I don’t condone violence, but sometimes creating social change e.g., ending systemic racism, requires violence as a catalyst.
Often when protesting injustice peacefully proves fruitless the resulting frustration precipitates violence.
Violence is bad, but so is the indifference to social injustice demonstrated by corporations, police, politicians, the media, and even a cavalier public.
The perpetrators of violence should be held to account.
As well, apathetic leaders, institutions and their enabling constituents should also be held responsible. Sometimes only organized and well-publicized violence motivates positive action.
Violence associated with protest has a rich history of success.
In the early 20th century, violent resistance highlighted injustice and gained basic rights for suffragettes and vital benefits for factory workers.
Race riots complemented peaceful marches in the 1960s and accelerated concessions to the civil rights movement.
Violence triggered by feckless protest demonstrations in the 1970s accelerated withdrawal from Vietnam.
Contrast this with over 3 million who attended the incredibly peaceful, violence-free Women’s March in 2017 to protest threats to reproductive, civil and human rights.
To date, if anything, women enjoy fewer rights today.
Wanton violence should never be condoned. However, history shows us that when pleas for justice are ignored, voices are raised.
Only when our political leaders acknowledge reality, pursue true justice and abandon self-serving politics will violent protest end.
Thomas A. Rogers
Port Angeles