Civil Unrest Check-in Thread

I am doing fine here in Jacksonville.  As a plain clothes detective  I am probably the last person to get called up but it's a very real possibility. 

I am not particularly happy with the nonsense going on in my city and across my country.  One of my brother officers got stabbed in the neck last night by a "protester".  I am sure he totally deserved it based on the actions of some unprofessional poorly trained officer clear across the country.

My wife has had probably 30 people call or message her asking if I am OK.  That sucks for her, it sucks for my two small children

My big question is where is this outrage every night in Jacksonville when one gang member shoots another one.  What about the little kid that was shot a few weeks ago that was caught in a drive by.  It saddens me that the media and the country only cares if it is a white officer killing a black person.

89 police officers died last year serving their communities.  I didn't see any protests or looting on their behalf.  

mazdeuce - Seth said:

I just want to remind everyone that this thread is more of a "check in and make sure you're doing ok" that a "let's fix race relations in the country". I understand anger and fear and that a lot of you are close to the events out there. We can't let this thread devolve into a political debate, not on GRM, it won't stay open if it does. 

Just think this needs to be repeated on this page of the thread.

Similarly lots of rumor flying around here, but I'm ok.

So far so good in this part of Portland. This is day two of an 8p-6a curfew. Seems like all the protests stay downtown and don't cross the river. Hopefully things are quiet tonight.

I didn't know Cleveland had a curfew until I got home (at about 9) and saw an article about who was doing what.

Very sleepy here.  According to the article, there were peaceful protests downtown but some bad actors came in and they had to disperse.

All the same, I kind of wonder in the back of my mind why I smell burning wood and paper.  Half the people around here have firepits, and I don't hear any sirens, but, back of the mind, you know?

No real effect here, but about 15 minutes drive north in Wilmington DE protestors closed down I-95 in both directions and the state police were using the local mall parking lot as a major staging area. There was some rioting and looting downtown. 
 

Where are the DC protests relative to things like the Smithsonian?  I doubt the looters would target them but it would be extra unfortunate if artifacts got stollen, defaced, or damaged.  

My town had planned coordinated looting go off today.  A poster was spread on FB saying to hit the mall at 3 pm and steal stuff.  So at 3pm 75 ish people showed up, broke into old navy, Macy's and 2 shoe stores and stole stuff.  People thought ahead and brought trash bags to Old Navy (I'm not kidding, it was live streamed by the news as they saw the FB post and were ready).  Apparently it has calmed down but they broke into Best buy also.  About half of our retail stores were closed early and Sam's basically barricaded the front door 2-3 pallets deep of water bottles to try to discourage any "demonstrations".  

We apparently also had peaceful protests at various locations, now no one is talking about those.  I work on campus at our local college and they are saying don't go to work tomorrow/this week as they have received threats of vilance against the school property.  

So good here in Champaign Il for now?

https://www.facebook.com/100001060962088/posts/3190749747637026/?d=n

Lexington seems to be doing ok so far.

pimpm3 (Forum Supporter) said:

 

89 police officers died last year serving their communities.  I didn't see any protests or looting on their behalf.  

Did any of them die by being held down to the ground' with a knee to the neck for 9 1/2 minutes while pleading for their life, handcuffed and unarmed?

That may come across as harsh to some of you. I generally stay out of political threads, but this is a strawman argument and I'm going to point it out. People are upset, and they have every right to. The systematic and blatant racism towards persons of color, and especially black men, by the police forces in our nation is sickening and inhumane. If you don't agree with that statement, you should check yourself.

/rant by a retired Federal Law Enforcement Officer

Well there is now rioting in Dallas less than a mile from the house we lived in 2 years ago.  I'm now wishing we had mover farther out.

It's funny how you read and hear a lot of support for "peaceful protestors."   Yes the 1st amendment protects the right to peaceably assemble.

Once you start throwing objects, attacking others, blocking roadways, setting fires, stealing, all of that goes out the window.  At that point one becomes a criminal violating the rights of others.  Two or more wrongs do not make a right and will never resolve any issues.

To me this is all a result of the massive failure of our public education system.  This is what you get when you have lots of stupid people.  Education is the only cure.  

We are all safe here, but I can assure you that safety is in grave danger here and elsewhere unless control is wrestled away from the stupid quickly.  

Downtown Seattle caught it pretty good and now Bellevue, across the lake, has a curfew from riots today. There was a rumor that "emerald city antifa" was gonna come out to my town and "bring the riots to small town america" and the response here is around a thousand locals on 1st and 2nd streets havin a lil street party whilst happening to be armed to the teeth, defending their fave watering holes, oh and also swat on the rooftops. LOL. I think I won't worry about antifa here. 

Looting has started in Oak Lawn.

We're still okay here, but I will be up all night so my family can sleep.

In reply to Jay_W :

Rumor Mongering is not appropriate here

In reply to Jay_W :

Same thing happened in my small town. It's all just bullE36 M3 facebook rumors started  by idiots at best and Russian troll farms at worst. 

Cooter said:

mazdeuce - Seth said:

I just want to remind everyone that this thread is more of a "check in and make sure you're doing ok" that a "let's fix race relations in the country". I understand anger and fear and that a lot of you are close to the events out there. We can't let this thread devolve into a political debate, not on GRM, it won't stay open if it does. 

Just think this needs to be repeated on this page of the thread.

Needs to be repeated again.

