Reactions of Protests Against Racial Violence Are Not Uniform

Protesting against racism is socially acceptable to almost everyone in America’s cities and suburbs, but all this gets a little tricky out in the country, where the politics is fairly “God-and-country,” and where guns, pick-up trucks, and cowboy boots are a regular part of life.  What happens on social media when protests are announced out here?

The answer is coming in quite clearly, when yesterday a protest group of about 300, mostly young people, stood chanting with signs on a major roadside, and a somewhat larger march took place today, starting in a public park.  In response, one of our townspeople wrote, “This is not a joke.  This is really happening.  These people are not well-intentioned.”

In response, I posted the picture above, and wrote, “I think we need to be aware that there are millions of people all around the world, protesting against racist violence in America.  The photo here was taken in Vienna a few days ago.  These people put down their beer, sausages, and waltz music, and took to the streets to protest peacefully what they (and the vast majority of Americans) see as totally unacceptable.  Are you suggesting that these people are ‘not well-intentioned?'”