Liberal Protests

[SoCal Deek]

2 minutes ago, Jaraxxus said:

 

Ironic that the great villain of yesterday is the great hero of today.

 

 

The pander parade is even longer than I thought. Hey George....thanks for sharing! Any other words of wisdom? 

[Buffalo_Gal]

36 minutes ago, Jaraxxus said:

 

Ironic that the great villain of yesterday is the great hero of today.

 

 

Yeah, between them 12 years of Presidency, 8 years of Vice Presidency, 4 years House of Rep (sr), couple of years as head of the CIA (sr), five as governor of one of our biggest states (jr), but now, NOW it is bad and time to do something about this!!

Some might argue that the Bush Family was part of the problem, not part of the solution. ?‍♂️


 

Edited June 3, 2020 by Buffalo_Gal

[Sundancer]

How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change

Barack Obama

Jun 1 

 

As millions of people across the country take to the streets and raise their voices in response to the killing of George Floyd and the ongoing problem of unequal justice, many people have reached out asking how we can sustain momentum to bring about real change.

 

Ultimately, it’s going to be up to a new generation of activists to shape strategies that best fit the times. But I believe there are some basic lessons to draw from past efforts that are worth remembering.

First, the waves of protests across the country represent a genuine and legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police practices and the broader criminal justice system in the United States. The overwhelming majority of participants have been peaceful, courageous, responsible, and inspiring. They deserve our respect and support, not condemnation — something that police in cities like Camden and Flint have commendably understood.

 

On the other hand, the small minority of folks who’ve resorted to violence in various forms, whether out of genuine anger or mere opportunism, are putting innocent people at risk, compounding the destruction of neighborhoods that are often already short on services and investment and detracting from the larger cause. I saw an elderly black woman being interviewed today in tears because the only grocery store in her neighborhood had been trashed. If history is any guide, that store may take years to come back. So let’s not excuse violence, or rationalize it, or participate in it. If we want our criminal justice system, and American society at large, to operate on a higher ethical code, then we have to model that code ourselves.

 

Second, I’ve heard some suggest that the recurrent problem of racial bias in our criminal justice system proves that only protests and direct action can bring about change, and that voting and participation in electoral politics is a waste of time. I couldn’t disagree more. The point of protest is to raise public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice, and to make the powers that be uncomfortable; in fact, throughout American history, it’s often only been in response to protests and civil disobedience that the political system has even paid attention to marginalized communities. But eventually, aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices — and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands.

Moreover, it’s important for us to understand which levels of government have the biggest impact on our criminal justice system and police practices. When we think about politics, a lot of us focus only on the presidency and the federal government. And yes, we should be fighting to make sure that we have a president, a Congress, a U.S. Justice Department, and a federal judiciary that actually recognize the ongoing, corrosive role that racism plays in our society and want to do something about it. 

 

It’s mayors and county executives that appoint most police chiefs and negotiate collective bargaining agreements with police unions. It’s district attorneys and state’s attorneys that decide whether or not to investigate and ultimately charge those involved in police misconduct. Those are all elected positions. In some places, police review boards with the power to monitor police conduct are elected as well. Unfortunately, voter turnout in these local races is usually pitifully low, especially among young people — which makes no sense given the direct impact these offices have on social justice issues, not to mention the fact that who wins and who loses those seats is often determined by just a few thousand, or even a few hundred, votes.

 

So the bottom line is this: if we want to bring about real change, then the choice isn’t between protest and politics. We have to do both. We have to mobilize to raise awareness, and we have to organize and cast our ballots to make sure that we elect candidates who will act on reform.

 

Finally, the more specific we can make demands for criminal justice and police reform, the harder it will be for elected officials to just offer lip service to the cause and then fall back into business as usual once protests have gone away. The content of that reform agenda will be different for various communities. A big city may need one set of reforms; a rural community may need another. Some agencies will require wholesale rehabilitation; others should make minor improvements. Every law enforcement agency should have clear policies, including an independent body that conducts investigations of alleged misconduct. Tailoring reforms for each community will require local activists and organizations to do their research and educate fellow citizens in their community on what strategies work best.

 

But as a starting point, here’s a report and toolkit developed by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and based on the work of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing that I formed when I was in the White House. And if you’re interested in taking concrete action, we’ve also created a dedicated site at the Obama Foundation to aggregate and direct you to useful resources and organizations who’ve been fighting the good fight at the local and national levels for years.

