The Left Is Not Inclined to Violence

The left is not inclined to violence.

All it takes is a cursory glance at history to see an overwhelming trend of tolerance from the left for the often aggressive protests of the right.

As recently as May of 2020, the left did not interfere when armed protesters assembled in the Michigan Capitol to demonstrate against the state’s stay at home order. The left did not throw rocks, they didn’t incite riots, they didn’t do anything to exacerbate the tension of the moment and they allowed the protesters to have their say.

A similar case happened during the 2014 armed confrontation that came to be known as the Bundy standoff.

To my knowledge, there has never been a left led demonstration that involved assembling an armed group of protesters and taking control of public land or government property.

However, when an incident happens that incites the left to protest, opportunistic right leaning groups mobilize to do everything they can to discredit the purpose of the gathering. The peaceful demonstrations that occurred after the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis quickly escalated into riots and looting. Arrests were made and Minneapolis officials revealed that most of the violence was perpetuated by outside agitators. The agitators start fires, throw rocks, and then flee the scene leaving the original protesters to endure the police response.

There are opportunistic groups in our nation that wait for a moment of social tension and seize upon it to wage urban warfare on marginalized communities. Yet the media always reports that the marginalized individuals are “burning their own neighborhoods.” There are never stories about how these neighborhoods were “under attack” by outside groups. Until there is evidence of who started the fire, it’s inappropriate and irresponsible to begin casting blame.

Sadly, in the case of the most recent riots the actions of the outside agitators were highly effective in derailing the important narrative of the immediate need for social change. Very quickly, the news media stopped talking about the death of George Floyd, and began to decry the rioting and looting. The whole situation represents multiple levels of systemic racism. Not only are marginalized groups not allowed to protest peacefully, they have their homes burned, and they get blamed for starting the fire.

You often hear members of the right declare that they do not start violence at protests, and only retaliate when attacked. However, the truth is that they only use the retaliation argument as a legal defense to brawl without consequence. They come to a protest looking to fight. All they need is a witness who sees an off balance protester stumble into a member of their group, and they feel entitled to use the initiation of physical contact to respond with lethal force. When groups admit that they use violence “only in retaliation” it does not vindicate them, instead it’s an admission that they arrived on the scene with the deliberate intention of causing physical harm.

It is unfortunate that we are in a position where there is a need to defend the political ideology of left leaning individuals as a result of inaccurate reporting and irresponsible leadership. The left represents the group that is anti-war, anti-racism, and anti-government control. The left is not inclined to violence, and even the most cursory glance at history will provide evidence to that effect.

Political offices as high as the President are making factually inaccurate claims that the political left is somehow responsible for the violence, riots, and social unrest that has ensued as a result of the tragic death of George Floyd. It’s indisputable that the actions of the left did not create this situation. This moment of civil unrest came about because a man was brutally killed for no reason whatsoever. That was the inciting action and no other.

Our nation is in a state of confusion and disarray that represents a complete failure of leadership. At this moment, accusations and harsh actions from our political leaders only exacerbate the division and tension that is tearing our country apart.

Now is an opportunity to take a step back and educate yourself on some of the terrible acts of oppression many of our fellow Americans are forced to endure on a daily basis. The violence has to end and we have to restore a level of tolerance that makes a civilized and prosperous society possible.

I urge you to take a stand now, and be on the side of peace.