The 'People of Ferguson' did not riot and burn buildings

[RobertEarl]

There were a few individuals who did and they should be given trials.

I have read hundreds of comments claiming the people of Ferguson are criminals, and those claims are false and unfounded.

The mass of People in Ferguson have been very peaceful. It makes me cringe to hear the racists spew, again and again, that the People of Ferguson are criminals. It just is not true.

We should not be allowing them to get away with such prejudice and bigotry and telling lies about the good People of Ferguson.

[Socal31]

1. If trying to make a point this drastic...

You've seen hundreds of racist posts on DU, but are basing the intent of the post on semantics.

People of Ferguson did riot. "The" People of Ferguson, as a collective, did not riot.

It all comes down to where the founding fathers intended for the comma....oops wrong subject.

[RobertEarl]

3. Where did I say "on DU"?

I didn't.

Have you proof of your claim that People of Ferguson did riot? You have proof they lived in Ferguson? You know their names and addresses?

Of course you don't. So why would you make such a false claim? Especially right here on DU.

[Socal31]

8. Ah, OK.

I figured the only way one could get that riled up about Internet comments, would be if they were posted somewhere that the comments have a semblance of credibility. I incorrectly assumed you had seen these comments here on DU, not at the bottom of youtube clips.

In reality my post was mainly in jest, although obviously not as clever as I had thought.

[FarPoint]

27. RobertEarl..

You are correct.. Poster lacks any hint of evidence... More flaimbait I sense.

[Live and Learn]

5. Anyone that has spent any time actually following the protests know it wasn't

the people of Ferguson. You post is disingenuous to say the least.

[sheshe2]

2. I am totaly dumdfounded,

you have an OP asking for a fair an impartial trial for Wilson, now this.

You said

Injustice is served as he will have to go thru life being known as the bad cop who shot down an innocent man. The prosecutor in his grand jury hearing denied Wilson justice.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5888518

I am confused where you stand on the issues.

[Live and Learn]

4. Hard to believe this message is so hard to get out even on DU. nt

[RobertEarl]

6. Indeed

Crazy that it even has to be said.

The facts are: Some people, who happened to BE in the city limits of Ferguson, at the time, did commit criminal acts.

Those are the True facts. Any further accusations are unfounded racist and bigoted claims.

[KingCharlemagne]

14. There are actually credible reports that the first police car was set on

fire by someone in the police force setting off a 'flash bang' grenade. It would be very interesting indeed to find out who burned down the Brown family church and who burned some of those businesses on (if I'm not mistaken) Florissant Blvd. We know the KKK was openly inciting riots and it's not much of a stretch to imagine other rightwing hate groups acting to incite the 'race war' they claim to desire and\or organize and recruit around.

[BeanMusical]

18. About the first car...

I was watching many streams and following several people on Twitter and yes, the cops set it on fire themselves. Have no idea about the other car though.

[robinlynne]

24. the Brown family church?

[KingCharlemagne]

26. grammar mistake: should have read

"the Brown family's church."

In case you have not been following the Ferguson-specific news closely, this is only one link of many that cover this mini-tragedy:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/the-brown-familys-pastor-tries-to-make-sense-of-fire-that-gutted-his-church/2014/11/28/15520f3e-7711-11e4-a755-e32227229e7b_story.html

[Strelnikov_]

16. When I saw a map in the Post Dispatch on Wednesday showing the locations

of fires, I became suspicious. Too linear, too long in extent, to be the result of generalized riot. Someone/something was systematically setting fires, vandalizing.

[Wella]

21. Were the fires along major commercial streets and thoroughfares?

I agree with you--a linear pattern is not a random riot pattern.

[Strelnikov_]

39. Yep, major throughfares

Perfect for 'hit and run' by a 'firebug'.

IMHO the majority of the fires were set using the cover of the rioting, and my bet is that the perp(s) were white.

[Wella]

40. I believe the fires were set undercover too

There are a number of possibilities as to real perpetrator.

[Ykcutnek]

7. But all black people are part of the same hive mind!

If one did it, they all did it.

After all, they all know each other.

, just in case.

[RobertEarl]

9. That is what is called racist and bigoted

And is contained in about half of the comments I have been reading on the web.

And some wonder how the country is so messed up.

[sheshe2]

10. Post 2

I asked a question, will you respond please.

[ucrdem]

12. It's a fair question sheshe, and thanks for the link . . .

I think that last one was meant to be ironic, though if I hadn't seen this one, I wouldn't know that. The Colbert technique just doesn't work online and half the time the irony is fake anyway.

But: as far this OP goes I have to agree. I watched some of the online livestreams and it was pretty clear that what I've suspected since at least 92 was in fact taking place, i.e. the violence was largely if not entirely instigated. It was pretty obvious. I haven't found a way to explain it in a way that doesn't sound conspiratorial but that's what I saw happening. Thank heaven it didn't go as planned and the people of Ferguson didn't fall into the trap.

