Riots in Oakland (Napa, Alameda, Lafayette: middle-class, sales, apartment complex)

[Woof]

Originally Posted by Taboo2

.......I Honestly believe the few rioters weren't SMART enough to have a plan. They broke off from the main group and thought it would be cool to break stuff downtown- they wanted to make some noise and show just how angry (insert foot stamping here) they were.

So why weren't they terrorizing Lafayette and the cops neighborhood and where HE did business? He is the one who fired the shot.

There are plenty of poor places to live in Oakland, that is StILL where people go to live who cannot afford the other cities in the area.
Forced into housing projects? You mean like the ones that taxpayers pay for because the people have no income and cannot or will not work? Ah yes, I can see how terrible it must be to have someone else pay your rent. NO one forced anyone into a housing project. You still choose where to live. I agree that they are not somewhere i would hope to end up, and perhaps I would leave the area because of that. But still, there is plenty of section 8 housing available that is not in projects. NO reason to riot.

Many people in the bay area have been forced to leave because of the housing rates. And yet we are not all rioting about how we cannot live in our hometown because we don't make enough money. We adjust and deal with it.

Funny how some of us don't throw tantrums because life has given us a raw deal. So no, I cannot condone the few who do throw tantrums as reasonable or acceptable behavior.

Thank you, very well stated.

A rogue cop shot someone. If that had happened in my town, I wouldn't have started destroying the property of productive members of society, nor would I have stolen things from them or beat up their families. I would have waited for the justice system to do its thing, and then if they screwed up I would have protested peacefully and would have voted for change.

And let's be clear about who the rioters were. They weren't employed, because what boss would give his workers time off to ruin the community? And they weren't the disabled receiving public assistance, I can't imagine blind people and people in wheelchairs throwing bricks, burning down buildings, and beating up anyone in their path.

These were healthy young adults who were criminals, and most likely getting welfare checks on the side. So the productive members of society have to pay for their alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs, for the entertainment of those leeches in rioting, and then they have to pay to clean up the mess after them. The insurance companies have to raise their rates afterward, and the productive members of society have to pay more for that also.

[City Boy]

The generalization of the "Rioters" are ridiculous. Most likely criminals on welfare not employed? This took place at night long after work was out for most people so what are you talking about? Most of them were from the suburbs and surrounding cities. Here we go again blaming poor people for being poor.
Why are you acting like this was the second coming of the Rodney King riots?

[Woof]

The only poor people I'm blaming are healthy adults who take taxpayer money, and then go out and destroy other people's property, steal things, and hurt the vulnerable.

There is NO valid reason in this country for rioting, sorry, poverty doesn't cut it. The only poor people I've seen who had a valid reason for rioting were the Haitians who were actually, literally starving while the politicians in their country stole UN food meant for them.

These Oakland rioters weren't starving to death, their families didn't have to fill their stomachs with clay to ease the pain.

[City Boy]

Originally Posted by Woof

The only poor people I'm blaming are healthy adults who take taxpayer money, and then go out and destroy other people's property, steal things, and hurt the vulnerable.

There is NO valid reason in this country for rioting, sorry, poverty doesn't cut it. The only poor people I've seen who had a valid reason for rioting were the Haitians who were actually, literally starving while the politicians in their country stole UN food meant for them.

These Oakland rioters weren't starving to death, their families didn't have to fill their stomachs with clay to ease the pain.

What is the point of your post? Do you personally know the handful of idiots who were out there? How do you think you know their economic status? What does poverty have to do with what went on the other night? Why do you think they were all poor people out there? You're post is full of assumptions. So first they were poor then you're saying they are not poor enough. Make up your mind.

[Lulu101]

The rioters were actually radical activists from Berkeley.

[Woof]

Originally Posted by City Boy

What is the point of your post? Do you personally know the handful of idiots who were out there? How do you think you know their economic status? What does poverty have to do with what went on the other night? Why do you think they were all poor people out there? You're post is full of assumptions. So first they were poor then you're saying they are not poor enough. Make up your mind.

When did I say anything about blaming poverty?

What I said was that most of them probably were being subsidized by taxpayers. You're using the red herring tactic of pretending that I'm criticizing people for being poor.

I'm poor, but that doesn't give me an excuse to go out and wreck the community. I'm not condemning anyone for being poor, I'm not condemning peaceful protests - even though it's absurd to protest the existence of a rogue cop. After all, we have a right to protest even if it's for unthinking, stupid reasons.

I'm condemning the violence, theft, and destruction. I'm also noting that gainfully employed adults don't usually have the time or energy to riot after work, nor the inclination. That's my opinion based on my life experiences.

[City Boy]

Originally Posted by Woof

When did I say anything about poverty?

