The protests and rioting surrounding the George Floyd death has brought back some tough memories. I had personal experience in the integration riots of the ’60s and was in mob situations, as a military policeman, to try to control a riot and the utter animal mindset of what happens when a protest becomes a mob. Regardless of the righteousness of a cause once the looting, rock-throwing, fire setting, and destruction starts it is about getting control and order. Without order, there can be no “justice or peace”.
Beyond those experiences, I was involved for decades in training and working within law enforcement agencies, and in delivering programs for inner-city youth to prevent drug abuse and delinquency through police departments, YMCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs, and schools. In turn, I have seen the racial tensions and issues first hand from all perspectives. Because of my background, I have been following closely all the reports and news. Likewise. knowing of my involvement, many family and friends have asked for my “take” on what is happening and why. In reflecting on my experiences and what I learned I thought it appropriate to share that perspective in the context of my faith. I am no expert so this is just one man’s opinion but one based on some real-world experience.
Some Background
After the integration efforts in the 60s and the Martin Luther King assassination, numerous riots occurred all over the country, and cities were burning. In the aftermath, several government Commissions were set up to study the problems that set the stage for the riots and to make recommendations for addressing the issues. As with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, poverty, education, racial bias, and discrimination, employment, etc. were all addressed. Pertaining to the current situation, a Report tilted The Challenge of Crime in Free Society was produced with specific recommendations for law enforcement operations and the entire justice system (courts and corrections). Many of the programs I was responsible for grew out that Report’s recommendations and I believe that, at one level, the recommendations had a positive impact on law enforcement professionalism, on police-community relations and things improved.
Law Enforcement’s Use of Force
While things might have improved in the past, the current unrest shows many core issues are still with us. At the heart of the current protests has been what many consider the use of excessive force by law enforcement, especially against Afro-Americans. Data collection and data trends over the last few years on this has varied interpretations and conclusions that are too lengthy to address here. However, there is one factor that has a bearing on the use of force in both individual incidents and on crowd/riot control that is little understood by the public that can be and needs to be clarified to gain a broader assessment when looking at forceful police behavior. That is the “use of force continuum”.
For many years a staple of police training that I have been involved with has been on the use of force continuum. In essence, it is training to equip an officer with the mindset, perceptual tools, and physical skills to only use the amount of force necessary to gain control of an individual. At one extreme is just talking but if necessary can escalate to cuffing, to applying control holds to pulling a weapon. Perpetrator actions determine the amount that has to be applied.
The same principles are applied for crowd control procedures, The initial purpose is the safety of peaceful demonstrators/protestors and controlling access to marching routes to minimize any harassment or unruly behavior. It’s the type of police presence those of us on Pro-life marches have experienced. If a crowd becomes unruly with the potential to harm others or property then more forceful tactics are applied such as blocking roadways and dispersing crowds. But, once violence by bottle-throwing, destruction of property, etc. occurs a crowd has become a mob. A mob has no mind, cannot be reasoned with, and has to be treated as such. Safety and security of people and property have to be the goal and the use of force by tear gas etc. must be applied to secure the situation and establish order. The current examples in recent days provided examples along this peaceful demonstration to riot control continuum.
In all use of force situations dealing with individuals or crowds, the law enforcement officer is under extreme pressure and danger. The majority are up to the task and reviews of the use of force and mob control situations indicate that most are justified. However, there are some individual officers who overreact. The question of why? is critical. There could be many sources such as racial bias, mental stability, lack of training and supervision. For whatever the reason it is an issue that has to be investigated and dealt with.
The Nature of Current Protestors/Demonstrators
In reviewing the numerous protestor marches and riots occurring since George Floyd’s death, I think there have been four basic crowd groups. First, are those who have a “righteous cause’ and march in a peaceful manner. The issue is to demonstrate for “justice”. It’s like the Pro-life marches we participate in. They are there for the right reasons to bring attention to a problem. The dilemma is that they can get “co-opted” by other groups with other aims. There is a second group that investigations are identifying as outsiders who are using the situation to cause chaos. These are white, black, left, right terrorists/extremists, and anarchists. Various authorities have identified such groups as outside agitators from across the country causing much of the burning etc. They also have been using Facebook and social media to spread false rumors to keep things stirred up. The third group is the local opportunists who see it as an opening to loot and express outrage through destruction. These are the same people who loot during a hurricane and other natural disasters. The fourth group are mostly local citizens who are there, at first, peaceably but get emotionally agitated and merge into being an angry mob without any purpose but to express that emotion that gets out of control.
The challenge for law enforcement is that once mob behavior takes over the different groups cannot be separated out. When the issue becomes one of protecting life and property and to establish control of a destructive and dangerous mob everyone in that mob must be contained. It is almost impossible to isolate who are the true ”bad actors”.
There have been many injured demonstrators and police and a few deaths in both groups that seem to be a by-product of the riots. To date, it appears that they were not from any direct police or mob actions. It just shows the dangerous nature of a riot once it ignites. In, turn it must be kept in mind that the current injury, death, and property destruction incidence is extremely low compared to past riot situations in American history such as the Los Angeles riots of 1992 where over 50 people died.