 

I recognize that these past few months have been hard and dispiriting — that the fear, sorrow, uncertainty, and hardship of a pandemic have been compounded by tragic reminders that prejudice and inequality still shape so much of American life. But watching the heightened activism of young people in recent weeks, of every race and every station, makes me hopeful. If, going forward, we can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals.

 

Let’s get to work.

[Tiberius]

12 minutes ago, Jaraxxus said:

 

Ironic that the great villain of yesterday is the great hero of today.

 

 

It just shows how bad Trump is that even W can lecture him. 

[Tiberius]

4 minutes ago, Sundancer said:

How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change

Barack Obama

Jun 1 

 

As millions of people across the country take to the streets and raise their voices in response to the killing of George Floyd and the ongoing problem of unequal justice, many people have reached out asking how we can sustain momentum to bring about real change.

 

Ultimately, it’s going to be up to a new generation of activists to shape strategies that best fit the times. But I believe there are some basic lessons to draw from past efforts that are worth remembering.

First, the waves of protests across the country represent a genuine and legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police practices and the broader criminal justice system in the United States. The overwhelming majority of participants have been peaceful, courageous, responsible, and inspiring. They deserve our respect and support, not condemnation — something that police in cities like Camden and Flint have commendably understood.

 

On the other hand, the small minority of folks who’ve resorted to violence in various forms, whether out of genuine anger or mere opportunism, are putting innocent people at risk, compounding the destruction of neighborhoods that are often already short on services and investment and detracting from the larger cause. I saw an elderly black woman being interviewed today in tears because the only grocery store in her neighborhood had been trashed. If history is any guide, that store may take years to come back. So let’s not excuse violence, or rationalize it, or participate in it. If we want our criminal justice system, and American society at large, to operate on a higher ethical code, then we have to model that code ourselves.

 

Second, I’ve heard some suggest that the recurrent problem of racial bias in our criminal justice system proves that only protests and direct action can bring about change, and that voting and participation in electoral politics is a waste of time. I couldn’t disagree more. The point of protest is to raise public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice, and to make the powers that be uncomfortable; in fact, throughout American history, it’s often only been in response to protests and civil disobedience that the political system has even paid attention to marginalized communities. But eventually, aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices — and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands.

Moreover, it’s important for us to understand which levels of government have the biggest impact on our criminal justice system and police practices. When we think about politics, a lot of us focus only on the presidency and the federal government. And yes, we should be fighting to make sure that we have a president, a Congress, a U.S. Justice Department, and a federal judiciary that actually recognize the ongoing, corrosive role that racism plays in our society and want to do something about it. 

 

It’s mayors and county executives that appoint most police chiefs and negotiate collective bargaining agreements with police unions. It’s district attorneys and state’s attorneys that decide whether or not to investigate and ultimately charge those involved in police misconduct. Those are all elected positions. In some places, police review boards with the power to monitor police conduct are elected as well. Unfortunately, voter turnout in these local races is usually pitifully low, especially among young people — which makes no sense given the direct impact these offices have on social justice issues, not to mention the fact that who wins and who loses those seats is often determined by just a few thousand, or even a few hundred, votes.

 

So the bottom line is this: if we want to bring about real change, then the choice isn’t between protest and politics. We have to do both. We have to mobilize to raise awareness, and we have to organize and cast our ballots to make sure that we elect candidates who will act on reform.

 

Finally, the more specific we can make demands for criminal justice and police reform, the harder it will be for elected officials to just offer lip service to the cause and then fall back into business as usual once protests have gone away. The content of that reform agenda will be different for various communities. A big city may need one set of reforms; a rural community may need another. Some agencies will require wholesale rehabilitation; others should make minor improvements. Every law enforcement agency should have clear policies, including an independent body that conducts investigations of alleged misconduct. Tailoring reforms for each community will require local activists and organizations to do their research and educate fellow citizens in their community on what strategies work best.

 

But as a starting point, here’s a report and toolkit developed by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and based on the work of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing that I formed when I was in the White House. And if you’re interested in taking concrete action, we’ve also created a dedicated site at the Obama Foundation to aggregate and direct you to useful resources and organizations who’ve been fighting the good fight at the local and national levels for years.

 

I recognize that these past few months have been hard and dispiriting — that the fear, sorrow, uncertainty, and hardship of a pandemic have been compounded by tragic reminders that prejudice and inequality still shape so much of American life. But watching the heightened activism of young people in recent weeks, of every race and every station, makes me hopeful. If, going forward, we can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals.

 

Let’s get to work.

Vote!! That’s exactly right 

Just now, Jaraxxus said:

 

A simpleton's take, from a simpleton's mind.

