The topic being discussed is whether there is a legitimate defense of rioting and plenty of people feel like it is. For example if the police abuse their powers its just for citizens to riot against the police smashing police cars and throwing bricks at police stations / cameras. Its very easy to justify the legitimacy of this as you are directly disrupting the ability for the police to operate freely.

Looting another citizen is much harder to justify the legitimacy of, disguising looting as rioting makes it easier to do so.