In reply to Justjim75 :

The most recent news report (11pm Sunday night): https://www.startribune.com/officials-back-off-after-first-blaming-outsiders-extremists-for-twin-cities-violence/570906572/

But data from Hennepin County showed more Minnesotans were arrested in protest areas of Minneapolis than people from out of state.

Of those booked, 47 were from Minnesota and 10 listed addresses from out of state, according to data for jail bookings likely associated with the protests. And of the Minnesotans arrested, 21 were from Minneapolis and St. Paul while 26 came from outside the two cities.

The arrests after curfew included five Minnesotans who were booked on weapons charges along with two others — one from Nebraska and another from Illinois.

The Hennepin County jail bookings also showed that 13 Minnesotans and two people from out of state were arrested before Saturday's curfew when a massive law enforcement force, which was beefed up by thousands of National Guard soldiers, swept across the city to push curfew violators off the street and stymie violence.

It appears more Minnesotans than out-of-area protesters also were arrested on Friday — a night of mayhem when businesses, cars and dumpsters were set on fire. Of those booked in Hennepin County after the 8 p.m. curfew, 17 were Minnesotans and two appeared to have come from outside the state. Earlier in the day, 12 Minnesotans were arrested compared with five with out-of-state addresses.

Saturday arrest data was not available from Ramsey County on Sunday.

I will note that this is incomplete data, since the numbers from Saturday and Sunday aren't included.  Also, it's the numbers of people arrested, and not the numbers of people in total so there well could be more people here from out of state that they don't know about. As for specific groups, at the news conference that was held 10:30pm Sunday night they said there were indications of both white supremicists and antifa being present, but numbers weren't known.

Finally, per Seth's post above, this isn't the place for political arguments.

In reply to Cooter :

Wow you're close. I'm at 103rd and Vincennes. 

Gulf on 99th and Halsted was being smashed and looted as I drove by at 23:45. Wagreens on 103rd and Michigan was on fire earlier. Walgreens at 95th and Ashland was looted. The beauty supply at 95th and Halsted was too. Lots of sirens etc tonight. Also had a shooting on 108th and Green and 115th and Halsted.

Brother is a copper in 018 and Uncle in 001. Quite a mess across the city today.

Javelin (Forum Supporter) said:

pimpm3 (Forum Supporter) said:

 

89 police officers died last year serving their communities.  I didn't see any protests or looting on their behalf.  

Did any of them die by being held down to the ground' with a knee to the neck for 9 1/2 minutes while pleading for their life, handcuffed and unarmed?

 

 

That may come across as harsh to some of you. I generally stay out of political threads, but this is a strawman argument and I'm going to point it out. People are upset, and they have every right to. The systematic and blatant racism towards persons of color, and especially black men, by the police forces in our nation is sickening and inhumane. If you don't agree with that statement, you should check yourself.

/rant by a retired Federal Law Enforcement Officer

How is stating the fact that 89 police officers died in the line of duty a strawman argument?  

The awful police officer that put his knee on the neck of George Floyd was completely wrong and terrible, I am 100% in agreement with you on that.  He has been fired, and arrested for his crime.

I just feel that burning down the country and stealing from innocent businesses owners is ridiculous and ignorant on so many levels.

"The systematic and blatant racism towards persons of color, and especially black men, by the police forces in our nation is sickening and inhumane."

I don't agree with this statement at all because it is false.  I am a professional and am not racist.  The folks I work with are as well.

Its interesting that many people were calling for body cameras expecting to catch police being unprofessional etc.  At least in my agency the, complaints dropped off by a huge percentage and prosecution rates are quite a bit higher. It turns out a vast majority of officers are doing the right thing.  

stuart in mn said:

Cooter said:

mazdeuce - Seth said:

I just want to remind everyone that this thread is more of a "check in and make sure you're doing ok" that a "let's fix race relations in the country". I understand anger and fear and that a lot of you are close to the events out there. We can't let this thread devolve into a political debate, not on GRM, it won't stay open if it does. 

Just think this needs to be repeated on this page of the thread.

Needs to be repeated again.

And again. This discussion is fraught with danger already. If you find yourself bringing other topics to this topic, then you are escalating it into an argument. Don't do it. 

Margie

Thank you Margie and Seth. I'm already watching my home (and others) burn. I don't think anyone needs to armchair qb this one. 

thatsnowinnebago (Forum Supporter) said:

So far so good in this part of Portland. This is day two of an 8p-6a curfew. Seems like all the protests stay downtown and don't cross the river. Hopefully things are quiet tonight.

They crossed to MLK and Lloyd Center Mall area the last couple of days.  Since much of it was considered "downtown" it doesn't get mentioned as much.

I have family that lives within a few blocks of Lloyd Center, so that is a bit concerning, but there's not likely to be any issues for them.

Being out in SE, things have been a bit more subdued (if that were truly possible), but traffic seems a bit higher thanks to surrounding counties opening up a bit.

As a former Atlanta resident who moved far far away to a mountain in Alaska, I miss Road Atlanta, Waffle House, and wearing shorts most of the time but given the last 3 months I'm glad I'm here now.

Good luck to everyone to personally stay safe as well as your homes and businesses.

Brief update from Cleveland.  I need to drive thru downtown  to work, which became abit more challenging today as the downtown exits from the hwy are all closed using snowplows.

Another side effect of this idiocy: we have pre/post transplant patients canceling their clinic appointments because theyre worried about getting here safely.

The Akron rioting mainly occurred within view of my son's apartment building.  Fortunately they weren't there Sat night. He ended up going there yesterday morning and other than boarded up windows and LOTS of police, it was quiet at that point.