 

It’s just a simple truth. The GOP is a joke 

[Sig1Hunter]

4 hours ago, JetsFan20 said:

This whole thing really has nothing to do with Trump. Systemic police racism has been a long standing issue in this country. The Freddy Gray incident happened with Obama in office. 
 

The hard truth is that there is a level of fear on both sides. White officers patrolling the inner cities (many growing up in the suburbs) have been taught that inner city black people are dangerous. By contrast Inner city black people have been taught that the police are dangerous. 
 

Visit any city in the US and its the same. Travelers are warned to avoid the “rough” neighborhoods which are predominately resided by black people. The unfortunate truth is that there is indeed  significantly more crime in those parts of the city and it requires a larger police presence to deal with it.
 

The problem has been augmented through gentrification (especially places like NYC) where property values in the city have increased up to the point where you have very million dollar homes within blocks of these impoverished black communities. It puts the onus on politicians and the police even further to provide security. Why? Because they want more people to buy these homes and in turn generate new tax payer revenue streams. 

That’s a massive steaming pile right there.

[Reality Check]

Tibs has a message from his hero.

 

[bilzfancy]

11 minutes ago, Sundancer said:

How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change

Barack Obama

Jun 1 

 

As millions of people across the country take to the streets and raise their voices in response to the killing of George Floyd and the ongoing problem of unequal justice, many people have reached out asking how we can sustain momentum to bring about real change.

 

Ultimately, it’s going to be up to a new generation of activists to shape strategies that best fit the times. But I believe there are some basic lessons to draw from past efforts that are worth remembering.

First, the waves of protests across the country represent a genuine and legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police practices and the broader criminal justice system in the United States. The overwhelming majority of participants have been peaceful, courageous, responsible, and inspiring. They deserve our respect and support, not condemnation — something that police in cities like Camden and Flint have commendably understood.

 

On the other hand, the small minority of folks who’ve resorted to violence in various forms, whether out of genuine anger or mere opportunism, are putting innocent people at risk, compounding the destruction of neighborhoods that are often already short on services and investment and detracting from the larger cause. I saw an elderly black woman being interviewed today in tears because the only grocery store in her neighborhood had been trashed. If history is any guide, that store may take years to come back. So let’s not excuse violence, or rationalize it, or participate in it. If we want our criminal justice system, and American society at large, to operate on a higher ethical code, then we have to model that code ourselves.

 

Second, I’ve heard some suggest that the recurrent problem of racial bias in our criminal justice system proves that only protests and direct action can bring about change, and that voting and participation in electoral politics is a waste of time. I couldn’t disagree more. The point of protest is to raise public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice, and to make the powers that be uncomfortable; in fact, throughout American history, it’s often only been in response to protests and civil disobedience that the political system has even paid attention to marginalized communities. But eventually, aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices — and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands.

Moreover, it’s important for us to understand which levels of government have the biggest impact on our criminal justice system and police practices. When we think about politics, a lot of us focus only on the presidency and the federal government. And yes, we should be fighting to make sure that we have a president, a Congress, a U.S. Justice Department, and a federal judiciary that actually recognize the ongoing, corrosive role that racism plays in our society and want to do something about it. 

 

It’s mayors and county executives that appoint most police chiefs and negotiate collective bargaining agreements with police unions. It’s district attorneys and state’s attorneys that decide whether or not to investigate and ultimately charge those involved in police misconduct. Those are all elected positions. In some places, police review boards with the power to monitor police conduct are elected as well. Unfortunately, voter turnout in these local races is usually pitifully low, especially among young people — which makes no sense given the direct impact these offices have on social justice issues, not to mention the fact that who wins and who loses those seats is often determined by just a few thousand, or even a few hundred, votes.

 

So the bottom line is this: if we want to bring about real change, then the choice isn’t between protest and politics. We have to do both. We have to mobilize to raise awareness, and we have to organize and cast our ballots to make sure that we elect candidates who will act on reform.

 

Finally, the more specific we can make demands for criminal justice and police reform, the harder it will be for elected officials to just offer lip service to the cause and then fall back into business as usual once protests have gone away. The content of that reform agenda will be different for various communities. A big city may need one set of reforms; a rural community may need another. Some agencies will require wholesale rehabilitation; others should make minor improvements. Every law enforcement agency should have clear policies, including an independent body that conducts investigations of alleged misconduct. Tailoring reforms for each community will require local activists and organizations to do their research and educate fellow citizens in their community on what strategies work best.

