Is your city rioting?

[QuarterMillionMan]

The protests now spread to LAX airport over travel bans at the Tom Bradley International terminal. Back to the ICE protests going into the 4th day. Punks throwing rocks & water bottles at ICE vans, and 1 guy threw a molotov cocktail. Trash cans and trash bins set ablaze. Police cars vandalized. 5 Waymo Jaguar SUV set on fire and burnt to the ground apparently summoned by the protestors for the sole purpose of setting it on fire. Stores looted and vandalized. Graffiti saying "Kill ICE." Blocking the freeways. More protests are planned for today.

[ua_guy]

Most of the violence/property damage are paid bad/actors. This is a poorly coordinated stunt at best. I'm 100% in favor of peaceful protest.

[myrdale]

I think protests raise awareness. If not for what's happening in LA, most of the country would probably have no idea what was going on.

Setting a car on fire is not a protest it's a riot. It doesn't spread awareness, it spreads the terror of when will they come burn your property down.

[kork13]

I think protests raise awareness. If not for what's happening in LA, most of the country would probably have no idea what was going on.

I absolutely don't condone or support violence or property destruction but I'm 100% in favor of peaceful protest.

Oh, I totally agree with you -- I'm fully supportive of the right to protest, as long as it stays peaceful & respects the similar rights of other citizens. It's also part of the whole "support & defend the constitution" thing that I've had drilled into me over the years. If you think protesting will make a meaningful impact & is a worthwhile use of your time, go for it. There has just never been a public issue that I've felt so deeply about that would bring me to waste hours or days of my life chanting slogans on somebody's lawn about it.

I'm also just very cynical about the effectiveness of most protests. Sure, it'll raise awareness if it gets big enough to draw media attention (for however long that lasts) ... but how much change will come about based on "awareness"? I'd argue relatively little, because politics & policy in the US are rarely based on ideas & rationality & logic ... it's all just brinksmanship & party loyalty. And if/when it turns violent/riotous, it's no longer about issues or ideas, it's just raw emotion & aggression, and utterly destructive to ... everything.

[disneysteve]

I will never understand the rioting mindset ..... Or even the idea that anything other than a generally peaceful protest is going to be remotely productive. The minute you start attacking people, damaging property, preventing uninterested parties from going about their lives (ex: blocking a highway) ... You lose all moral authority & nobody's really interested in listening to your issues, regardless of how legitimate they may be. Realistically, I expect that most people involved don't even have an issue or concern they're actually interested in changing.... They're just angry & want to vent their anger in the most child-like possible way.

Truly, I've never seen much productive point in almost ANY protests .... I'd love to see research on how often protests result in meaningful change. I expect that it would be something on the order of 2-3%.

I think protests raise awareness. If not for what's happening in LA, most of the country would probably have no idea what was going on.

I absolutely don't condone or support violence or property destruction but I'm 100% in favor of peaceful protest.

[bjl584]

Nothing here.
The Pirates swept the Phillys this weekend, but no fires, broken windows, or riots as a result.

[kork13]

Here we go again in Los Angeles but on a smaller scale from 2020. Defacing buildings such as, "Fxxx Amerika," car was on fire in Paramount, CA (20 miles from me), protests, etc. I think it'll get worse but I hope not. People are losing their minds.

I will never understand the rioting mindset ..... Or even the idea that anything other than a generally peaceful protest is going to be remotely productive. The minute you start attacking people, damaging property, preventing uninterested parties from going about their lives (ex: blocking a highway) ... You lose all moral authority & nobody's really interested in listening to your issues, regardless of how legitimate they may be. Realistically, I expect that most people involved don't even have an issue or concern they're actually interested in changing.... They're just angry & want to vent their anger in the most child-like possible way.

Truly, I've never seen much productive point in almost ANY protests .... I'd love to see research on how often protests result in meaningful change. I expect that it would be something on the order of 2-3%.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Here we go again in Los Angeles but on a smaller scale from 2020. Defacing buildings such as, "Fxxx Amerika," car was on fire in Paramount, CA (20 miles from me), protests, etc. I think it'll get worse but I hope not. People are losing their minds.

[QuarterMillionMan]

The more footage they release, the more I see how bad it was. In Los Angeles on Venice Blvd and Lincoln BLM has shut down traffic right now but still peaceful (knock on wood).

[QuarterMillionMan]

Los Angeles is fast paced but on a normal day I'd hear 5 - 10 sirens. Last night to this morning I'd estimate 25 sirens. During the height of COVID and the riots/lootings, 40 sirens a day.

[ua_guy]

I hadn't been following the story, but read up on it yesterday. I remember hearing bits and pieces but didn't know they were going to release the tape. His mother? pleaded for peaceful protests. My heart goes out to Tyre's family.

QMM... Isn't that always Los Angeles, though? It's just a fast-paced city and people speed everywhere and there's always lights, sirens, helicopters. No?

[QuarterMillionMan]

Thank God no rioting, nor looting, nor fires. Hope it stays peaceful. But I still hear lots of sirens wizzing past my place which is a major thorough fare.

[kork13]

As long as it stays peaceful, more power to them. Lunatics on social media will always spout their filth, and with the news media basically foaming at the mouth with all the potential drama (not helpful ... maybe even fomenting more trouble than if they hadn't forecasted violent riots), it's no surprise that it's "tense."

Even though I'd never be one to participate in them, peaceful & purposeful protests are a hallmark of our country's democracy ... whereas riots only create violence for its own sake. When people lose control of themselves & become openly hostile, it only creates more problems. Police typically respond aggressively/violently to rioters, and rioters treat ... everybody/everything .... with violence & destruction. Riots only ever lead to far more injuries, death, destruction, fear, and chaos than whatever sparked the demonstration in the first place.

[QuarterMillionMan]

On social media some protest groups are fanning the flames of burning cities down or bringing knives to protests and overrun cities and police departments. It's looking like 2020 all over again. It's peaceful right now in Los Angeles but lots of activity going on. Sirens blaring, helicopters swirling, cars are speeding. It feels tense. I would not be surprised if a curfew might be forthcoming soon.

[QuarterMillionMan]

"As you are aware, the incident involving the death of Tyre Nichols may pose widespread protests with the potential for violence and/or civil unrest. Local law enforcements agencies are preparing for the possibility that the release of the video footage could result in civil unrest. The CEO is recommending that all departments release on-site employees early and maximize telework thru January 29. In an abundance of caution employees that have physically reported to a work site today go home immediately and resume work activities from home."