Since the murder of George Floyd, a black man in Minnesota who was suffocated to death by a white police officer, American cities have been subject to protests, riots, and looting by those who seek to use this tragic event to their own personal and political gain. This is being pushed along by the Democrats and the media, who are one entity at this point, in an attempt to gain an electoral edge.
There are legitimate protests popping up around the country, which is a guaranteed right of every American. However, these protests are occurring in many cities where COVID lockdowns are still in place. The same mayors and governors who lambasted their constituents for walking in the park or sitting on a beach are sitting idly amidst the decidedly non-socially distant protests.
To highlight the hypocrisy, one needs to look no further than New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. On April 28, de Blasio tweeted, “My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed. I have instructed the NYPD to proceed immediately to summons or even arrest those who gather in large groups. This is about stopping this disease and saving lives. Period.” On May 18, he tweeted, “Earlier today the NYPD shut down a yeshivah conducting classes with as many as 70 children. I can’t stress how dangerous this is for our young people. We’re issuing a Cease and Desist Order and will make sure we keep our communities and our kids safe.” That is how the Mayor of New York treats the Jewish community during the pandemic.
Protestors, in contrast, get treated kindly by the Mayor’s Office. On May 29, de Blasio tweeted, “Our police officers have been given a very clear instruction: as always, respect peaceful protest. We in this city have a long history of respecting every kind of viewpoint, that is the essence of New York City.” This is a protest organized by the black community, although not exclusively attended by that community. However, the Mayor’s harsh rhetoric magically ceased when a cause he believes in, equating all police officers with this one in Minnesota, is the heart of the issue. This is because he can use these protests and riots as leverage for the change he’s always advocated for: namely, a more socialistic society.
The protests are the least of the issues that are facing many city-dwelling Americans today, despite the continued epidemic. Some in the crowds have taken the opportunity to break into stores like Target, AutoZone, and many small businesses, to loot and burn. Videos from all around the country of smiling looters taking a variety of items, from televisions to clothing, are pouring into social media. Business owners can only watch in despair as their livelihoods are destroyed, and some who are brave enough to defend their property are mercilessly beaten. Synagogues have been vandalized. Historic churches have been burned.
Many in the media excuse this behavior, because they truly believe, as many Democrats do, that America is an evil, racist country where black men are hunted down regularly. Reciting statistical data is of no concern to this narrative, because the goal is to reshape the country in their image. CNN’s Don Lemon said as much. When talking about the riots and lootings, he said, “Perhaps this is some sort of mechanism for a restructure in our country or for some sort of change in our country for us to deal with whatever we need to deal with in this country.” Never let a good crisis go to waste.
As claimed by the Trump administration, the arson and looting at these protests is stoked by Antifa, whose followers have been causing massive amounts of property damage and violence. This is why President Trump tweeted that “[t]he United States of America will be designating ANTIFA as a Terrorist Organization.” CNN is happy to romanticize these rioters. LZ Granderson compared them to the Boston Tea Party, saying that “the very foundation of this nation is based upon what is happening right now.” For years, the media has compared Antifa to American soldiers storming the beaches of Normandy, when in reality they are closer to an American Taliban.
This all comes on the heels of Joe Biden’s latest exclamation about how Black people in America should behave. “If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump,” Biden said, “then you ain’t black.” The implication is clear: Voting for Republicans is an existential threat to Black Americans, and therefore unacceptable. For those who say that Biden only thinks that way about Trump, he said the same thing about Mitt Romney in 2012, claiming that Romney (of all people) wanted to put Black people “back in chains.” Biden stokes the flames of race-based hatred for political purposes, and there are riots around the country.
These events are not disconnected. Narrative is an incredibly powerful tool. The Left has convinced millions of Americans that they do not belong as part of this country, and the only way to rectify that is to vote Democrat. This has nothing to do with George Floyd, despite what the Left is trying to convey. This is solely to benefit a political goal. The protestors are being used by an establishment that only cares about them once every four years. The only question is: How many people will be injured and killed along the way?
Moshe Hill is a political analyst who has written for The Daily Wire, the Queens Jewish Link, The Jewish Link of New Jersey and JNS.org. He is regularly featured on ‘The Josh M Show’ podcast. Subscribe to www.aHillwithaview.com for more content from Moshe Hill. Like him on Facebook at facebook.com/ahillwithaview and follow him on Twitter @TheMoHill.