Based on comments on STLToday (the St. Louis Post Dispatch website), many people are saying "thanks BLM". I have never worked security, so perhaps I am being careless (?). But I have been to concerts (in the city back in the day!) and I don't recall much of a police presence. Maybe for directing traffic?
To me, it just seems like "let's give into fear", which is what the police seem to be doing with all of these killings.
Yesterday, they sent many people who work downtown home early, including my son-in-law who works at a garage and they had no business anyway. I am seeing issues with traffic, but I am also seeing people calling this a "riot" and I am not seeing that.
I honestly think if I had tickets to see the U2 show, I would feel just as safe as any other time to go up to the city (I live about 20 miles from the city limit). I would expect traffic to be maybe worse than usual, but I would have expected traffic delays anyway.
To me, it really seems like U2 was saying, yeah, the protesters are a danger, but as far as I can see they are not and they have a right to be out there in the streets. Yes, I have heard the mayor's house was vandalized. I would assume that is where the cops should be. Not blocking the protesters in the streets as I have seen that is mostly what they are doing. And yes, some cops were injured. But not shot, so it's hard to say that is worse than what so many "suspects" have had happen to them.
Fear, and listening to fear is never a good thing. The protesters are tired of being afraid and are trying to say "stop". No one should live their lives based on being afraid (outside of common sense!). Saying "we better not go to this concert" is like giving in to fear. And I really don't think it is the protesters that the people should be fearing.
= new reply since forum marked as read
oh and 'concert'? Crowd vs how many RW provocateurs...these times....dicey....
