Snipped the portions that stood out to me. First, thanks for openly stating this is your perspective as one of the protestors. I strongly disagree with most portions of this perspective. I completely disagree that the riots were LE's fault. If you look at the timeline and videos at the scene, the crowd grew unruly, throwing projectiles, flashing guns and firing gunshots, advancing, and threatening LE and other personnel on the ground less than two hours after Michael was shot. Investigators had to stop their work to take cover at times, and detectives had to be pulled into crowd control. SWAT and canines had to be brought, in addition to officers from 15 departments so the investigation could be expedited and Michael's body removed. Black Panthers, Shahid, and Nasheed were there quickly. Shortly after Michael's blood was washed from the street, Baruti was already discussing demands, a sustained movement, bringing in the DOJ. Keep in mind, they had no facts yet. There's a ton of good information and analysis in these threads. Later that same night, the crowd swarmed around police cars, Black power fists raised, screaming they're the KKK. LE responded to the crowd's escalating behavior.
And why did kids have to miss their first days of school, and food be provided, and parents probably miss work and earnings they needed? Because the rioters were out of control and the neighborhood wasn't safe. Businesses were burned, looted, shots fired at police, helicopters, vehicles, Molotov cocktails thrown at people, as well as urine, rocks, concrete blocks, bricks, glass bottles, etc. Not sure where the idea came from that people are "stuck on the riots". Dr King advocated nonviolence and disagreed with the Farakhan/NOI/Back Panther methods. The riots matter, and continued threats to burn down city hall, and the city overall, block highways when it'd put people in danger, surround and beat on people's cars, intimidate people until their demands are met matter too. We've followed many aspects of this case, some even dedicated enough to watch feeds and tweets all night so we don't get just what the media decides is relevant. Ironically, a protestor threatened just a few days ago if things don't go their way, you'd better bring in all the armies.
It's pretty clear to me people flipped out due false and incomplete information, like Dorian stating they just happened upon each other and were walking along the street talking, then Michael ends up shot in the back, falling into fetal position, none of which is true. Shahid was with Dorian, Tiffany, Piaget, and Michael's family; his associates Gray & Bosley become the family's and Dorian's attorneys. Shahid is a racist nationalist separatist agitator, and it's pretty clear he and others decided to use Michael to their advantage. French has already been arrested and seems to be both agitating and exploiting this.
Whether Shahid or McCaskill, acting as if any skin color is preferable over another, for anything, including jobs, is sick and dangerous, IMO. That whole "people that look like us" idea is separatism and segregation and flies in the face of the true civil rights movement, and MLK's judged by the content of their character. And ironically, the protestors have been consistent in screaming in the faces of and taunting black officers more than others. One man told Johnson he wished he was a firefighter so he could be his friend. So, the real issue doesn't appear to be the skin color of others, but a prejudice against LE and authority.
Dream Defenders is connected to the Parks/Crump law firm. Tef Poe, the rapper and protest leader sat next to McCaskill. IMO, Gwen Ifill has a habit of not hiding her biases. What you see as a slanted view because we're not right there with you, may actually be a case of the blind men and the elephant. We may actually have a wider perspective, as we've used many sources, videos, and the voices of lead agitators, attorneys, and protestors for analysis. I'd encourage you to read the threads and links. It looks like a lot of what's been circulated among protestors is false.
Moo
PS Protestors are now saying they are "hunting" Officer Wilson and chanted just last night at the ball game they want Darren Wilson dead. That's not peaceful, that's not about "change".
