Once again - let's summarize my feedback on the protests & riots in Raleigh. Something I have done multiple times previously.
I support peaceful protests. In Raleigh during 2020 the Black Lives Matter groups peacefully protested in daytime. The majority of the participants were black and of all ages. The BLM leadership in Raleigh were respected local clergy from the area. They strongly demanded the protests be peaceful much to their credit. A good number of politicians and local police chiefs even joined for some of these protests.
The ANTIFA riots after dark primarily involved young white people. The
Raleigh mayor and police chief very directly stated that these nighttime riots were being caused by antifascists. The local BLM organization leadership made it very clear these "violent antifascist rioters do not represent their values and do not help the BLM cause". They
asked not to be judged by the actions of these ANTIFA rioters.
Also these ANTIFA rioters are not "antifacists" -- they are actually anarchists. Their intent is to tear down government, property, employment, businesses, and our civil society. These violent ANTIFA rioters should not be tolerated and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law --- in the same way the January 6th rioters should be held accountable and prosecuted.
I have lived in the Raleigh area for over 30 years. The only time I have experienced all the local TV networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX) stop prime-time (8pm to 11pm) programming and cut to local information is during adverse weather events (hurricane, tornadoes, etc.) and during the 2020 Raleigh ANTIFA riots.
Anyone who claims to be "
living downtown" in Raleigh saying these riots was a
non-event -- obviously does not live in the core downtown area. They may live inside the 440 Beltline but are probably near N.C. State or some other area which was not impacted by the ANTIFA riots in 2020. All the news media and the posts on social media from many people living in the core downtown area made it very clear that they were in significant fear and directly impacted by the ANTIFA rioters.
Any Democrat trying to claim that "violent ANTIFA riots" or "CRT-based education" are "figments of our imagination" obviously has no chance of being elected in 2022 in competitive races. You can't tell people the sun does not exist when they are staring at it outside -- which is the equivalent of these type of statements.