Social Unrest – There’s a Profit in It

By: Ken Cable

In my long career as a first responder I have participated in many events where citizens have peacefully assembled to discuss, debate and sometimes protest some action taken by their government. When these gatherings take place in the street, a park or a plaza, and the catalyst is something such as the George Zimmerman acquittal, participants often forgo the peaceful discussion stage and go straight to protest.  This protest is usually against police officers whom government places between themselves and the protesters – and who can do little to mitigate the protesters’ complaint in any way.  This can be especially true when race is a factor, and when the rocks and bottles begin to fly, the fight is on.  This is not to say that all peaceful gatherings turn violent.  Tea Partiers, religious memorials and Million Man Marches on Washington D.C. generally do not.

I am writing now of those events that do turn violent – and who profits from the violence.  My observations are that unrest often follows sporting events, jury trials that involve race, union disputes, police shootings, and poorly conducted street arrests – to name a few of the most obvious.

The catalyst group is usually small, but contains vocal advocates that huff and puff to raise a crowd.  Often that crowd is already assembled, as at sports arenas and rock concerts. As the word spreads by TV camera and social networks, curiosity brings people to the scene.  Once there, they gain an anonymity that often frees their normal sense of restraint and they suddenly realize they can join in the shouting, name calling – and rock and bottle throwing without consequence. It’s generally a lot of fun in the beginning, but when the police react, the fun starts to evaporate. The curious onlooker, pushed, shoved, threatened, and sometimes hit by tear gas, becomes infuriated and joins the mob.

Example:  On August 11, 1965, police arrested a young man in South Central Los Angeles for drunk driving.   A curious crowd gathered.   Instead of immediately transporting their prisoner from the scene – an excellent practice – the police remained long enough for the suspect’s mother to arrive and harangue the crowd alleging police brutality.  Soon bottles were flying and an effort was made to free the prisoner. The fight was on.  In the end, the city was in flames, 34 people, including a deputy sheriff, were killed and Los Angeles looked like a desolate battlefield.  Criticism of the police action was shrill and long-lasting.

Then came the profiteers to root around in the debris with self-serving motives.

There are those in our society – many in the media and way too many in government – who gain monetarily or politically from practicing racism.  I am not suggesting that civil disobedience has not played a positive role in our enlightenment – it has.  But, terrorizing and destroying businesses, beating up passers-by, and fighting first responders (including fire fighters and paramedics), creates a protest category all its own.  It’s called a riot. It’s never productive; it’s always destructive.

So what should societies do about it?  Two things come to mind.  One, work hard to eliminate incentives to riot while fostering peaceful assembly to seek redress, and two, keep training first responders in how to best deal with consequences if that effort fails.

George Zimmerman’s acquittal?  In spite of the non-stop discourse about the event, the jury was required to evaluate only those few seconds between the initial assault and the shooting. Was it or was it not self-defense?  The evidence presented to the jury caused them to decide that it was self-defense, and they get the last word. Should everyone now just shut up and go home?  Yes.  Will they?  I don’t think so.  It’s almost two months past the acquittal and Zimmerman’s still making news.  Last week, he got pulled over for a speeding ticket.  There’s just too much mileage is still left in this one.

A high ranking government official recently said, “You do not want a serious crisis to go to waste.”

I guess there’s just no profit in that.