There is so much tragedy happening in our country on what seems like a daily basis. There are active terrorists planting bombs, innocent people are getting killed by police, and police are getting killed by people in return. No matter what your opinion is on these topics, I think we all can agree that something needs to change in order for this country to not completely fall apart. There is no presidential candidate, congress member, or anyone for that matter who can stop people from having pure hate in their hearts.
One thing people do is protest. Protesting is an American right given to us by the first amendment which allows freedom of speech. People stand up strongly for issues that they do or do not believe in. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. The first amendment does not give us the right to freedom of speech by acts of violence. One thing that has never solved any problems is violent protesting.
The tragic police shootings have brought about extremely resentful people wanting justice which I think is completely understandable. I am all for justice if you are obtaining it in the right way. I do not believe in killing or harming any individual to get a point across. I do not believe in looting and destroying a city based off of anger. After the recent protests in Charlotte and seeing people that I know become personally affected by it, I am fed up. It doesn't matter if you believe black lives matter, blue lives matter, all lives matter, violence will never be okay. Here are five reasons why I think violent protesting is never the answer.
1. Violent protesting is a distraction from the real issue.
When protesting leads to the loss of lives and serious injuries, then it becomes pure rebellion. There is no excuse for it, it's counterproductive, and it is taking away from the real issue. It distracts from legitimate questions about police conduct and wrongful death.
2. It feeds the media.
When you see violent protesting taking place, like in Charlotte for example, it is going to be all over the news. There is live coverage on every station and I personally think that it is such a depressing thing to watch. It doesn't seem real when you are literally watching these cities fall apart all while being filmed. It provides the media with pure negativity and hate for the whole nation to see.
3. Peaceful protesting is much more effective.
Nonviolent protests and demonstrations draw positive attention and people who want to actually help the cause. Violent protests lead to an exponential amount of hate. It is just an effort in creating fear and normally leads to more hostility. If you are protesting because you or a certain group of people are not being treated like human beings, it helps to act like one rather than to act like animals. This is something that Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi lived and died for.
4. Cities are terrorized and safety is in jeopardy.
During violent protests, cities have to set a curfew just to make sure its residents are out of danger. People leave work early, events get cancelled, etc.. and even then, they aren't always in the clear. Violent protesting often comes with torching buildings, looting, and sometimes even open gunfire which throws any type of safety for the residents out the door. People are scared to walk outside in fear that they will get hurt or maybe worse.
5. Violent protesting is not what the families of the victims deserve.
The amount of lives lost due to police brutality is truly sickening. If it makes me feel the way that it does, then I cannot even fathom what the families and friends of the victims go through. It is all so terrible and preventable. The last thing they want to see is horrific violence and other innocent lives being lost in return. It solves absolutely nothing and it never will.
"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it." -Martin Luther King Jr.