 

But as a starting point, here’s a report and toolkit developed by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and based on the work of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing that I formed when I was in the White House. And if you’re interested in taking concrete action, we’ve also created a dedicated site at the Obama Foundation to aggregate and direct you to useful resources and organizations who’ve been fighting the good fight at the local and national levels for years.

 

I recognize that these past few months have been hard and dispiriting — that the fear, sorrow, uncertainty, and hardship of a pandemic have been compounded by tragic reminders that prejudice and inequality still shape so much of American life. But watching the heightened activism of young people in recent weeks, of every race and every station, makes me hopeful. If, going forward, we can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals.

 

Let’s get to work.

Hey, douche, this crap started under you. You set race relations back 50 years. You are the worst president in my lifetime and that includes LBJ and Nixon.

[Doc]

25 minutes ago, SectionC3 said:

Radio is dead, my man.  But egg McMuffin sales near the whites house are probably holding steady.  The healthiest president ever probably is McMuffin seven or eight already this morning.  Jus doing his part to curtail world hunger. 

 

Why do you and other libs worry about Trump's health?  Many of you were fine voting for someone with a half-dead heart (Bernie) and many are now fine voting for someone with a half-dead brain (Biden)

 

13 minutes ago, Sundancer said:

How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change

Barack Obama

Jun 1 

 

As millions of people across the country take to the streets and raise their voices in response to the killing of George Floyd and the ongoing problem of unequal justice, many people have reached out asking how we can sustain momentum to bring about real change.

 

Ultimately, it’s going to be up to a new generation of activists to shape strategies that best fit the times. But I believe there are some basic lessons to draw from past efforts that are worth remembering.

First, the waves of protests across the country represent a genuine and legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police practices and the broader criminal justice system in the United States. The overwhelming majority of participants have been peaceful, courageous, responsible, and inspiring. They deserve our respect and support, not condemnation — something that police in cities like Camden and Flint have commendably understood.

 

On the other hand, the small minority of folks who’ve resorted to violence in various forms, whether out of genuine anger or mere opportunism, are putting innocent people at risk, compounding the destruction of neighborhoods that are often already short on services and investment and detracting from the larger cause. I saw an elderly black woman being interviewed today in tears because the only grocery store in her neighborhood had been trashed. If history is any guide, that store may take years to come back. So let’s not excuse violence, or rationalize it, or participate in it. If we want our criminal justice system, and American society at large, to operate on a higher ethical code, then we have to model that code ourselves.

 

Second, I’ve heard some suggest that the recurrent problem of racial bias in our criminal justice system proves that only protests and direct action can bring about change, and that voting and participation in electoral politics is a waste of time. I couldn’t disagree more. The point of protest is to raise public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice, and to make the powers that be uncomfortable; in fact, throughout American history, it’s often only been in response to protests and civil disobedience that the political system has even paid attention to marginalized communities. But eventually, aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices — and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands.

Moreover, it’s important for us to understand which levels of government have the biggest impact on our criminal justice system and police practices. When we think about politics, a lot of us focus only on the presidency and the federal government. And yes, we should be fighting to make sure that we have a president, a Congress, a U.S. Justice Department, and a federal judiciary that actually recognize the ongoing, corrosive role that racism plays in our society and want to do something about it. 

 

It’s mayors and county executives that appoint most police chiefs and negotiate collective bargaining agreements with police unions. It’s district attorneys and state’s attorneys that decide whether or not to investigate and ultimately charge those involved in police misconduct. Those are all elected positions. In some places, police review boards with the power to monitor police conduct are elected as well. Unfortunately, voter turnout in these local races is usually pitifully low, especially among young people — which makes no sense given the direct impact these offices have on social justice issues, not to mention the fact that who wins and who loses those seats is often determined by just a few thousand, or even a few hundred, votes.

 

So the bottom line is this: if we want to bring about real change, then the choice isn’t between protest and politics. We have to do both. We have to mobilize to raise awareness, and we have to organize and cast our ballots to make sure that we elect candidates who will act on reform.

 

Finally, the more specific we can make demands for criminal justice and police reform, the harder it will be for elected officials to just offer lip service to the cause and then fall back into business as usual once protests have gone away. The content of that reform agenda will be different for various communities. A big city may need one set of reforms; a rural community may need another. Some agencies will require wholesale rehabilitation; others should make minor improvements. Every law enforcement agency should have clear policies, including an independent body that conducts investigations of alleged misconduct. Tailoring reforms for each community will require local activists and organizations to do their research and educate fellow citizens in their community on what strategies work best.

