Rioting While White: When Rioters Aren’t Rioters
Some who commit acts of violence are called “rowdy.’’ Others are called “thugs.’’
There are usually fires in the streets. Bottles thrown at cops. Pushing, shoving, yelling. Tear gas and rubber bullets. Always arrests. Usually injuries. Sometimes deaths. Looting. Destruction. Cities torn apart by the fury of a mob.
But only some of the people who do these things are called “thugs.’’
[fragment number=0]
When young Baltimoreans rioted during protests of a man’s death in police custody, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake called them “thugs.’’
When young students rioted at the Keene Pumpkin Festival—over what exactly?—Keene State College President Anne Huot described it as “disruptive behavior.’’
Around the same time as the Keene riots, a collection of photos from other riots appeared online. The aggressors in these riots were mostly white.
[fragment number=1]
The Keene rioters were compared to people in Ferguson, who protested the police killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown. But how can the two compare?
When Denver Broncos’ fans rioted after their team won the 1998 Super Bowl, they were called “rowdy’’ and described as “celebrating’’ as they started bonfires in the middle of streets and overturned cars.
[fragment number=2]
[fragment number=3]
Jessica Roy at New York magazine published the collection—now also available as a storify—with this preface:
“Following the Ferguson Grand Jury decision on Wednesday and the subsequent protests that took place in the St. Louis suburb, Twitter user @red3blog decided to collect photos of all the times white people had rioted over issues way less important than racism, police violence, and grievances with the criminal justice system. Here, white people rioting for no reason.’’
Though the article was published last November, it’s gained more recent attention because of Baltimore. Some commenters think these photos were shared to give more legitimacy to the riots pictured. Commenter nrochelle wrote “Do you realize how ridiculous you all sound by trying to justify people rioting over A GAME!! A stupid game!! These people in Baltimore are rioting because of decades of oppression and the killing of black people.’’
The curator of the “white people rioting’’ photos took to Twitter to defend his intentions of the collection.
[fragment number=4]
Some people will destroy without repercussion. Some people will say violence is never the answer. Some people will still allow oppression and injustice. But some people are just celebrating, and some people are “thugs.’’ Some people will miss the point.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com