Did the police handle the latest Berkeley riot appropriately?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (238330)
Walnut Creek, California
February 3, 2017 5:20pm CST
The Editor of conservative website Breitbart News, Milo Yiannopoulosa, was scheduled to speak on the UC Berkeley campus Wednesday night. But protesters forced the University to cancel the speech by setting fires around the building. Eventually, some of the protesters took to the streets of Berkeley and burned and looted small businesses in the area.
Did the police (and the University) do the right thing by taking a "hands off" approach to the riot? They did little to stop the fire-setting and looting, and I heard that only one person was arrested.
As one analyst on KCBS radio pointed out, the University and police were in damage control mode. The University has a huge endowment, and a Liberal reputation to uphold. They can absorb the cost of a partially burned building and other damage. The police are in a PR conundrum, and their hands are tied. They can't really arrest criminals right now because someone might get hurt.
But what about the small local businesses? Many will not be able to absorb what happened, and will have to close down. My knee-jerk reaction is that fire-starters and looters should be shot on sight. But I realize that that's not the best solution either.
Do you think things could have been handled differently? I believe in free speech, even if it runs counter to my political beliefs, and UC Berkeley was at the center of the Free Speech movement. And I also believe in the right to protest nonviolently, even if one is (ironically) protesting against free speech. But I still consider arson and looting to be crimes.
11 people like this
9 responses
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
4 Feb 17
I think the police are in panic mode when it comes to being pro-active in situations like that. They have come under fire so much for people being killed when riots and protests have happened in the past year.
I like your knee jerk reaction. Arson and looting were crimes the last time I looked and those who set them should face the consequences for their actions. Starting with restitution for all the damage they did.
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
4 Feb 17
People anymore think the law doesn't apply to them @TheHorse . Vandalism is still against the law and those people need to go to jail. AND part of their bond should be to pay the owners of the businesses for the damages sustained.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
4 Feb 17
@TheHorse All the more reason. A very 'valuable' lesson learned.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238330)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Feb 17
@nanette64 I think some people are beyond learning.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502608)
• Italy
4 Feb 17
Arson and looting are crimes and every time I have seen a "pacific" protest in every European countries there were finally groups who broke shops windows, put the cars on fire and damaged private properties. In Italy this happens almost every year in the big cities and the insurances do not cover riots damages.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
4 Feb 17
when a protest turns into a riot with arson and looting, it's nothing more than criminals using it as an excuse to be, well criminals. hope they all get caught and are punished approp.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238330)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Feb 17
@Jessicalynnt I'll keep my ear to the radio and report back.
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23193)
• Bangalore, India
3 Feb 17
Same as you, I believe in Free speech and non-violent protests. I don't condone violence. I think police could have applied crowd dispersing tactics like tear gas, etc. Or maybe given warning shot in the air. Culprits should be caught and punished and made to pay the damage they did to property and small businesses.
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23193)
• Bangalore, India
4 Feb 17
@TheHorse They should have thought of that before doing the damage. 
@teamfreak16 (43631)
• Denver, Colorado
6 Feb 17
I have been so busy that I wasn't even aware of a riot. I'm not against rioting, in a way, until it turns into burning and looting and destruction (which makes it sound like a march, but to me a riot is more than a march, but without the violence. I am making absolutely no sense.)
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189915)
• Boise, Idaho
4 Feb 17
I think that having peaceful marches are one thing but when they become riots then the police need to do everything in their power to keep others safe. They are 'peace' officers. If it is deemed necessary then they need to send for the guard or the riot patrol. Can;t think of their names. The ones that are called in when someone has taken a captive and are holding them. Those guys.
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