Looters ransack Target store

[Nithavela]

Looters have taken over a Target store in the US city of Minneapolis as mass protests escalate following the death of a black man in police custody.
Video posted to social media shows groups of people ransacking the shop, dragging out boxes containing flat screen TVs and other electronic goods.
Some push trolleys full of items taken from inside.

Looters ransack shops as riot police called in following death of unarmed black man

 

[Chesterton]

Please, lets use accurate language. These are not "looters" engaged in "ransacking". These are protesters engaged in protesting.

 

[Tanj]

Mob violence is a weird thing.

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

It almost seems like a regular thing in the US - people start with a protest, and it just ends up with people looting stores for TVs.

No sympathy for them. Call in the army if that's what it takes. At the end of the day not only are these people stupid criminals but they're taking away from the real reason behind the protest.

 

[Radagast]

It almost seems like a regular thing in the US - people start with a protest, and it just ends up with people looting stores for TVs.

That, and burning buildings down.

Among other things, it pushes the rights and wrongs of the original triggering event far into the background. And it reinforces the perceived need to make law enforcement in these suburbs even tougher.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

I mean... the building does have a giant red target on it’s side.

Kinda asking for it if you ask me.

 

[agapelove]

Material things can be replaced but lives cannot. Furthermore people have set things on fire over sports so is this really all that outrageous?

 

[jacks]

Eric July (who I'm a big fan of) posted a video about it...and he makes a lot of great points.

I'm really glad you posted this. It shows that it is really the outliers that get all the press. Everyone will be watching the riots and thinking that is how most blacks feel. How much more effective is a reasonable response that we can all get behind. Pretty much everyone thinks what happened to George Floyd was a terrible crime, let's keep our focus on that and make some changes, not muddy the issue with distracting riots, that separate people further.

 

[Yttrium]

Well, now they've set a police station on fire.

That escalated quickly.

 

[Radagast]

Material things can be replaced but lives cannot. Furthermore people have set things on fire over sports so is this really all that outrageous?

Yes, looting and arson are outrageous.

And lives have been lost in the riots as well.

 

[Radagast]

Well, now they've set a police station on fire.

And a large number of businesses.

 

[agapelove]

Yes, looting and arson are outrageous.

And lives have been lost in the riots as well.

Is it? More outrageous than the number of black lives lost?

I have not heard of any deaths in the protests so where are you getting this information from.

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

That, and burning buildings down.

Among other things, it pushes the rights and wrongs of the original triggering event far into the background. And it reinforces the perceived need to make law enforcement in these suburbs even tougher.

Absolutely. The rioting and general stupidity mustn't be allowed to overshadow the fact that police killed a man who was already on the ground. And it's not the first time either.

 

[iluvatar5150]

Well, now they've set a police station on fire.

That escalated quickly.

TBH, I’m surprised it took this long and I’ve wondered why folks would go after retail establishments instead of police facilities.

 

[Skewpoint]

Well, now they've set a police station on fire.

That escalated quickly.

That at least makes sense regarding the topic of the protest. Still bad, but way more logical than going after Target.

 

[agapelove]

TBH, I’m surprised it took this long and I’ve wondered why folks would go after retail establishments instead of police facilities.

Apparently that particular Target contracts with the Minneapolis Police Department and earlier that day when protesters were trying to come in to get milk for the tear gas they locked their doors.

 

[Sistrin]

Material things can be replaced but lives cannot. Furthermore people have set things on fire over sports so is this really all that outrageous?

Talk about a red herring.

 

[agapelove]

Talk about a red herring.

If you do not see how that is problematic then I'm sure you are as privileged as the people in this photo.

 

[IceJad]

Suddenly COVID-19 is not a thing anymore. Rioting take precedence over concerns. Because they are rioting responsibly with mask and social distancing!

 

[Radagast]

Absolutely. The rioting and general stupidity mustn't be allowed to overshadow the fact that police killed a man who was already on the ground.

And I'd like to know exactly what happened. It certainly wasn't correct police procedure, and so the policemen losing their jobs was obviously justified.

But was it more than that? Was George Floyd on drugs, as has been claimed? If so, which drugs? Was this an unfortunate outcome after a lengthy struggle to restrain him, or was it a crime? What's the "other evidence" that the Hennepin County Attorney was talking about? What was the sequence of events that took place before the video that everybody has seen? Did George Floyd actually resist arrest at all, or did he comply with police instructions?