Why is there no theory of the just riot? (2021)

Re:Why is there no theory of the just riot? (2021) by ixtli on Friday January 28, 2022 @11:10AM (#30116475)

Absolutely fair argument. I don't live there so im not gonna comment to deeply here, but one thing i know to be true is that by and large the people who were participating in the demonstration were also members of the community. This doesn't necessarily justify harm done but it makes their view just as relevant as someone who is more successful than they are. (Though notably it wasn't just the poor demonstrating.)

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why is there no theory of the just riot? (2021) by mc32 on Friday January 28, 2022 @11:17AM (#30116603)

Mobs are hard to control. Negative elements tend to take over and the crowd often follows the flow.

Ofyen times thieves, corrupt politicians, bad businesses, etc., are part of a community. A community includes all. Good and bad. Saying “but they were part of the community does not speak at all to their intentions.

Even in families, when someone is irrationally upset they may do things they regret later on. Even the self can do irrationally negative things to itself.

We should still be able to revisit events and determine what was bad and could be prevented and how we can provide tools for people to prevent a recurrence. Also highlight the good that might have come out.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why is there no theory of the just riot? (2021) by colpabar on Friday January 28, 2022 @11:16AM (#30116583)

Usually the term "demonstration" refers to something like a march, sit-in, or some other form of non-violent protest. We're not talking about that, we're talking about people destroying private property.

> by and large the people who were participating in the demonstration were also members of the community

Does that make it okay? Just because someone lives close to a business doesn't give them the right to destroy it. It seems that you would be ok with it happening to your business, but I bet 99% of small business owners would not.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why is there no theory of the just riot? (2021) by ixtli on Friday January 28, 2022 @05:51PM (#30121582)

The supposition that demonstration doesn’t include obstructing or destroying property is relatively new. When I say demonstration I mean it to include everything from drum circles in zucotti park to the 60s civil rights demonstrations which locked down cities and towns to the events which triggered the Bolshevik and Cultural revolutions and the de-colonization of India.

To think that change happens without damage to property or obstruction of daily life is historically inaccurate and myopic.

[ Parent | on HN ]