>Unless, of course, they're a minority protesting a few crowd-approved issues.

Interesting way to describe Americans who are victims of systemic racism protesting for their Constitutional rights.

You miss my point entirely. I support these protests wholeheartedly. I just wish they would support protests on other matters as well.

You don't know who I am. You don't know anything about me. You don't get to make these assumptions. But, in short, the answer is "yes".

You want to know about my grievances?

For years we've stood opposed to police brutality. For years we've stood opposed to no-knock warrants. For years we've stood opposed to qualified immunity and the lack of accountability in law enforcement. For years we've stood for the right to self-defense. For years we've stood for the right to take to the streets in protest of government abuses.

For years, we've held those positions. For years, the mainstream has ignored us at best or, more commonly, derided and decried our positions. We've been called extremists for wanting these reforms.

And now, another group has taken to the streets in protest of government abuses. They've started arming themselves in self-defense. They've demanded police accountability. They've demanded an end to no-knock warrants. They've demanded an end to police brutality. And, crucially, they have mainstream support. Average people are now advocating those same positions. That's great. We can all get along and work together, right?

But no. For some reason, we're called racists. Our positions have been redeemed in the public eye, but we have not. For years, we have aired the same grievances as the current protests, but for some reason we're now smeared as the bad guys. And why? I honestly don't know. Is our support unwelcome simply because we don't use the same buzzwords to describe it?

If I was a racist, then I would not mind being called such. If the company I kept was racist, then I would not mind being called such. But no; they've identified an entire "movement" around rejection of state abuse and somehow labelled that position as racist. All of those policy positions are now called necessary to reform and save America, and anybody who comes out to support them is a hero to the media - unless you wear a Hawaiian shirt in the summer heat, in which case you're public enemy number one.

That is our grievance. (On top of everything else, of course.) We're rightly pissed at being crucified for doing the right thing.

aaand your original comment gets flagged. i have a feeling that if i call that ironic this comment will be downvoted...