Day 80

May 30, 2020 Just when you thought this year 2020 could not get any crazier and strife with fear and anxiety here come the protests. Ongoing for five days now protesters across the United States are out veraciously showing their disapproval of the cruel and uncalled for death of George Floyd. In Minneapolis, where the four police officers were arrested in the murder of one George Floyd, the streets were literally owned by the people. The protesters started fires, and blocked traffic and walked up and down in protest with no police presence at all. No national guard. No military. No one to put an end to the demonstrations of frustration.  And these protests are happening in major cities around the nation. (Los Angeles, New York, Austin, Denver, Atlanta and other cities have experienced massive crowds gathering to protest and in some cases vandalize public property) Curfews have been set in some cities in hopes to slow the protest.  The protest may have started peacefully, but have turned to lawlessness. In the middle of a pandemic there is now chaos. 
A protest (also called a demonstration, remonstration or remonstrance) is a public expression of objection, disapproval or dissent towards an idea or course of action, typically a political one.
Dating back to 1776, and the American Revolution, protests have been a part of our history and our identification. As the first amendment states, the people have the right to free speech and the right to assemble to and petition the government albeit peaceably. Throughout the history of our nation there have been protests which started peacefully and unfortunately turned ugly. The Haymarket Affair of 1886 in Chicago was a rally in support of workers and turned when an unknown person tossed a bomb at the police and in the ensuing riot seven police officers were killed along with four civilians. Dozens were injured.  In the sixties and seventies many protests occurred around civil rights and the Vietnam war.  The Stonewall riots of 1969 were over the treatment of homosexuals.  In the eighties and nineties ACT-UP AIDS protests were held in defense of people suffering from the disease.  Also through the years anti-war, anti-nuclear and Black Lives Matter. And now today, 2020 after knowing all this people are turning to violence and destruction to show their protest. I agree with the first amendment and am on the side of the people, but in no way do I condone the hatred actions and violence that has erupted. In Minneapolis, the city has issued a public address warning residents to water down fences, secure garbage cans in garages, remove any lawn items, keep lights on, have an escape plan and a to-go bag, garden hoses ready for use and prepare your fire extinguisher for use.
This is American today. The words stay safe have a far deeper meaning.