Protests: Today’s violence would make MLK weep

I wholeheartedly support the Black Lives Matter movement. I lived through the beginning of change with Martin Luther King’s Civil Rights movement.

When King died, John Lewis moved to the sidelines because he didn’t like the violent direction the movement was taking.

I am afraid the same has happened to what started as an essentially peaceful movement; now I see persistent violence on the streets.

Protesters are goading, throwing things and harassing police, while federal agents are using riot tactics and tear gas on protesters. Guns are carried inside the crowd and some protesters have been shot by their own. Buildings are defaced and businesses looted.

The movement will turn on itself without strong leadership that works on policy making and encourages nonviolent marches.

King would cry if he saw what is happening. Take seriously what Lewis said and “make good trouble.” If the violence doesn’t stop, the movement will be lost and we will be back where we started.

This story was originally published August 5, 2020 at 3:36 PM with the headline "Protests: Today’s violence would make MLK weep."