Every situation where the police arrive has become violent. It’s not the protestors that escalate. The presence of the authorities has created this situation. I

Every situation where the police arrive has become violent. It’s not the protestors that escalate. The presence of the authorities has created this situation. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. I don’t believe the police want to do this, but they are so on edge, and there are so many people taking advantage of the situation to throw sparks on kerosene, that the best thing the authorities can do is pull away and let peaceful protests continue. But we instead have only the most linear thought directed at this problem. People, crime, force. Understanding the systems involved, the real motivations, is beyond our leaders and many people assessing these situations. Right now, two blocks west and four blocks south from where I am, is a national guard tank. I am less safe than if it weren’t there, because it’s just another bomb that can explode, like every police officer in Los Angeles tonight, tomorrow, the day after. That’s the situation. It’s not a video game where you right click and apply force. People do things for reasons, and until our leaders understand that and how to work with it to de-escalate, there will only be more blood.