What I said was that most of them probably were being subsidized by taxpayers. You're using the red herring tactic of pretending that I'm criticizing people for being poor.

I'm poor, but that doesn't give me an excuse to go out and wreck the community. I'm not condemning anyone for being poor, I'm not condemning peaceful protests - even though it's absurd to protest the existence of a rogue cop. After all, we have a right to protest even if it's for unthinking, stupid reasons.

I'm condemning the violence, theft, and destruction. I'm also noting that gainfully employed adults don't usually have the time or energy to riot after work, nor the inclination. That's my opinion based on my life experiences.

Do you not understand what you write? Your post was filled with assuming people are rioting because they are poor and angry. You called them welfare recipients.

So people who have a history of being treated like dirt by the police should not protest and speak up when somebody ends up like Diallo in NY? Shot over 40 times when reaching for a wallet. Moderator cut: Personal attack

[Woof]

I didn't say that were rioting because they're poor. I said basically that they're rioting because they're thugs. And also I noted that those thugs are generally receiving public assistance yet are not disabled, and that's because people who are employed and have to work hard for their possessions tend to value property more, and also have less energy to do criminal things like rioting after they've been working hard all day.

Now you've said that I implied "people who have a history of being treated like dirt by the police should not protest" when I SPECIFICALLY said that people have a right to protest, even if it's for the remarkably stupid reason of protesting the existence of one rogue cop - as if BART and the police had instructed him to shoot an unarmed man!

I think it's utterly contemptible for anyone to try to justify and make mass violence, arson and theft seem noble.

It's about taking pleasure in stealing things and in harming people. It's not about a valid protest.

[City Boy]

Originally Posted by Woof

I didn't say that were rioting because they're poor. I said basically that they're rioting because they're thugs. And also I noted that those thugs are generally receiving public assistance yet are not disabled, and that's because people who are employed and have to work hard for their possessions tend to value property more, and also have less energy to do criminal things like rioting after they've been working hard all day.

Now you've said that I implied "people who have a history of being treated like dirt by the police should not protest" when I SPECIFICALLY said that people have a right to protest, even if it's for the remarkably stupid reason of protesting the existence of one rogue cop - as if BART and the police had instructed him to shoot an unarmed man!

I think it's utterly contemptible for anyone to try to justify and make mass violence, arson and theft seem noble.

It's about taking pleasure in stealing things and in harming people. It's not about a valid protest.

Originally Posted by Woof

I'm not condemning peaceful protests - even though it's absurd to protest the existence of a rogue cop. After all, we have a right to protest even if it's for unthinking, stupid reasons.

Man you're posts are full of implications and assumptions that I'm not sure why you're trying to get out of. I think you just randomly type things and forget what you're typing. You just said protesting a rogue cop is absurd. Make up your mind. Why do you think people on welfare don't ALSO work? You can only receive government assistance for a certain amount of time not your entire life.

[Taboo2]

Originally Posted by City Boy

You can only receive government assistance for a certain amount of time not your entire life.

They just changed that about 12 yrs ago, before that, MANY people were lifers. Even now, it is possible.

Back then you could get GA until you got knocked up and then Welfare until you eventually got SSI.
Now it's different.
If you have babies every couple of years you can go without working for quite some time. You get foodstamps and WIC Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and and even though they did away with AFDC Aid to Families with Dependent Children - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and GA General Assistance - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

they still offer assistance Alameda Social Services :. Financial Assistance -- Families with Children
and don't force you to work if you have small children.

Then of course when you are around 40yrs old you may find that you have some terrible injury or mental or physical disease which then you can apply for Social security and if you win that jackpot you get money for life.
I have seen people literally never work over-the-table a day in their life and get gov't assistance the WHOLE time.


I think it is good they got rid of welfare as it was because there was no way to inspire people to work and better themselves. It really was a free ride for many. I think we all deserve a better life than that can offer.


Protests are a great way to show that you are really bothered and disturbed by something and you want your voice heard. The problem with rioters- who take it to another level- is that the message gets lost.

It also makes many people who may have been sympathetic to the cause back away from it and might even turn them against the cause because how do we feel sorry for someone who is perpetuating violence onto innocent people?

How does a person throwing a brick through a restaurant window make us identify with them as the "victim" in the scenario? All violence does Is make people question the protesters/rioters Motives and if they are in fact as victimized as they claim to be.

We cannot generalize that everyone who rioted is evil, but we certainly can discern from their actions that if the police did pull THEM over, they very well may have had just cause because look at the examples of their behavior we are being given.

Your actions do speak louder than your words. IF when you get angry- you lash out and are violent, then that is the example we have to work with.