Don’t Like Mob Rule? Then Work to Fix Inequality

The past few months have seen a tremendous wave of social unrest in the United States, and some in Canada. This was spurred by the killing of George Floyd, an act so heinous that even noted racist Donald J. Trump called it a terrible thing. A seemingly endless stream of video evidence of discrimination and violence against not just Black people, but BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour), meant these protests have carried on for months, and even threatened to end the seasons of professional sports leagues.

While the protests have largely been peaceful, there has been violence in some American cities. Additionally, many American protestors have taken to tearing down statues of those who they view as oppressive or racist historical figures. Canadians were confronted with this happening on our own soil when the Coalition for BIPOC Liberation tore down a statue of Sir John A. MacDonald in Montreal.

Reaction to this act in Canada was pretty swift and, sadly predictable. Numerous people have decried the action as “mob rule”. Media types who work for outlets with a penchant for Islamaphobia compared the protestors to the Taliban. What better way to both vilify protestors whose philosophy you don’t agree with, than by using dog-whistle type comparisons to get at Muslims you don’t like as well. Kills two birds with one stone, right?

Even our own inept Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, stated that “actions like this have no place” in Canada. Of course we all know what he truly thinks of indigenous people by the way he brazenly attacked his former Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould. Even the pro-Liberal Toronto Star criticized him for it. As for what he thinks of people of colour, well……

The usual argument against these protestors is that they should protest peacefully instead, and of course that allowing this “mob rule” will mean the mob will “come for you and your family” next. Not being satisfied with just going after Muslims, the extreme far right anti-BLM crowd throws in a nice dose of anti-Semitism as well, by suggesting these actions are funded by George Soros.

Generally, there are two types of solutions presented by those who claim they don’t want “mob rule”. The first is to demand a strong response. “Law and Order” is needed they scream. “Keep arresting people until there is no one left to lock up!” Peaceful protests are ok in their eyes (not a peaceful protest like cancelling some basketball games, of course, that’s just wrong), but the tearing down of statues is anarchy and must be met with force.

Many of these indignant types forget that the first tearing down of statues in America happened five days after declaring independence, on July 9, 1776. A “mob” in New York tore down the statue of King George to protest his oppressive rule and unfair treatment of Americans. Sound familiar? Undoubtedly the British viewed such an act as anarchy. Funny how those opposed to the protests don’t mention this.

The second solution offered is one that is promoted by people like Christian Walker (son of former NFL player and Trump supporter Herschel Walker, who is Black) and Sheriff David Clarke (also Black). Their suggestion is that to avoid brutality, one should show follow directions from the police, and learn to respect to the police and institutions. “When a cop gives you a lawful command, OBEY IT.“thunders Clarke.

However, not 30 minutes after reading a Facebook post in which Clarke is quoted as saying “if you want to protect your child, teach them respect”, I came across the following article on TMZ. Have a look at the videos. In the first video, a white man is doing anything but showing respect to the police officer. He is hurling insults, being threatening, using abusive language and doing everything that Clarke and Walker say you should NOT. While the police officer has his gun out (and I would say understandably, given the circumstances), there is no shooting and the individual is talked down.

This policeman in Washington state is super patient with a suspect of white persuasion.

Man, I wish Jacob Blake, and George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor, and so many more had been given this much consideration as human beings… pic.twitter.com/ZsrmFYwhKI

— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) August 28, 2020

The second video, is jarring. A black man is doing EXACTLY what Clarke and Walker suggest. He is standing quietly, not resisting, hands on his head so that the police can see that he is making no sudden or threatening movements. In short, he is co-operating, following the rules, and, as Clarke directed, obeying the police. His reward? To be viciously assaulted by a cowardly drop kick to the back.

I thought all you had to do was comply and you wouldn’t be shot or brutalized by police. 🤔🤔 pic.twitter.com/b1lVsuRx5i

— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) August 28, 2020

And that one comparison symbolizes why the protests are happening. Despite doing what you should do in a lawful society, and following the rules, people are still being targeted for being BIPOC. That’s just the physical violence. All sorts of evidence exists that there is economic discrimination against BIPOCs.

Now to be clear, I am not a fan of violent protests or mobs. Mobs do destabilize society and can cause tremendous unrest, economic damage, and physical harm to innocent people. It’s imperative to find a way to stop them.

But stopping them also means acknowledging the reality that mobs and protests like these only happen because the way society is set up leaves a group of people feeling as if they have no hope for a better future. American Revolutionaries tried to legally express their grievances with England about not being treated equally to other British subjects for years prior to taking violent action. BIPOCs have been asking for true equality for decades (if not centuries). The reality is people usually only turn to violence if they have tried all other methods, and, if they feel there is no hope of a better future. It’s the despair that drives this behaviour and it’s the despair that must fundamentally be treated.

We must prevent “mob rule”. Doing so is the only way to preserve a safe, healthy and strong society. But doing so requires all of us to take a good hard look at persistent inequalities in our society, work to fix them, and thus give hope to people who currently feel none.

History teaches what the alternative is, and we don’t want to go there.