Where to Go from Here?
Unfortunately, the “bad actors” have instigated the destruction of minority neighborhoods and businesses. In turn, their actions can dilute and neutralize the valid message of the protestors for racial justice. Besides that impact, more seeds of distrust have been sown between the communities and the police. I firmly believe that part of the “bad actors” plan is to drive a greater wedge because it is the police who must restore order to the chaos they initiated. In this sense, it is imperative that there not be any rush to judgment about law enforcement operations and at this moment these men and women need to be supported in their often thankless and dangerous mission to maintain safety and order.
Order is being restored and things will calm down. However, that is just the first step that allows our nation to work on addressing the issues raised by these events. As I saw in the ’60s, I expect there will be new government Commissions with all kinds of recommendations, especially for appropriate police training, supervision, and operations. However, from my experience, all that will do is set the stage for what really has to happen. That is for a change of hearts. When reflecting on the history of the civil rights movement from Jackie Robinson’s integration of baseball, James Meredith’s integration of education, and Martin Luther King’s crusade to today, things only got better when attitudes, beliefs, and respect of others changed.
History tells us that racism is a factor and is still an issue in our society. Our country’s history from slavery to segregation to discrimination is still with us. What is most sad and disturbing throughout all our history is that we have supposedly been a Christian country. We have not lived up to our creed, our beliefs, and our obligations in this regard. I hope and pray that the current crisis renews in us to honestly look at racial justice and do what we need to do. What that may all entail I cannot say except to open our hearts and minds to go outside ourselves to respect and care about justice for the “other”.
7 thoughts on “A Perspective on Civil Unrest and Riots”
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June 8, 2020: A citizen who did no harm? George Floyd? He did not deserve to die as he did, no one does. But please look at his record and then come back here and shoe that he did little or no harm. Please. If you attempt to make him a hero or a saint, you betray the black community as Alveda King has said publicly. You betray her Uncle Martin Luther King, Jr. who demanded that his followers engage only in peaceful protests. So again, please look at George Floyd’s record…especially where, according to recent reports, he put a gun to the belly of am African American pregnant woman. Why do we try so hard to make martyrs of those who were themselves engaged in violent activity because they were killed by violence.? There are enough heroes in the black community, men and women…choose one of them. Being shot does not erase one’s past violence; nor does it make one a martyr. Choose your heroes wisely and well. There are many of them out there.
Living 15 blocks from where George Floyd was murdered, I have very much first-hand experienced the sorrow of a city that soon turned to anger and cries of “enough.” We lost, first and foremost, a citizen who was doing little to no harm, and he was only the next on a string of Black Americans who did so in recent years, here and elsewhere, and often at the hands of the police.
As to where we go from here, the protests will continue, and I plan to be part of them when physically able. The violence done to our businesses and streets, often doing the most damage to minority or mixed neighborhoods such as mine, is heartbreaking. I am glad that many now recognize that this was not done by those peacefully grieving. But I still have lost my grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, and even my doctor’s office sustained much damage.
Losing all of those would be worth it, if it lead to racial healing. Sadly, it won’t. The only thing that can do so is changes of heart. And for that we need to pray as never before. But I will support the peaceful efforts to educate others, speak out against racism, pray for the police, and forgive the looters. Forgiving does not mean passivity BTW. But it does means that we must leave the hate behind. We, as Catholic Christians, need to lead the way. The article is powerful and well-spoken.
The right to free speech does not allow yelling “FIRE” in a theater, likewise the right to free assembly is not without limits. A permit is sometimes needed. This permit would likely be denied if midnight is chosen as the time, or “across the street from the enemy” is chosen as the place.
“No justice – no peace” does not sound very Christian. Maybe I misunderstand. Who can beg for Justice without, in the same breath, beg instead for mercy?
Jesus said he “came not to bring peace”. Yet today most seem to confuse peace with tolerance – which is not a virtue.
Whenever Dr. Martin Luther King came to town for a peaceful demonstration, rioting and looting always followed. The mayors of those cities were always afraid when he announced his coming. Right now the same thing is happening, although the rioting is not that bad. Apparently you can’t have one without the other. Even if some police reforms will be enacted, there will be some perceived or real discrimination occurring in the future, and there will be demonstrations and rioting. I would suggest that peaceful demonstrators should wear IDs and the groups should be organized, having an assigned and responsible leader; and no one else be allowed to join their group at that particular demonstration. Then the police could immediately disperse those that do not belong to the group.
Tom, this is an admirable analysis. Fine work. I would simply add that, while you cannot have justice or peace without order, you can have law and order without justice. After all, the People’s Republic of China is also big on law and order. As St. Augustine put it, “Take away justice, and what are kingdoms but great bands of thieves?” (City of God 4:4)
My wife is from a country that for decades was under a brutal dictatorship (put in place and supported by our tax dollars by the way). Her older relatives say that you had to keep your mouth shut, but there was no crime at all. You could walk the streets safely at night. To them that meant a lot.