............
p.s. I agree that the other thread is problematic and I'm sorry to see that a reply was hidden.

[proverbialwisdom]

11. Yes, in the absence of evidence demonstrating otherwise, it's wise to be very skeptical. (nt)

[Cryptoad]

13. Seems that most of the People of Ferguson dont ,,,,,

vote locally or they wouldn't be governed by these elected officials who rig the system against them, and ironically, voting is there most powerful protest.

[RobertEarl]

15. Powerful protest?

I dunno.... look at what their protest from August has launched...

In hundreds of cities across the US and even overseas, the Ferguson protests are being supported by other protesters in those far-away lands.

Instead of this just being swept under the rug as have hundreds of other such cases, this one has gone global. The People of Ferguson have created a very large power force which the authorities don't know how to handle.

I get this feeling some big changes will happen from this... how about you?

[Strelnikov_]

17. Goodwin and Schwerner and Chaney

The best outcome was Wilson getting a passer, and how transparent it was that the system had rigged the game.

A critical mass has been attained that now understand the system is gamed. It begins . . .

[Cryptoad]

23. Unless they start going to Polls...

it just the same ole dooky with a new shine,,,,,

[bravenak]

34. Their democrats are not awesome.

The DA is a Democrat, the Governor is a democrat. Do we know if the city council is democratic or republican? It just may be chock full of Democrats too. Who should they vote for?

[Cryptoad]

35. Polictican run who think they can win

why would a progressive bother to run in race where most the progressive dont bother to vote. Form Clubs, encourage progressive people to run, raise money for them, get out the vote for them.....Democrats have primaries too! It didn't take over night to get where we are and its not going to one election cycle to correct it.

[bravenak]

36. Just saying the truth.

Voting doesn't always help if both candidates are similar. I sometimes have a hard time deciding TO vote for a particular office when they both say the same thing. When you have two drug warriors, and hate the drug war, it don't matter who wins. Tha is just one example.

[Cryptoad]

37. It our only viable recourse for change.....!

protest have become meaningless to our present day politicans.

[RobertEarl]

41. Not so

The People of Ferguson showed back in August how to protest and get attention. They did it peacefully and with restraint.

The world took note of their protests and when it came back around via the GJ release, people around the country were proud to stand with the People of Ferguson to demand our rights not be so casually tossed.

This is a moment of great power. Greater than the vote, for it has united many many people under the banner of witnessing the denial of basic human rights. The People of Ferguson have waved that banner in such a way to: one, piss off the right-wing, and two be a fine example of civil disobedience that creates an opening in the wall of the oppressors.

As an activist who has been a part of many protests, I recognize the power unleashed from the People of Ferguson via their protest. It is an amazing feat!! Much better than just voting.

[Cryptoad]

45. But it the same ole Dooky with a new shine,,,,

the same ole people are still making the same ole decisions . They can only be voted out or resign. I have yet to see any resignations but Wilson's but he is only a symptom not the disease.

[snooper2]

29. The same big changes after asshole Zimmerman?

[Kilgore]

28. Ferguson has a historically dismal voting record

Pointed this out in this post. When only 12% vote, you may get a government you don't want.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5881790

[Cryptoad]

30. Seems that pretty much have a government

they dont want.

[Kilgore]

31. And the solution is easy

with the town having ~68% black residents and less than 30% white, the answer is to simply care enough to vote.

[Cryptoad]

32. Cha-Ching! ni

[Revanchist]

38. Since it's already been reported that Ferguson PD hands out tickets/warrants

like they were candy on Halloween I wonder how many citizens of that city are ineligible to vote in the first place.

[krawhitham]

44. +1

[Bethany Rockafella]

19. Agree!

The whole town is labeled as rioters when there's only a small fraction that acted like idiots looting and burn buildings. The rest that participated were peacefully protesting.

[RobertEarl]

42. Thanks, Bethany

The whole town was labeled as rioters and we can't let that label stand.

Because it is a lie.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

20. The media is too scared to talk to The People. They interview "Officials"....

And they report "The Official Version" and take pride in being told by those Officials that they did a good job.

[PoliticalPothead]

22. The people of Ferguson did riot.

But you know what? They are completely justified. When you live in an oppressed community and your grievances have been ignored by the political establishment the only option left is to riot. Does anyone seriously believe that there would be the same amount of media attention if all the protesters were 'non-violent'? Also, does anyone seriously believe that right-wingers would be more open to the demands of the 'peaceful' Ferguson protesters if there were no rioters?

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

33. I get your point for sure, but I am not sure any of the damage was initiated by protesters

I think there is already enough evidence to point to others.

As to if there is a community on earth, surely in USA that deserves to riot, it is the AA community.

But the vast majority wont ever do that, they are too invested and patient.

[treestar]

25. +1 And notice they will be brought to trial

unlike Wilson.

[krawhitham]

43. Of the 60+ arrests the 1st night, only 9 were from Ferguson