this city has got, for the last several years, an issue with police, and it’s got a real sense of the deep sense of grievance of inequality.”

Does the above sound like reporting to you? Note, "mostly a protest" while doing a stand-up in front of a burning business.

[screen glare]

Bryce - the image you select in your first post as you begin this thread is captioned by you, “To me this is a protest.” As opposed to a riot.

I instead would caption it a Trump reelection demonstration because I count three prominent “Trump 2020” campaign signs/large banner.

I believe this image is just a slice of a much larger gathering - at the Michigan State Capitol that day - where those gathered were also in possession of and displaying assault weapons/long guns/hand guns. Again - yahoos promoting Trump and encouraging those watching to reelect him. More significant promotion than protest.

[Bryce]

Bryce - the image you select in your first post as you begin this thread is captioned by you, “To me this is a protest.” As opposed to a riot.

I instead would caption it a Trump reelection demonstration because I count three prominent “Trump 2020” campaign signs/large banner.

You can caption a tulip as a machine gun, doesn't make it one.

How about commenting on the journalistic bias, which is the reason for this thread, without misdirecting its intent?

[bmw]

Merriam Webster definition of Riot:
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a violent public disorder; specifically : a tumultuous disturbance of the public peace by three or more persons assembled together and acting with a common intent
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Sure sounds like what is happening meets this definition to me.

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Merriam Webster definition of Riot:
------------------------------------------
a violent public disorder; specifically : a tumultuous disturbance of the public peace by three or more persons assembled together and acting with a common intent
------------------------------------------

Sure sounds like what is happening meets this definition to me.

The use of the word riot has been nearly universal the last 2 days...