# If I don't protest when white people are killed in police custody ... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 9, 2020, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330 "2020-06-09T23:22:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Unreconstructed\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/76d3ee/32.png) [@Unreconstructed\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unreconstructed_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330/61 "2020-06-10T23:25:23Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Me personally? Mostly throwing money at the problem, as an ACLU member and supporter of BLM and affiliated organizations. I also do some in-person activism in the form of working on campaigns for legislative remedies, attending rallies, writing letters to my elected representatives, etc. > > Sadly, I haven’t participated in any in-person gatherings (not counting online meetings) during the COVID crisis, rationalizing that I may be doing more good overall by staying out of the healthcare system and helping with funding than by joining in a physical march. But I am not really sure whether that’s the morally right choice to make in this situation, and I am deeply grateful to the activists who are running those risks for picking up the slack on the fight against injustice on behalf of my selfish lazy white ass. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Giving money is far more valuable and useful than protesting. On the contrary, it’s people who protest without giving money that should be questioning themselves. If you’re in any way vulnerable to COVID, stay at home. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330/62 "2020-06-10T23:33:27Z")
Hey OP! Have you been over here? [Controversial encounters between law-enforcement and civilians - the omnibus thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736919) ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330/63 "2020-06-10T23:35:36Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > December 21st, 2017: > [Mesa ‘Rally for Justice’ held for Daniel Shaver](https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/mesa-rally-for-justice-held-for-daniel-shaver/75-501627698) This post alone has shredded the OP’s entire premise. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330/64 "2020-06-11T00:05:49Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > This post alone has shredded the OP’s entire premise. But he did say of course he’s a racist in his OP, so it’s not _entirely_ shredded. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330/65 "2020-06-11T00:23:55Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > And, to be clear, the “economics” and “ease of prosecution” reasons are also rooted quite firmly in racism. It’s racism all the way down. Well, yes. Unfortunately, even if the racist reasons for these particular people ending up at that strata of society are removed, there will doubtlessly remain other people at that strata who arrived there through other turns of fate besides racism. It won’t be much comfort to them to say to themselves “Well, at least I didn’t get here through racism” if they’re still targeted due to their relative inability to defend themselves and are more likely to end up dead because of it. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330/66 "2020-06-11T12:30:34Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Thanks for misquoting me. And how do you know the color of my skin? We’ve never met. Assume much? > > Bottom line: if everyone took care of themselves, nobody would have to take care of anybody else. Tend your own garden. > > ETA: my apologies if I’m not being enough of an asshole. I don’t normally post in The Pit, but this thread got moved here after I first posted in it. This is the guy who paves his own roads, puts out his own house fires, even produces his own vaccines in his basement lab, and vaccinates his own children with the hypodermic needles he manufactured himself with the plastic he created from the oil he pumped from his own well and then refined! And if his neighbor’s road washes away, his neighbor’s house catches fire, his neighbor’s kids get smallpox, his neighbor is starving, think he’s going to lift a finger? No way, he’s tending his own garden. Because all lives matter means only mine does. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330/67 "2020-06-11T13:14:59Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Blacks and other pro-Justice Americans put up with abusive police behavior until there is a coincidence: video of the police abuse, saturation of resentment, and so on. Are some whites abused by the police? Probably! Start a protest about one of those incidents if you want. _ **Blacks will join your protest as they have in the past.** _ One of the ugly parts of this is that implied in some of the questioning is the \*normalization \*of people dying as a result of police action. _“White people die in police custody all the time and nobody complains”?_ well, then, dammit, COMPLAIN!! Don’t take it on faith that there must have been a justification every time. DON’T double down on “as long as I behave properly I have nothing to fear”, that is privilege speaking – and the attitude the people behind the abusive policing want to instill in the population. Also… > [@](#): > > Here’s a breakdown of the 1004 people shot dead by police in the U.S… > > ``` > White 370 36.9% > Black 235 23.4% > Hispanic 158 15.7% > Other 39 3.9% > Unknown 202 20.1% > > ``` Notice that in the top two tiers, there is major divergence between the percent of identified victims and the percent of that ethnicity in the general population – not even half as many among “White”, but 1.7+ times as many among “Black”. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330/68 "2020-06-11T15:40:04Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > I couldn’t put my finger on it before, but when the level of discourse is > > You’re a dumbass! > > No, YOU’RE a dumbass! > > I think it’s time to tiptoe away. Speaking of which, it looks like the GOP has over-ruled the president and the convention will be held in Charlotte, NC … but without any of the president’s demands met. [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/502206-gop-votes-to-scale-back-charlotte-convention-move-trump-acceptance-speech](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/502206-gop-votes-to-scale-back-charlotte-convention-move-trump-acceptance-speech) ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330/69 "2020-06-11T15:48:35Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Nope. Nobody. I don’t approve of police killing anyone in their custody, but I’m not the \*\*protesting \*\*type. I tend to focus more on things like **obeying the law** and providing for my family. Are you equating “protesting” as the opposite of “obeying the law”? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330/70 "2020-06-11T16:04:31Z")
