I will listen to the piece.

Without saying I agree or disagree, if I take the position that racism in policing doesn't exist, and that the police are treating everyone equally:

America has in prison today almost 0.7% of its entire population. Right now. It is the world's leading jailer on a per-capita basis. [1] Two thirds of private prisons (which lets step back for a second is horrifying as a concept) include minimum occupancy clauses. [2] This is an utter failure of the state in its duty of care to its citizens. To call this a conflict of interest doesn't even begin to do it justice.

The incarceration rate among African Americans is almost 7X that of white folks in America. Criminality and race do not go hand in hand, therefore there exists a real and meaningful problem that is disproportionately affecting a racial group. A social and/or economic problem.

African Americans have way more interaction with police and policing, and even if you believe there's no racial disparity in the way those interactions go down - that instead they're killed and harassed at the same rate as white folks on a per-encounter basis - the fact is they have way, way more encounters per capita. This is likely a function of the society that America has built and fostered.

The reaction and the frustration and the protest is still justified even if you believe that race didn't play a factor in the specific instances, and even if you believe there's no systemic issue with policing.

Now, there's also evidence that there is a difference in how they are treated by police, but I think my argument holds even if you reject that premise.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_incarceration_ra....

[2] https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2015/jul/31/report-find...

> if I take your position that racism in policing doesn't exist, and that the police are treating everyone equally:

Please don't do this. Its obvious OP didn't even remotely mean or say this.

They clearly said that there is some level of racism, not that it doesn't exist at all. Is it the greatest problem facing America? I'd argue its not even in the top 10.

> They clearly said that there is some level of racism, not that it doesn't exist at all. Is it the greatest problem facing America? I'd argue its not even in the top 10.

We can have multiple problems, and we can address them in parallel. We don't have to pretend one problem doesn't exist simply because we run into another.

Of course, why would anyone oppose it. But, we only have limited funds/time/political capital, etc. I think we should give top priority to healthcare/education/jobs/, and use the remaining funds to address other issues.

Thing is they're all tied in together. If you have a class of folks in low socioeconomic standing, leading to criminality, that's costing real dollars - in terms of the legal system, in terms of prisons, in terms of lost income, in terms of healthcare, and jobs. The argument I'm making is they're all the same thing.

true, but let's not put words in peoples mouths.

its bad form

If I did that, it was unintentional. When I noticed how my reply could have been interpreted that way I cleared it up. If I've done so elsewhere please do share, and I'll make the corrections. That's not my intention!

Ok. Do you think the Capitol Police would have been as accommodating if a largely black crowd had tried to take over the Capitol?

This large BLM crowds have the costume of destroy and set fire on anything on their way, just glasses were broken yesterday. If the protestors start destroy everything surely would justify a more strong action.

That was some failed state shit that happened yesterday.

Don't know what the "costume of destroy and set fire" is, but the MAGA folks yesterday had actual weapons.