# "BLM protestors were given up to 15 years in jail over last year's protests" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 19, 2021, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849 "2021-07-19T19:54:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2021, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849/1 "2021-07-19T19:54:45Z")
Related to current events and the recent sentencing of 6-8 months for a Capitol Rioter, the immediate knee-jerk response I saw was people claiming that BLM or ANTIFA related rioters in 2020 were sentenced from 3 to 15 years in jail for similar crimes. However my googling shows that the vast vast majority of the “rioters” were either let go, had charges dismissed, or were charged with trespassing and other minor offenses. Other charges are still pending in courts. Has there been anyone given 15 years or other serious time for this events? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2021, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849/2 "2021-07-19T19:56:53Z")
May be disinformation: > **[California denies claim that BLM protester Tianna Arata faces 15 years in prison](https://nypost.com/2020/08/12/california-denies-reports-that-blm-protester-faces-15-years-in-prison/)** > > Officials in California slammed a “misinformation” campaign that claims that a “peaceful” Black Lives Matter leader who was arrested last month is facing 15 years in prison,… ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849/3 "2021-07-20T15:34:07Z")
Hadn’t heard this at all. Usually what I hear is how BLM protesters got away with violence, looting and burning without consequence, which isn’t true either. I did find [this article](https://www.sltrib.com/news/2020/08/21/amended-charges-mean-utah/) which suggests that protesters found guilty of splashing paint onto the DA’s building in Salt Lake City were thought to be facing sentences of “five to fifteen years” - which was a _reduction_ from initial consideration of life in prison - but [they appear to have pled down to fines and no jail time](https://www.deseret.com/utah/2021/6/15/22535845/black-lives-matter-protesters-charged-with-vandalizing-d-a-s-office-in-summer-2020-reach-plea-deals). ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849/4 "2021-07-20T15:38:16Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Related to current events and the recent sentencing of 6-8 months for a Capitol Rioter, the immediate knee-jerk response I saw was people claiming that BLM or ANTIFA related rioters in 2020 were sentenced from 3 to 15 years in jail for similar crimes. I haven’t heard that. But the George Floyd murder protests were certainly more heavily policed. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849/5 "2021-07-20T15:55:13Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Usually what I hear is how BLM protesters got away with violence, looting and burning without consequence, which isn’t true either. I am sure you know this, but in general, the actual BLM protestors are not guilty of any of those. Anarchists, right wing agitators etc, try to turn a peaceful protest into a violent riot. Professional looters will sweep in. Mind you, yes, even peaceful protestors with splash paint, paint slogans, and what not. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849/6 "2021-07-20T16:01:54Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I am sure you know this, but in general, the actual BLM protestors are not guilty of any of those. I do know that, yes. Somewhere around 95% of the BLM protests were completely peaceful. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849/7 "2021-07-20T16:11:13Z")
By the way, the Capitol insurrectionist plead to one count of obstructing an official proceeding. What are the “similar crimes” mentioned in the OP? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849/8 "2021-07-20T16:14:11Z")
A lot of BLM protest participants were initially arrested on “curfew violations”, and most of the Jan 6 ones on “trespassing”, with a minority of both picking up more serious charges (a few, considerably more serious). That’s probably the closest comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Falchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849/9 "2021-07-20T16:57:11Z")
Hodgkins was indicted for: (1) obstruction of an official proceeding; (2) entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; (3) disorderly conduct in a restricted building or grounds; (4) disorderly conduct in the Capitol; and (5) parading, demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol. Counts two through five are going to have pretty direct parallels in other protests (BLM or otherwise). ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849/10 "2021-07-20T17:07:00Z")
But that’s not what he was sentenced for, which was the point of the OP. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849/11 "2021-07-20T17:22:46Z")
Since this is GQ, do you a factual citation for that statistic? ---
**Author:** ![Falchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849/12 "2021-07-20T17:48:38Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > But that’s not what he was sentenced for, which was the point of the OP. Perhaps. That’s not how I read it. I didn’t view it as a reflection on the specific offense that he plead to as much as a general statement about “sentences” in relations to “crimes” committed (or conduct more generally). In that case, it’s easier. I’ll say, as a GQ matter, than the OP’s “people” were wrong. No BLM or ANTIFA rioter was sentenced to 15 years for obstruction of official proceedings or obstruction of legal process. (Either under federal law or state law). ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2021, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849/13 "2021-07-21T08:07:48Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Since this is GQ, do you a factual citation for that statistic? [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Floyd_protests) in the first instance, although there are links to click through: > [@](#): > > It was later estimated that between May 26 and August 22, 93% of individual protests were “peaceful and nondestructive” and The Washington Post estimated that by the end of June, 96.3% of 7,305 demonstrations involved no injuries and no property damage. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2021, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849/14 "2021-07-21T12:27:10Z")
A disparity in sentences (if it exists) could also result from a disparity in which charges were pursued, as well as from different sentencing for any given charge. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2021, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849/15 "2021-07-21T19:59:45Z")
Your click through link mentioned above is behind a paywall. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2021, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849/16 "2021-07-21T20:03:22Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > > [@Wikipedia](#): > > > > by the end of June, 96.3% of 7,305 demonstrations involved no injuries and no property damage. No paywall here: > **[Study of 2020 Protests Shows Difference Between Reality and Perception -...](https://today.uconn.edu/2020/10/study-2020-protests-shows-difference-reality-perception/)** > > Political science professor Jeremy Pressman, co-founder of The Crowd Counting Consortium (CCC), discusses the CCC's latest study on 2020 protests. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2021, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849/17 "2021-07-21T20:39:44Z")
Thanks for the non-paywalled link, but I disagree that blogs are factual citations. Anyone can create a blog. The one you linked to is clearly an opinion piece. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2021, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849/18 "2021-07-21T21:00:29Z")
Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about such blogs & opinion pieces: > - [WP:NEWSBLOG](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:NEWSBLOG&redirect=no) > > Some newspapers, magazines, and other news organizations host online [columns](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:PRIMARY) they call [blogs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog). These may be acceptable sources if the writers are professionals, but use them with caution because blogs may not be subject to the news organization’s normal fact-checking process.[[8]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#cite_note-EXCEPTIONAL-8) If a news organization publishes an [opinion piece](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:PRIMARY) in a blog, attribute the statement to the writer, e.g. “Jane Smith wrote …” Never use the blog comments that are left by the readers as sources. For personal or group blogs that are _not_ reliable sources, see [§ Self-published sources](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Self-published_sources) below. They clearly have no problem with a _Washington Post_ blog citing the CCC’s study. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2021, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849/19 "2021-07-21T21:31:58Z")
Do you recognize that the CCC just might have an agenda? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2021, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849/20 "2021-07-21T21:41:57Z")
“The [Crowd Counting Consortium](https://sites.google.com/view/crowdcountingconsortium/home) (CCC) … collects publicly available data on political crowds reported in the United States, including marches, protests, strikes, demonstrations, riots, and other actions.” I’m sure anyone interested can go through that same publically available data and look for discrepancies between the data and what the CCC claims. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-protestors-were-given-up-to-15-years-in-jail-over-last-years-protests/946849.md?page=2)