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> Yarborough and some other families wonder if ending the unit is partly to blame for Portland’s dramatic spike in shootings, but officials and experts attribut

> Yarborough and some other families wonder if ending the unit is partly to blame for Portland’s dramatic spike in shootings, but officials and experts attribute increased gun violence in cities nationwide to the hardships of the coronavirus pandemic, unemployment, economic anxiety and stress on mental health. I don't mean to demean the real problems in our society but if I connect all the dots, not just in the US, but worldwide they paint a clear picture: The COVID-19 pandemic. From farmers protests in India to Paris riots, ofcourse many protests in the US. I feel strongly about it - is this an incorrect conclusion? If it is, what else could be the reason for flaring of many issues all of a sudden starting from March 2020? If it is, does that mean that if the pandemic didn't exist, these issues wouldn't drive thousands of protests and the level of activism we see today? Just before the pandemic started, remember how peaceful everything was? There were hardly any protests before the pandemic besides the major ones such as Women's march and Teachers march, but nothing like what we saw in Portland. Here is my prediction: After the global economies are back to full 100% with travel booming and rebounding, everyone is going to go back to same old business.

trabant00 6y ago
That COVID-19 is responsible for disorder is beyond question. What is questionable is what should be done about it. On one hand you have a increased need for law enforcement, on the other you have a social/political movement demanding the exact opposite.
jariel 6y ago
Yes, murder is up 30% in the US overall this year [1] I suggest the BLM protests would have been smaller without the pandemic as well. (Less people with not much to do, people pent up inside and frustrated, slightly more easily risible). That said, the acute situation in some areas is 'bad' even historically. [1] https://www.npr.org/2021/01/06/953254623/massive-1-year-rise-in-homicide-rates-collided-with-the-pandemic-in-2020 https://www.npr.org/2021/01/06/953254623/massive-1-year-rise...
andi999 6y ago
Might be incorrect. I mean which Paris riots are you referring to, there are often riots, were the extraordinary? (at least here in a neighboring country there was no big news). So perception of things happening outside US might have been skewed (to whatever reason). Inside US, I don't know. Beginning from 2020 there was also the start of a strong bipartisan election campaign.
- systemvoltage 6y ago
  It was like a warzone in Paris. June 2, 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7xGEdA5RYo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7xGEdA5RYo
  - andi999 6y ago
    In a war zone usually a lot of people die, this is not the case. Also how is this different from like 2018 Paris riots or 2019 Paris riots? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y1z12D5bx7c https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y1z12D5bx7c

trabant00 6y ago

That COVID-19 is responsible for disorder is beyond question. What is questionable is what should be done about it. On one hand you have a increased need for law enforcement, on the other you have a social/political movement demanding the exact opposite.

jariel 6y ago

Yes, murder is up 30% in the US overall this year [1] I suggest the BLM protests would have been smaller without the pandemic as well. (Less people with not much to do, people pent up inside and frustrated, slightly more easily risible). That said, the acute situation in some areas is 'bad' even historically. [1] https://www.npr.org/2021/01/06/953254623/massive-1-year-rise-in-homicide-rates-collided-with-the-pandemic-in-2020 https://www.npr.org/2021/01/06/953254623/massive-1-year-rise...

andi999 6y ago

Might be incorrect. I mean which Paris riots are you referring to, there are often riots, were the extraordinary? (at least here in a neighboring country there was no big news). So perception of things happening outside US might have been skewed (to whatever reason). Inside US, I don't know. Beginning from 2020 there was also the start of a strong bipartisan election campaign.

systemvoltage 6y ago
It was like a warzone in Paris. June 2, 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7xGEdA5RYo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7xGEdA5RYo
- andi999 6y ago
  In a war zone usually a lot of people die, this is not the case. Also how is this different from like 2018 Paris riots or 2019 Paris riots? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y1z12D5bx7c https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y1z12D5bx7c