Casually designating an ideology a "terrorist organization" to justify mass murder of political dissidents.

Neat.

Some people only want to push the narrative that supports their short-term goals of ignoring injustice in any way they can. Some people just want to cover their ears and close their eyes and make childish baby noises until it's all over because systemic racism doesn't affect them. 

The term 'check your privilege' exists for these people. I've learned that no amount of compassion or reason or 'bigger picture' talk gets through to them, becuase the bigger picture was never actually their goal. They say it's about the greater good, but it isn't, just like how it is for those who deny climate change or are anti-vaxx or claim that 'all lives matter'. IT's not about the bigger picture, it's about whatever path allows them to avoid the most strife; it's about whatever they can do to avoid taking responsibility for their actions; it's all about the path of least resistance in quest for the most short-term gains. 

I don't like violence - I think I've said that enough to make it clear - but riots and violent uprisings are sometimes the only way to make positive, long-term change. I wish it wasn't (I would like to think that we as a species are above that, but clearly not), but it is. Slavery didn't end over a lengthy conversation at dinner. Segregation didn't end over a friendly game of squash. Nazis didn't see the error of their ways due to some scathing criticism through the media. sure, Ghandi did some good by peacefully obstructing the path, but he's the exception as opposed to the rule. In reality, you have to fight to make change. If someone's coming at you with a knife, you take action, you don't just plead with them. If your house is on fire, you don't peacefully leave and find a new home, you fight that fire and you put it out. 

If an issue needs attention, it needs attention. Simple wellwishing won't do shit. I wish it did. We all wish it did. I hoped the world wouldn't come to any of this, but it has. Systemic racism in the US is a very deep-cutting issue (one that got worse ever since Trump got elected, since his blatant racism and xenophobia emboldened those who used to know enough to keep their shitty opinions to themselves), and it has been for a long time and will continue to be unless progress is made. 

They tried kneeling at football games. but that didn't work. 

They tried all manner of peaceful protests, but it's still happening. 

they tried the path of peace and unity, but it didn't work. When all else fails and violence is all you have left, it's the only language that makes the oppressors listen. At this point, it's less a matter of 'please don't disproportionately murder and target black men' and more a 'okay, you keep disproportionately targeting black men, I guess we gotta start burning down buildings to make you realize we're serious about this.'

Nobody wants violence, but 70 fucking years of peaceful protests and black men are STILL treated like garbage and unfairly targetted? Yeah, maybe some buildings need to burn. I'd rather burn down a Target than have more black men killed by callous, racist officers in a heartbeat. 

In order to give Trump a nice little photo-op, Federal Police gassed peaceful protesters and attacked another person in the media. This was live on Australian television:

This is getting to the point where the local government is having to say "this wasn't us":

The Federal Government is seizing power. They are overstepping local authorities and escalating conflicts and I see no implication that their is any sort of accountability here. This is authoritarianism.

I can't actually speak of the intrinsic issues within the Police force of the United States, only my experience with the Police force of Australia as I have worked with them at most rescues to various degrees and cannot rate them highly enough.

But like any "group" of people, you are going to have exceptions to the rule. I.E. You will have a wanker.

Typically in the fire agencies we are trained to put ourselves first, then our crews and then the public, I just assumed it is the same for all agencies across the world as it's part of your typical dynamic risk assessment model.

Not here it didn't.

Nor is it hypocritical. Again... I do not EVER condone acts of violence, there is never an appropriate excuse to be violent.

The trans women should not have thrown the brick.

Because violence is abhorrent, wrong and disgusting? Again, you are framing this in a way where I am anti-African American and Pro-Police, that couldn't be further from the truth.
I am against the violence from both sides, I have taken the empathic high ground on this.

And I can provide my opinions wherever I see fit within the rules of the forum, don't like it? Then with all due respect, feel free not to read it, but the American constitution has not and will not have any relevance to me.

No. I identify the differences, but I am also pointing out the commonality.
They are both descriptors for groups of people.

Yes race is different than a profession, again, never disagreed with that, making your tangent irrelevant.

No. No. And No.

I am not being silent (My comments on this thread is anything but silence!) and neutral in their fight, that is your words, not mine.

