Stokely Carmichael once said:
“The problem with nonviolence is that we have never truly been violent.”

He had a point when he said that. Although to me, the major hiccup with nonviolence was that we never really gave violence a fair shot—and history, with its twisted sense of humor, keeps nodding in agreement. I am in no way suggesting we become violent. However, when you look at all those times when “bad actors” took it upon themselves to spice up peaceful gatherings with a dash of uninvited violence against law enforcement, things go sideways fast. People who were just exercising their rights (legally, might I add) became targets immediately.

Kent State: A Peaceful Protest Turned Tragedy

Take, for example, the serene student protest at Kent State University on May 1st, 1970. It was all peace and love—until the National Guard thought it would be a stellar idea to turn a campus protest into target practice. The result? Four students dead and nine wounded.

Let’s be honest: at the time those shots were fired, those infantrymen were about as threatened as a bear is by a goldfish. And later—big surprise—it turned out that opening fire was completely uncalled for. Why? Because “someone” threw a rock.

We’ve Seen This Movie Before

Here we are, years later, and it feels like we’re stuck in a rerun. With the number of actual threats to our rights out there, you’d think we’d have learned by now. You’d think we’d be smart enough to keep an eye out for those troublemakers who sneak into protests with the finesse of a bull in a china shop—just to get a rise out of law enforcement, then disappear and blame minorities.

Because of course, it’s always easier to blame the Black and brown people who were just minding their own business. We need to be more observant, more attentive, and more diligent when it comes to participating. Always be aware of your surroundings. You may prevent a tragedy by doing so.

The Usual Suspects

Walk Carefully, March Smarter

With this enlightening perspective, it seems our community needs to handle protest participation like handling a porcupine. When you do hit the streets, maybe do it with more caution. Thoroughly vet who you’re marching with. Vet the individuals you support. And for heaven’s sake, keep your own nose so clean it sparkles.

Why? Because progressives are a finicky, nit-picky bunch. They’ll split their allegiances from an organization or individual because you personally turned 18 a month before your girlfriend in high school—or because you posted a pic in support of that person or group. You don’t want to be the reason for that crossfire—or get caught in it.

– Shade B.