The police, by stand down orders or whatever reasons, did not do their job. They allowed the groups to make contact with each other. As one commentator recently said, the police put the citizens in danger by their lack of actions that day. They failed their local citizens. To see how it is done properly look to some more recent protests and how law enforcement did their jobs, even in public places.
When it comes to the violence that BOTH sides engaged in, I have not, and am not, claiming that one side didn't engage in any violence; you however, seem to be bending over backwards to ignore reality and ignore the images you see yourself in video clips. I never made any claim as to when the violence that the clip I provided took place only that in that particular engagement, it is more than clear that the anti-protesters were the ones who attacked that specific group first as I pointed out.
I never asked directly, perhaps I should have. Mike, do you support the aim of such groups as Redneck Revolt, BLM, or several self proclaimed liberals and progressives who claim that certain speech (as in someone's exercise of free speech) should not be allowed or protected if people in such groups decide that they are offended, for themselves or on behalf of some other group?
"I still feel it was the supremacists who incited it by being there in the first place."
I, like you, don't agree with their message, however, they had a legal right to be their as well, by obtaining a permit. They also have a 1st Amendment right to free speech, regardless of who disagrees with their right to do so. That is the issue that has been overlooked in nearly every discussion on this topic. Several of the anti-protester groups openly state on their websites that their whole goal is violence and blocking other people's right to free speech. A lot of the anti-protesters came armed themselves. Also, according to your own posts regarding their permit, they were the ones who were out of order considering they were not protesting in the areas THEY requested permits for.
I tried the link you provided, for some reason it took me to the page then blocked it out. I was unable to read anything on the page. |