I am condemning their illegal actions, whilst supporting their rights to take proper, legal, civil courses of action.

And I am condemning the police officers illegal actions, whilst supporting their rights to take proper, legal, civil courses of action.

Both sides are as bad as each other right now with the escalating violence.

Being African American or a Police officer does not give you a free pass to needlessly destroy life, property and the environment, that's not legal, that's not what we expect from a civil, highly advanced society, anyone who defends those kinds of actions are lacking any real kinds of empathy... And that doesn't sit well with me.

The national guard has arrived in my city and we're currently under a strict curfew. During a protest in my city the other day a kid was shot in the face with rubber bullets by police and was injured really badly. Cries for justice shouldn't be met with discriminate violence.

Violence by the oppressed is not the same as violence by the oppressor.

Period.

There is no moral equivalence between "both sides" when they stand on such different ground.

"It's the only language the powers that be understand."

>They also understand being voted out of office.

I've been wronged more by members of the general public than by police.

Nothing.

So what changes do you propose?

"Police are "supposed" to be held accountable. But so many times they aren't."

>Here's a sobering fact of life: a great number of crimes go unsolved.

I fear part of the reason for that is in court cases, the defendant is given benefit of the doubt and it's up to the prosecution to prove their case. Not always an easy task and when a police officer is involved in a case of police brutality, they too stand to benefit from doubt. The prosecution has to prove their case and sometimes, the evidence isn't there in sufficient quantity or quality to guarantee a guilty verdict. At other times, I imagine some prosecutors are unwilling to try a case because of not enough evidence to go on and because you only get one shot at a guilty verdict, double jeopardy ensuring you cannot retry someone for the same crime...

I should make it clear that I'm not a lawyer but that's what I'm seeing based on what little I know...

"They tried all manner of peaceful protests, but it's still happening."

>And the most violent of protests will not guarantee it will stop happening.

The very nature of this business, law enforcement, means there will always be confrontation in some way and of some kind. You can enact whatever measures you want but there will always be potential for something going wrong at some point in some way. Someone will get careless, someone will get lazy, someone will get nervous, someone will get fed up, someone will get confused, someone will get panicky, someone will get murderous, someone will get forgetful.

Shit's fucked up yo but if you've got an idea, go ahead and share it. I'd love to hear it.

First bolded: Yes, if that's your stance then you are most definitely being hypocritical. Pride was born out of the protesting against police brutality too (your country's queer history includes this as well) and for many countries the first Pride were riots and protests that were violently escalated by the police. If you don't want to talk about UNITED STATES history and don't give a shit about the UNITED STATES constitution and how both of those relates to and influences UNITED STATES politics then don't come in a UNITED STATES thread and tell people in the UNITED STATES how to express their rights given to them by said constitution! Simple as that. If you're against how queer people around the world got their rights then you should not be celebrating Pride at all. You can't be "anti-riot" and celebrate Pride because Pride, our history, has it's roots in rebellion, riots and protests.

Second bolded: That's a lie, you did disagree when you equated the two. There's seems to be a fundamental misunderstanding coming from you of what the consequences are if you generalize based on these two very different descriptors. The ONLY commonality is that they're descriptors of people. Period. It ends there. Besides that, they are nowhere near the same and should not be described as "equally as dangerous" when people generalize based off these descriptors.

When I said their badge comes off at the end of the day. You said "not exactly..." which tells me you maybe don't grasp the actual seriousness of generalizing people based on race because you so wontonly equate it with a profession and then back up that claim with a statement as ludicrous as "not exactly..." You're still a white cis male (is that how you identify btw??) living in a world where white cis males have certain privileges, one of them is not having to worry about being racially targeted by police. You take off your uniform you can go on about your day without worrying about how people will react/perceive you because of your race. A black firefighter takes off his uniform and he's faced with certain realities that you don't have to face, which is exacerbated by generalizations which can lead to his death. You both can take off your uniform but you can't take off your skin, your still white, he's still black. When you're tired of becoming a firefighter, and the unfair generalizations, you can quit and find a new profession, when he's tired of being targeted and oppressed and generalized he can't quit being black and find a new race. Those generalizations will put his life in danger. The badge/uniform does comes off.

