Here in CLT watching everything go down from hotel window. Crazy stuff.

And yet, when non violent protests occur, i.e., players taking a knee during the national anthem, they're vilified. 'Murica. Home of the free to protest, land of the brave enough to keep our heads in the sand.

And as educated professionals, we should all be aware that "disrespecting" the flag/anthem/ one's country is a right each citizen has; going down the path of "you took a knee during the national anthem, leave!" is a dangerous turn - what free country doesn't allow dissension? That's North Korea territory, I'll pass. I'd rather support a non-violent act of protest any day than force people to show false honor to a flag or song out of fear of being forced to leave if they don't.

Institutional racism exists in this country(there is evidence of it out there, recent DOJ investigations demonstrate that) and citizens affected by it have the right to protest (and their allies of course). I am a patriot because I love this country and the freedoms we have compared to others; loving a country doesn't mean you can't point out areas it can do better or is plain wrong.

Taking a knee during the anthem to get a national conversation started vs rioting in the streets? I'd say that's a pretty good role model on how to peacefully protest.

And I also don't accept your point that we are keeping our heads in the sand. Who the fuck out there is saying that there isn't an issue? I think universally people now recognize there is an issue, which is the opposite of burying your head in the sand. What would you like to happen? Do you suggest we just execute these officers without trial and go all Mad Max?

^absolutely, but I'd argue the violent protests don't help. All it does is cause more issues and further contribute to the problem.

Senior 1, we agree more than we disagree. Trust me. ;)

How about they work to set up an independent unbiased panel that reviews all police violence cases and independently decides whether or not to press charges? Or a government oversight board that reviews practices of police departments. Surprisingly they offer none of these ideas. It's time to move past the anger and start working towards a solution.

^MLk was angry too. He didn't riot. It takes more strength to perform non violent protests. Any idiot can get angry and riot. It takes true strength to restrain.

Listen, this isn't a black/white issue. It's a profiling issue of poor, black people and there is mistrust from police because of experience with poorer neighborhoods bc crime is more prevalent. Poor blacks are mistrustful of police bc of the profiling and the killings that have been happenings. Riots don't solve anything. It's just a way for people to take advantage of a situation. Only open communication in a peaceful way is going to change matters. Our comments of name calling and blaming this group or that is also the problem. We can have an opinion without getting agitated and we can all make changes in our attitude to help get to the end goal. I think most people will agree police shouldn't be shooting unarmed people and violent riots aren't ok. It doesn't need to be one side or the other.

Just a heads up, BLM is offering solutions, they have a list of 25. Sounds like a good starting point to me.

http://spr.ly/6185BAhtz

As I read through these comments, I simply think back to my upbringing. 2 wrongs don't make a right. Whether you think there is a problem with police brutality and or racism, you should have better since than to attack people. Everyone who feels this is acceptable behavior, by either side, is only perpetuating the cycle. And lucky for all of you (white, black, brown or whatever) this is anonymous, because you just showed how ignorant you truly are. We are supposed to be educated professionals... Come on people! Please tell me how disrespecting a flag benefits the cause? The police are not America! I am no patriot, believe me, but if you can't respect your country in the light of controversy, LEAVE!! Football players (or people in the eye of the public) are supposed to be role models. Is this truly how you want your children to behave? Personally, I would be embarrassed if these were my children. And for the final thought, I seriously doubt anyone on FB has experienced police brutality first hand nor have they been there to witness one of these acts first hand. You have no idea what has happened. All you know is what the media tells us which is generally highly biased to evoke a specific reaction. Congrats! You are all puppets! GET A LIFE!

Ah, always brings tears to my eyes...
Thank you.
Any more?

Just to be clear, no one should be shot unjustified. If that happens then consequences need to be faced. But looting and rioting don't send that message. Being violent sends the message that you're out of control. It makes people think "no wonder they are getting shot". It takes away the rightful justice from those who actually were discriminated against and deserve spotlight on their issues and to start a meaningful and powerful conversation needed to actually result in change. Things like this do nothing but hurt actual victims.

This is all kinda pointless unless we know whether it was a book or a gun right?

Please let the ignorant whites in this thread stay there people. In every civil rights movement there are people like this. Blacks have done every form of protest, voting, and requesting. White people have no reason to wake up. Let their asses stay in the matrix. Our allies will continue to grow and this shit will end. Our white allies need to wake them up. Not us. Not anymore. Remember: they killed Malcolm X and MLK. Stop wasting your energy on ignorance.

^Funny. Malcom X was killed by another black man. Most likely from the Nation of Islam. Who is the ignorant one now, PWC1. This is the ignorant ranting that causes even more ignorant/naive people to get agitated and riot. Just like hands up don't shoot was a lie. Sad.

El oh el at "calling bs on white privilege and institutionalized racism." If denouncing it were only so easy for those actually affected by it.

@Deloitte 2, I own my mistakes and was incorrect about Malcolm. What else do you have to say to address my other points? I will wait.

There is an issue with police brutality. Worst thing the BLM movement did was make it about race. Police officers (I know quite a few) would be fine with doing extra training and being better all round officers and had the movement started to get more training for police to better protect themselves and the civilians around them police would have joined the sides of the protestors. But the idiots then said they don't only need better situational awareness training they also need cultural diversity training to get rid of the "systemic racism" in every police department in the United States all vilified all 809,000 sworn police officers. So of course police are gonna tell them to go f*ck themselves. So is there a problem? Yes. Is the blm movement the answer? No. Not to mention the actual movement not the people protesting (like Colin) is very stupid and exceptionally pro segregation. Most people just like the slogan but don't looks at their website. Some crazy Jim Crowe stuff on their.

*there

The BLM movement was great at raising awareness. No argument that blacks were being treated differently by certain police forces. But now that awareness has been raised what are they doing? They offer no solutions. There's nothing coming from their camp besides anger at the current situation. If you're not offering solutions then you're part of the problem. We are all aware that there are issues. Now what do we do about it? BLM is surprisingly silent on actionable proposed courses of action. They need to use their platform to now help be part of the solution instead of just rioting.

Please tell me what role these riots serve? How are they helping the situation? Oh what's that? You can't explain how they're helping because they aren't? Ya that's what I thought.

Also I frankly think it's bullshit to accuse of sitting in our Ivory towers simply because we are sick and tired of violent riots that don't help move us towards a solution. Get over yourself.