I understand the desire to riot. I have literally seen a riot happening in my own neighborhood over police shooting a dude from my hood. I literally saw businesses right across the street from my house get looted before and watched riot police step in.

I saw when the riot started & when it ended - I even have it on tape (on my old video cam). I understand the anger, frustration & pain. I understand how folks that say “how can y’all destroy y’all comminity!?” Don’t understand we don’t feel like it’s OURS - we’re not safe in it

I get it! But cats can’t sit here and justify looting bro, you just can’t. Dudes stealing TV’s, cash registers, etc. I’m from the hood - I get the plight, I get the struggle, I get the anger but we cannot justify another injustice because one has been committed against us.

I usually don’t even speak to this side of the discussion but I have seen folks justify and justify and justify destroying property - regardless of if it can be restored. Another injustice doesn’t right the original wrong. It should be understood but not defended.

Pushing people away from racist tropes and stereotypes of those participating in rioting and looting is good. Pushing folks to understand why it is happening is great - it’s a MUST! But excusing and justifying the actual actions is totally different.

We can’t do the latter and claim to take justice seriously, fam. During our riots I saw folks destroy businesses that contributed to the neighborhood. And while I will debate anyone who makes over-simplified judgements about those who did it, I will not excuse or justify it.

In light of this - remember this from the LA riots in 92’