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So I don& #39;t talk about my job very often, for a variety of reasons. However, one thing I do is track crisis data in certain parts of the world. This year ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data) has been putting out data on the USA and our Protests. If you& #39;re curious, click 1/
So quick background, ACLED tracks "crisis" events around the world, but usually not Europe or the USA. They track stuff like Protests, Riots, Battles, Political Violence, etc. This year they are tracking the USA from 24 May - Now due to the BLM Protests. 2/
So from 24 May - 19 Sept, there have been 12,662 separate incidents. 12,607 are classified as Demonstrations, and 55 as "Political Violence". The difference between the two is Political Violence is individuals that congregate for the express purpose of violence vs protesting 3/
So of these incidents, 67.58% are considered BLM affiliated, and 34.42% are "Other", including specific police brutality but not BLM related protests, or protests of non-Black police related deaths (eg: protesting latino, native, asian individuals etc deaths). 4/
So here& #39;s the big one.
93.35% of ALL Demonstrations associated with BLM are Non-Violent. That means /NO/ vandalism, looting, etc. Only 6.65% are considered "Riots", eg Looting, and violence.
6.65%! That& #39;s around 500 individual incidents. That might seem like a lot but 5/
93.35% of ALL Demonstrations associated with BLM are Non-Violent. That means /NO/ vandalism, looting, etc. Only 6.65% are considered "Riots", eg Looting, and violence.
6.65%! That& #39;s around 500 individual incidents. That might seem like a lot but 5/
The final bit of data is WHO is perpetrating these 500 individual incidents, so lets look at that data.
Of this data, only 21 incidents are classified as "Mob Violence", eg Protesters attacking individuals directly for whatever reason (ACLED does not attribute blame) 6/
Of this data, only 21 incidents are classified as "Mob Violence", eg Protesters attacking individuals directly for whatever reason (ACLED does not attribute blame) 6/
So the incident of the man firing a bow into protesters would still be "Mob Violence".
28 Incidents are "Violence against civilians", eg George Floyd& #39;s death would be considered this. Non protest related police brutality. 28 incidents in 4.5 months.
7/
28 Incidents are "Violence against civilians", eg George Floyd& #39;s death would be considered this. Non protest related police brutality. 28 incidents in 4.5 months.
7/
Then ACLED classifies 69 incidents as "Excessive Force against protesters", these are almost all Vehicular incidents, police or otherwise. That& #39;s 69 protests where someone attempted to drive over a protester or something similar.
8/
8/
Finally we have 623 "Violent Demonstrations". This is both BLM and non BLM related demonstrations in the US this year, accounting for that about 6% of incidents.
It& #39;s important to note ACLED does not attribute blame, so we statistically cannot tell from the data who 9/
It& #39;s important to note ACLED does not attribute blame, so we statistically cannot tell from the data who 9/
(sorry, work distracted me)
started any of the conflicts here, but the word "Gas" and "Pepper" appear in hundreds of entries, so you& #39;ll have to draw your own conclusion.
Three interesting notes, one is that "Antifa" is only appears 10 times. Out of all those incidents. 10/
started any of the conflicts here, but the word "Gas" and "Pepper" appear in hundreds of entries, so you& #39;ll have to draw your own conclusion.
Three interesting notes, one is that "Antifa" is only appears 10 times. Out of all those incidents. 10/
Another is that certain specific, civil war accelerationist right wing groups who I won& #39;t name so I don& #39;t get fucking brigaded show up twice, of which one ACLED classified as "working with US Police", so even groups like ACLED see whats going on with these orgs. 11/
Finally, ACLED has started classifying the US Police as "Police Forces of the United States (2017 - ?)." I would assume they are classified this way to distinguish the new "off the leash" Police that Trump is supporting vs previous more subtle US administrations. 12/
The last place I saw them do this type of classification was in an African nation that had undergone a Coup so that they could categorize Pre and Post coup crisis data. That& #39;s how fucked up this data is.
Anyways. This is a long chain so 13/
Anyways. This is a long chain so 13/
I just wanted to provide some actual info to people. 600 violent incidents might seem like a lot, but that runs the gamut of "1 individual" incidents eg: George Floyd and mass Riots eg: Portland vs. Feds. and thats out of 12000+ Incidents.
The bottom line 14/
The bottom line 14/
Protesting in the USA is by a VAST majority peaceful, Antifa is not a mass organized group causing a "War" in the USA, and the US policing has gotten so bad that we now warrant a CRISIS page on ACLED due to the potential political violence in 2020. Use this info as you will -end/
ONE LAST TWEET:
For those wondering who ACLED is or why do we care?
ACLED is what the US Government uses to justify lots of our policy decisions in foreign places like Africa and the Middle East. It& #39;s almost universally trusted info regarding Crisis and Flashpoints Worldwide
For those wondering who ACLED is or why do we care?
ACLED is what the US Government uses to justify lots of our policy decisions in foreign places like Africa and the Middle East. It& #39;s almost universally trusted info regarding Crisis and Flashpoints Worldwide