> [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](#): > > Speaking of which, it looks like the GOP has over-ruled the president and the convention will be held in Charlotte, NC … but without any of the president’s demands met. > > [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/502206-gop-votes-to-scale-back-charlotte-convention-move-trump-acceptance-speech](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/502206-gop-votes-to-scale-back-charlotte-convention-move-trump-acceptance-speech) To me, this looks like a big “FU” to Trump from the Republican National Committee. They’ve told him that they control the convention - not him. And if he wants to have a big speech in front of lots of people, he can do it elsewhere. Essentially, they have disinvited him from his own convention. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330/71 "2020-06-11T16:33:14Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > To me, this looks like a big “FU” to Trump from the Republican National Committee. > > They’ve told him that they control the convention - not him. And if he wants to have a big speech in front of lots of people, he can do it elsewhere. > > Essentially, they have disinvited him from his own convention. I think it’s just arrogance. They feel confident they can get their way when it comes down to it, and have the convention with as many people as they want. The governor said he couldn’t make promises; he didn’t say no. He’ll buckle before the convention. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330/72 "2020-06-11T16:45:37Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > I think it’s just arrogance. They feel confident they can get their way when it comes down to it, and have the convention with as many people as they want. The governor said he couldn’t make promises; he didn’t say no. He’ll buckle before the convention. Did you read the article? > [@](#): > > The RNC Executive Committee voted to reduce the number of invited delegates to a total of 336, amounting to six from each state and territory, an RNC spokesperson said in a statement obtained by The Hill. > > The almost 2,500 delegates who would typically attend the convention Looks like they reduced attendance to about 12% of what they wanted. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330/73 "2020-06-11T17:47:53Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Did you read the article? > > Looks like they reduced attendance to about 12% of what they wanted. Ah, you’re right. I missed that his acceptance speech would be held elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330/74 "2020-06-11T18:06:09Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > To me, this looks like a big “FU” to Trump from the Republican National Committee. > > They’ve told him that they control the convention - not him. And if he wants to have a big speech in front of lots of people, he can do it elsewhere. > > Essentially, they have disinvited him from his own convention. Coupled with this article, it’s been an OK day, weather not withstanding. > **[Former Trump Plaza casino in Atlantic City to be imploded. The sooner the...](https://www.nj.com/atlantic/2020/06/eyesore-of-former-trump-plaza-will-be-demolished-but-not-soon-enough-atlantic-city-mayor-says.html)** > > The Trump Plaza is the last of three Atlantic City casinos formerly owned by President Donald Trump, and will soon be demolished, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Smalls said. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330/75 "2020-06-11T18:14:48Z")
> [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](#): > > Coupled with this article, it’s been an OK day, weather not withstanding. > > [Former Trump Plaza casino in Atlantic City to be imploded. The sooner the better, mayor says. - nj.com](https://www.nj.com/atlantic/2020/06/eyesore-of-former-trump-plaza-will-be-demolished-but-not-soon-enough-atlantic-city-mayor-says.html) > [@](#): > > Earlier this year, Small sought an injunction in Superior Court in Atlantic County to deem the building an “imminent hazard,” and force its demolition. Maybe we could do that with Trump himself? Declare him an Imminent Hazard" and force his demolition? ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330/76 "2020-06-11T19:34:30Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Maybe we could do that with Trump himself? Declare him an Imminent Hazard" and force his demolition? I can’t wait until the day that his name comes off the downtown Chicago skyscraper. It utterly ruins what should be a gorgeous view along the river from Wacker Drive. I figure that once he’s out of office, legal troubles and bankruptcy will put ownership or naming rights of that building into play, and whoever controls it will waste no time in rebranding. Mid-2022 at the latest. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330/77 "2020-06-11T20:43:02Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Maybe we could do that with Trump himself? Declare him an Imminent Hazard" and force his demolition? There’s always… ‘The Frog-March of Shame’… [https://centurylink.net/news/read/category/news/article/newser-biden\_raises\_prospect\_of\_trump\_escorted\_from\_white-rnewsersyn](https://centurylink.net/news/read/category/news/article/newser-biden_raises_prospect_of_trump_escorted_from_white-rnewsersyn) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330/78 "2020-06-11T21:57:31Z")
> [@](#): > > No trolling > > By trolling, we mean posting of inflammatory comments solely to get a rise out of people. If we feel your primary goal as a poster is to make people mad, you’ll quickly find yourself on the road to banning. > > [Revised Forum Rules for the BBQ Pit: read this before posting](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=507985) I’m sure there’s just a different definition of what a “rule” is that I am unfamiliar with. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330/79 "2020-06-12T01:41:57Z")
> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#): > > I’m sure there’s just a different definition of what a “rule” is that I am unfamiliar with. I’m not sure who you mean. I mean if people are going to be openly racist and try to bait us and poke us with straw-men, intellectual dishonesty, willful ignorance, and other cheap tricks and sticks, why is it so wrong to point out that their glorious [del]Grand Wizard[/del] Leader, who supports their racist brethren and bad acts, has feet of orange clay and is tanking in the polls faster than a submarine with screen doors? Seems only fair, as long as there are cites provided based on fact, to back the assertions up. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330/80 "2020-06-12T17:57:17Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > I can’t wait until the day that his name comes off the downtown Chicago skyscraper. It utterly ruins what should be a gorgeous view along the river from Wacker Drive. I figure that once he’s out of office, legal troubles and bankruptcy will put ownership or naming rights of that building into play, and whoever controls it will waste no time in rebranding. Mid-2022 at the latest. Hope they film it, kinda like the US Army did in [Nuremberg](https://youtu.be/1CYTcQUKTVY). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-dont-protest-when-white-people-are-killed-in-police-custody/855330.md?page=5)