Editorial: Hard to see now, but we walked reform path before
By The Herald Editorial Board
For all the smoke, tear gas and confusion clouding the streets of U.S. cities — including some in Washington state — it can be difficult to see a way toward confronting myriad issues that have festered for decades until legitimate and peaceful protests — following the death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers a week ago — were overshadowed by counterproductive acts of vandalism and deadly violence.
Largely, protests and marches over the last several days have been peaceful, or started so, but too frequently attention to their message seeking progress on issues related to racism and the use of force by police has been diverted by those using vandalism and violence for the purposes of chaos and hate. And too often, those acts have been falsely attributed to those seeking necessary change.
The confusion over responsibility for violence and damage — particularly when it singles out protesters or police — will only delay reconciliation and resolution.
From news accounts, social media posts and personal observations, it’s not hard to count up anecdotes of either rioters setting police vehicles and buildings ablaze, looters destroying property or law enforcement officers severely injuring protesters, journalists and at least one child, pepper-sprayed in the face allegedly by a Seattle police officer. Throughout, protesters and police have been identified as both perpetrators and victims.
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