New York City Protests, Violence and Fires

Good evening, morning, afternoon or whatever time for you...

It's late evening now, just after 11:30 p.m.. Helicopter sounds had returned earlier today. Knowing there were to be various protests going on in response to the murder by police of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota earlier in the week, I was not too surprised or for that matter, particularly worried. These things disrupt traffic and that was probably why the whirlybirds were out in force.

I was at least partly wrong.

This evening as they continued and some level of shouting could be heard from the streets (my apartment is in the rear of the building, not a lot of street sound), I finally got curious and turned the television on.

Protests earlier in the day had been mostly peaceful, no physical confrontation. This evening things turned ugly. Very ugly. And rather dangerous.

Seventh Avenue and 14th Street is a short walk from here. It's the location of one of the subway stations I've often used. Union Square is a few blocks east of there, just past Fifth Avenue, also facing 14th Street. The The protests have people who apparently enjoy arson. Small fires have been set along the streets, even a few blocks north and south of 14th Street.

A police van had it's windows smashed in and was summarily subjected to a fire inside.

A man tried to extinguish one fire and was physically attacked by another man. A white man. So, I get the uneasy feeling that some trouble making white folk are following their beloved leader DJT, and causing problems, with intent clearly to make it seem as if people of color are committing these acts. There are plenty of surveillance cameras in the area, both from the city and stores. Also from residential properties along these streets.

In one place, an antagonistic white guy was tackled to the ground. There were several police department folk of various sizes and ranks doing the tackle. A few thought kicking and punching were in order. When will they ever learn, that just is not anywhere close to right? The lone officer that walked away from the other tacklers, was a gentleman of color. He cannot be considered fully innocent as he did join 6 or 7 others in the initial takedown of one not very large man.

All of these events over the past days bring me back in time to the vicious murder by police and even the EMS personnel of Eric Garner in 2014. A murder for which nobody ever truly paid or was held responsible for. Mr.Garner was also subjected to a knee and made clear that he could not breath. One officer was eventually released from his job. He's fighting to get it back. At least the mayor of Minneapolis called for all the s.o.b.s to be sacked immediately and the arrest of at least one has taken place. New York City under the useless "leadership" of Bill DeBlasio never even attempted that.

So, here I am, several minutes later, as midnight nears and a near numbness is enveloping me and what is left of my soul. Something distant in the far recesses of my brain, tells me my eyes should be moist by now. Tears should be on the way....

I should be edgy or a bit anxious...

....but, I can no longer remember how to feel.


Hope all is well and safe wherever you are.

Goodnight.