Racism is violence. Generalizing a group of people based on race is racist and thus violent. You can't label racism as "equally as dangerous" as the generalization of people based on a profession.

Like I said before you shouldn't generalize people whatsoever but make no mistake they are very different and have very different consequences.

Third bolded: You literally said "I don't have a side in this" multiple times... And that your neither pro-black people (which I find disgusting that you aren't pro-people) or pro-police... How else would you describe that pretty NEUTRAL stance..?

Giving equal blame to these groups that don't have equal power and turning your nose up at the pleas of the people don't sit right with me. The police have power and authority and they are using that position to commit acts of violence with no accountability, and have been for decades. And your moral stance is "well, a small minority of the protesters shouldn't have gotten angry.. so even though an overwhelming majority were within their rights and protesting peacefully I won't side with/support their whole cause. People should stop generalizing all cops!!"

Exactly what evidence did you produce.  You stated that it takes months to even charge a officer for a crime.  We literally still within a week and the officer was fired and charged.  I know police procedure just as much as you do and I would like you to show me when was 4 police officers fired within days of an incident then also charged without hearing about a formal investigation that usually takes months.

No. Me being hypocritical would be if I supported the LGBTQI community being violent to essentially "get their own way" which is farther from the truth. I have condemned such actions prior even in this thread.

The fact is... You are defending violence, you are defending people who are killing, stealing, destroying life, property and the environment... And you are actually okay with that? Despite the fact innocent people are ultimately loosing out here?

You are turning this into something it isn't.

Correct, I don't give two shits about the United States Constitution, it's not binding to me.

But you bet I can and will talk about the United States and it's Politics and give my perspectives and points of views, again... If you dislike the fact I am voicing my opinion you can simply not read and respond.

Again... I am not Anti-Protest. I am Anti-Riot+VIOLENCE. Learn the difference.

Nah. Again. You are simply twisting this into something it's not, putting words in my mouth and trying to run with a certain preconceived narrative.

The point I am trying to convey is you cannot treat entire groups of people with the same brush. It's as simple as that.

You can either disagree or agree, either way, I don't care.

Or maybe you don't know what it's like to be a first responder?

Again, I am not generalizing people based on race... In-fact, if you actually bothered to read my statements... I am very much against generalizing ANYONE.

Stop putting words in my mouth, especially when I haven't made such assertions, it's fallacious.

Again, you are making this out to be something it's not.
And again, I don't actually disagree with this.

But you are taking my statements outside of it's intended context, which is fallacious... So I highly suggest you drop this narrative and go back to the very beginning of my posts in this thread and read my posts in their intended context, in their entirety.

Or don't. Either way, I don't care. - I will not be replying to any of your tangents going forth if this is the narrative you intend to continue with.

And yes, at the end of the day, I can take off my uniform, but I am still a firefighter, I still have certain community expectations on what I can/cannot do, my identity as a firefighter never stops, even if I were to take on a new profession.

And not all identifiers are visible and readily apparent via an outward appearance... Case in point... The majority LGBTQI community.

And even when I take off my uniform... Protecting life, property and the environment still comes first.

When have I EVER said that Racism is okay? I haven't. I am against Racism, discrimination, bigotry in it's entirety.

Generalizing entire demographics with the same character label is damn well dangerous.
Not all Police are African-American murderers. Not all African-Americans are criminals.

I will leave this meme here as it sums it up perfectly.

Saying I am not "pro-people" is a very bold and false assertion on your behalf.
How many lives have you saved in the last few weeks? Or even your entire life? I think I might have the high ground in this regard.

I am very much Pro-People of Colour, LGBTQI, Womens Rights and so forth. I am not Pro-Unnecessary Violence. Learn the difference, I protect life, not promote it's removal.

I am giving blame to the entire systemic system in the United States that brought forth this issue to start with.

But retaliating and destroying more peoples lives is not the answer. It's never the answer. And as a first responder who puts life first, I will condemn both sides unnecessary violent actions.

Protesting is seen as a legitimate democratic right in most 1st world, democratic nations. - And I most certainly support that.
Rioting, destroying businesses, raping people, bashing people, injuring people... That isn't okay. And it will never be okay, the issue starts from the very top and the American people need to use their democratic powers to enact change appropriately.