Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.
And the gods of the copybook headings smile.
Floyd Protests Continue: Where Does It Stop?
Saturday was Day 12 for the George Floyd protests, and the events have spread over all 50 states. Protests are even happening in Australia, Britain, and Japan. The movement is now a juggernaut, crushing even the pandemic in its path.
But where does it all stop?
Washington, DC, held what may have been the largest of the Floyd protests, with activists streaming into the city all day Saturday. They made their way to the giant “Black Lives Matter” words painted on 16th Street, the slogan spanning two blocks.
New York City, of course, saw another day of Floyd protests in Brooklyn and Manhattan, which also included a group of doctors rallying in Central Park. They held signs that read, “You stayed home for me, now I’ll kneel for you.” One of the organizing doctors told the Washington Post that “There are obviously two pandemics, one of which has been going on for centuries, and it’s time to take a stand against that.”
On the West Coast, protestors stopped traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge, while in Seattle, more health care workers joined in protests there. Wearing scrubs and lab coats, they carried signs that read “Racism is a Public Health Emergency.”
Even small towns had their share of Floyd protests. People demonstrated in places such as Garden City, Kansas; Alpine, Texas; and Havre, Montana.
Ostensibly, the Floyd protests are calling for police departments to re-examine their use of force, including the choke hold that killed George Floyd. Congressional Democrats — ever eager to keep a crisis fired up — plan to roll out police reform legislation on Monday. Called the “Justice in Policing Act,” the bill’s outline reads:
“Persistent, unchecked bias in policing and a history of lack of accountability is wreaking havoc on the Black community. . .”
“Cities are literally on fire with the pain and anguish wrought by the violence visited upon black and brown bodies. There are countless others whose stories we will never know.”
Leave it politicians to lay it on thick and heavy with hyperbole. As for the “cities . . . literally on fire” — the “fire” comes from looters and anarchists, of course. But the pols were on a roll.
Plus, George Floyd’s brother Philonise will testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
Do police departments need reforming? They probably do. However, I would start with examining the role of police unions in covering up for bad cops, just like teachers unions cover up for bad teachers. Difference here being, of course, that people can die at the hands of bad cops — Derek Chauvin, the officer who killed Floyd, had racked up 17 misconduct complaints.
But Democrats keep the unions in their back pockets, so don’t expect them to look too closely at police unions.
Beyond that, however, what more do the activists want?
Consider the make-up of the Floyd protests, and you find that they’re progressives who have a laundry list of demands. They know that they’ve got white middle-class America by the short hairs, and they are reveling in it. Here’s their chance to take over the social trajectory of the nation.
“Defund the police” seems to be the raison d’être for much of the leftist crowd. That slogan was painted along 16th Street in Washington, DC.
Plus, Chicago protestors held signs that read “Fund schools, not police.” Never mind what would happen in Chicago’s gang-ridden neighborhoods.
And, in Minneapolis, where Floyd died, Mayor Jacob Frey was booed from a protest because he doesn’t want to defund police. “Shame, shame,” chanted the mob. It was like a scene from “Game of Thrones.”
Defunding police is now such an article of faith that progressives will eat their own. Frey was a victim.
But the demands don’t stop there. Instead, they’re becoming more insane.
One black writer at the New York Times has his own list of demands for white people. One of them is for his white friends to dissociate from family members unless they support Black Lives Matter. Yes, really.
“Texts: To your relatives and loved ones telling them you will not be visiting them or answering phone calls until they take significant action in supporting black lives either through protest or financial contributions.”
While this screamer in Portland says that if you don’t sufficiently support black lives “you are a piece of f*cking garbage.” She doesn’t want to be your friend anymore, either. Neener-neener.
The insanity continues in the corporate world, as well.
Network A&E will not run new episodes of “Live PD,” this weekend. Paramount Network has delayed the new season of “Cops.”
A&E said in a statement:
“Out of respect for the families of George Floyd and others who have lost their lives, in consultation with the departments we follow, and in consideration for the safety of all involved, we have made the decision not to broadcast ‘Live PD’ this weekend.”
“In consultation with the departments we follow” — translation, we’re afraid of possible backlash.
On top of that, the classic cartoon character Elmer Fudd will no longer carry a gun.
No, I’m not joking. The HBO series “Looney Tunes Cartoons” will still feature dynamite and falling anvils, but no guns:
“We’re going through this wave of anti-bullying, everybody needs to be friends, everybody needs to get along.”
How will Elmer Fudd hunt for that wascally wabbit without his shotgun?
But if you’re mourning that piece of your childhood, consider what LEGO is doing to the youngest generation. That’s because the company will no longer promote products that feature police officers, patrol cars, police dog units — even a donut shop. They’ll still sell them, of course, LEGO isn’t that stupid. But they’re not marketing the toys because the company prefers to virtue-signal.
We have now descended into hysteria.
The Floyd protests are no longer about anger over a man killed by a sadistic cop. Instead, the young activists who protest in Floyd’s name want revolution, the destruction of American culture and traditions. And with the media and Democrats on their side, they will not stop the relentless bullying of those whom they deem as insufficiently woke. This is their religion, their cult, and we are all heretics.