Riots in Oakland

I have never understood rioting. How does destroying property make anything right? Especially when you're destroying it in your own neighborhood?

Because they can and do get away with this... They never do any time.. They have the mindset of violence, which makes them no better .

I understand what you mean. I think that when two hundred Christmas shoppers get away with murdering a Wal-Mart employee who did nothing more than show up for work, there are some serious social problems in this country. So, these rioters are just one more group of people acting out the pathology of our culture, in my opinion.

The riot is the voice of the unheard. The powers to be should listen.

Brian has the correct understanding of what is going on.

I've been to Oakland. That place is scary. The part I was in was like something out of a movie, it was so incomprehensibly lawless. Prostitutes walking up and down the sidewalk just 40 feet from the freeway, men standing at each gas pump, strongly encouraging you to let them pump your gas for a "tip." Convenience stores permanently locked behind steel doors--you had to tell the clerk at the "window" what you wanted (chips, soda, etc) and they would go get it and slip it through the window to you.

I've been told by a friend who used to live in Oakland that the area I described is well-known, and that the rest of Oakland isn't like that, for what it's worth. Problem is, the area I described is actually two different places miles apart from each other in Oakland.

[Just wanted to explain Oakland for anyone who's never been there. It's the scariest place I've ever been, and I've been to all the major cities west of the Rockies.]

Brian, I'm confused. Exactly what are they saying?

" Brian, I'm confused. Exactly what are they saying? "

I'm not Brian, but I'll take a shot at this. Looks like that they are saying that when a Cop kills an unarmed man, they have the right to burn innocent citizen's cars and smash the store windows that belong to innocent citizens. That's the only thing that I hear them saying.

The cop who did this should be punished to the full extent of the law if he is found guilty. I do believe that cops are becoming more abusive these days. However the actions of these rioting thugs are inexcusable. Damaging the property of innocent civilians in a violent attemp to protest only sends the message that these morons are violent thugs.

horrible

I misquoted slightly, it's been awhile but concept is the same.

"A riot is the language of the unheard."

Source: Martin Luther King

Dr. King never suggested rioting but suggested understanding the roots of a riot and a riot is really the language (or voice if you will) of the unheard.

i think rioters are a bunch of animals. I don't think they really cared about that unarmed man,they as well as any rioters just used that as an excuse to show their true colors.there is no possible reason for Americans to act like such low class trash

It is a "pack" mentality really. And it scares the hell out of me when it does happen.

I think what the rioters are saying is that they are pis*ed off. Rioting and violence doesn't help but we are dealing with a lot of people that are not thinking logically at this time.

It's an interesting thing to get into the heads and lives of those who are rioting because of this incident, and police brutality in general. Unfortunately, I see all too many incidents of police violence on You Tube these days. The police are out of control and believe they can do whatever they want. Those of us who do not live in those areas really do not understand how this happens on a daily basis in their lives.

Right is right and wrong is wrong - two wrongs don't make a right. I believe it's frustration with being helpless, just as this young man was who was shot.

They are now ruthless with their new toys, the tazers (sp?). They use them over and over, for no reason other that the power rush it gives them. An 82 yr. old woman was tazered and died. Why in the name of anything honorable, would they be justified in tasering this woman?

Locally, caught on video, this cop tazered this woman, who was drinking, over and over and over - when she was down on the ground, after she hit her head on her car on her way to the ground from a tazer. Then, when succumbed, and handcuffed, in the back of the police car, he opened the door and did it again!!!

We have turned into a police state right under our eyes. Look at the riot gear and the guns they carry - unreal!

As a point of information: I heard on the radio, today, that the officer who shot the man believed he had his tazer in his hand rather than his pistol. (I personally think that's preposterous!) The officer has resigned. I wonder if it is proper procedure to tazer someone in the back, however. I can see why the people are angry about the incident. In some neighborhoods, across the United States, there are rogue cops who don't protect people or enforce the law. Instead, they treat people with contempt. I don't know if they just become hardened because of their constant exposure to the worst elements of society, or if they are some how predisposed to this mentality before they become police officers. I suppose it is a little of both. The facts support the notion that in African American communities, there is more police brutality. So, prejudices and stereotypical viewpoints must be at play, here.

I definitely agree that the looters who take advantage of mob action are criminals and nothing else. There are many people who use a situation, such as riot, to better their own materialistic needs. I saw this in 1968 on the west side of Chicago after Martin Luther King died. Everyone understood that people were mourning and angry about a senseless murder without a suspect in custody. I never for once believed that that gave the right to people to loot stores and destroy the commercial enterprises of the area. Two wrongs do not make a right. I'm afraid that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

" I think what the rioters are saying is that they are pis*ed off. Rioting and violence doesn't help but we are dealing with a lot of people that are not thinking logically at this time. "

Still doesn't excuse the thugs damaging the property of people who weren't involved. If these thugs had any balls at all, they would have gone down to the Police station and burned a few crusiers.