 

But as a starting point, here’s a report and toolkit developed by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and based on the work of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing that I formed when I was in the White House. And if you’re interested in taking concrete action, we’ve also created a dedicated site at the Obama Foundation to aggregate and direct you to useful resources and organizations who’ve been fighting the good fight at the local and national levels for years.

 

I recognize that these past few months have been hard and dispiriting — that the fear, sorrow, uncertainty, and hardship of a pandemic have been compounded by tragic reminders that prejudice and inequality still shape so much of American life. But watching the heightened activism of young people in recent weeks, of every race and every station, makes me hopeful. If, going forward, we can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals.

 

Let’s get to work.

 

Because 8 years under a black President wasn't enough time to get it done...

[BillStime]

Truth 

 

 

[JetsFan20]

2 hours ago, Reality Check said:

I agree. Very few are willing to take the risk as investors into these places and when they do, they are the bad guys. The alternative dynamic is widely supported however, which is simply isolate these communities and keep them on welfare. In a real sense, that is just an unofficial prison system without walls. A concrete plantation if you will. It's insane.

few? Have you seen how Brooklyn has evolved the past 10 years?

 

Young suburban white people have been flooding to cities for a while now. Cheaper rent/housing prices have expanded their footprint deeper into these cities (largely minority communities). 
 

There is nothing wrong with it on the surface, but it does start to price long time residents out of their neighborhoods. The majority of elected officials (dems included) don’t care about these people because increases property values=more tax revenue. Bloomberg used police in Brooklyn as an example to keep crime at bay in these communities to further encourage/foster gentrification.

 

The only elected official I know whom really cares about the people is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who has made it her lives work improving the lives underprivileged minorities 

Edited June 3, 2020 by JetsFan20

[Buffalo_Gal]

4 minutes ago, bilzfancy said:

Hey, douche, this crap started under you. You set race relations back 50 years. You are the worst president in my lifetime and that includes LBJ and Nixon.

Obama definitely fanned the flames and set race relations back to before the '60s. For a man that could have united, he definitely was the great divider-in-chief.

[Buffalo Bills Fan]

 

[Buffalo_Gal]

 

[BillStime]

5 minutes ago, Buffalo_Gal said:

Obama definitely fanned the flames and set race relations back to before the '60s. For a man that could have united, he definitely was the great divider-in-chief.

How so? Examples plz 

[Uncle Joe]

1 hour ago, mead107 said:

No excuses for what happened. Hopefully the other 3 officers will be charged soon. 
 

I do understand the abuse of power by police has to STOP. 
SOME think because they have the uniform on they are above the law.

i have seen it in our area growing up. 

 

on the other hand they do have a tough job. 
I did not know so many get killed each year in line of duty. 
 

 

Have not seen anything about the 38 cops killed in the line of duty last year or the 47 in2018. https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/02/07/us/2019-officers-killed-trnd/index.html

 

It wasn't too long ago **** were walking up to cop cars in NYC and assassinating officers.  I think it was 4 in one week.

[Buffalo_Gal]

Catch and release. This is perhaps why they would like to keep the feds as far away from NYC as possible? It would not be the same result.
 

More on the bridge where 5K "just wanted to go home!" after being out after curfew. Maybe they shoulda thought of that before 8pm?
 

 

[BillStime]

1 minute ago, Buffalo_Gal said:

Catch and release. This is perhaps why they would like to keep the feds as far away from NYC as possible? It would not be the same result.
 

More on the bridge where 5K "just wanted to go home!" after being out after curfew. Maybe they shoulda thought of that before 8pm?
 

 

Still waiting for your examples of how “Obama definitely fanned the flames and set race relations back to before the '60s. For a man that could have united, he definitely was the great divider-in-chief.”

[plenzmd1]

1 hour ago, SoCal Deek said:

Correct. As I posted yesterday, the FACTS are that more WHITE people are killed by police every year than BLACK people. Every year! In general, police don’t have time to go looking for innocent people to harass. They go to places and incidents where someone calls them to help. Are there bad actors in blue? I’m sure there are! But the problem is not systemic...it’s just not.

cmon, you can do the math when it comes to Covid, but not when it comes to this situatiion. Thats just intellectually dishonest.

 

Besides that, how many of these incidents happen without a camera present and never get reported? 

 

Just like in the pandemic, two things can be true ....

 

yes, there is a problem systemically across the board..even if only 5% of police are bad, but they are allowed to operate without any consequences, that is a systemic problem. 

 

Yes, the idiots rioting and causing mayhem and propagating violence are to be condemned, and should be dealt with harshly and  to the full extent of the law.

 

 

 

  

 

 

[Buffalo_Gal]