It’s time for all protesters to call a halt to protesting for a while. Peaceful protests are providing cover for those intent on mayhem. Months and months of civic unrest, i.e. fires, looting, general destruction and huge losses to businesses randomly attacked, have overshadowed worthwhile protest causes. The general public has had it and now associates protests with lawless damage regardless of the cause.
It’s time to find other ways to get messages out there. Volunteering for food programs that help the community while wearing a Black Lives Matter T-shirt would provide a positive message in more than one way. Taking part in discussions on how police can best serve would keep the issue alive. Examine your own racial attitudes. Sharing your views any way you can without taking to the streets could lead to progress.
If you know people actively engaged in protesting, let them know that they are providing a perfect foil for Donald Trump’s “law and order” theme. The Trump campaign now implies that Democrats are behind protests. Destruction during otherwise peaceful protests feeds right into the Trump anti-Democrat campaign message, which could aid the president’s reelection bid.
For all these reasons, it’s time to give protesting a rest.
Mary Johnson, Salt Lake City