Looking at the list of those arrested yesterday, I googled one who was older than average and from suburban VA. Low and behold, it led to a hero shot of him (proudly armed with bat) in a 2017 Washington Post story about anarchists.

Which is to say: yes - in DC, those dressed as "ninjas" and blackshirts identify as anarchists.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/what-draws-americans-to-anarchy-its-more-than-just-smashing-windows/2017/08/10/030f92e0-2eae-11e7-9534-00e4656c22aa_story.html

Anonymous wrote:Don't blame BLM for all the destruction, looking at WP today almost all photos after curfew were white folks, almost ALL! Pissed of black Washingtonian.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/protests-white-instigators/2020/06/01/b916bd98-a426-11ea-bb20-ebf0921f3bbd_story.html

I think it would be if the decent police who still mean well and aren't the ones in Those Videos would go focus on being very aggressive about arresting every single looters involved with looting a couple of particular stores in, say, five cities.

Really interrogate those people really well, and go through their computers and phones as if they were mass shooters. Try to figure out if they're really independent, if they're groups of ordinary bad friends, if they're gang members, if they're organizing themselves through 8chan, or if some foreign or domestic entity hired them to cause trouble.

Here's my overall guess having been part of many protests over the years:

First of all, the makeup of the crowd, actions of the crowd and political affiliations of the young and middle aged white dudes breaking windows is different depending on what city you're in.

The people formerly known as Black Box Anarchists are and have been the main ones breaking windows in DC. They are usually vegan, skinny and 20-35, but some are older.

They believe in the destruction of property, of the government and the creation of a new totally non-hierarchical future.

They do not believe in injuring people.

Mostly they are (in my humble, DC moderate opinion) misguided, have too much energy, glorify stupid radical thinking, and unstrategic.

The people who come in and loot once the plate glass windows are broken is going to be a whole different demographic.

They are mad as hell about George Floyd and also want free sh#t.

In Minneapolis and Raleigh, NC it seems most of the people breaking windows and setting fires are white nationalist and white supremacist a##holes who are boogaloo boys or Proud Boys (google them if you haven't heard the terms) and what they want is white supremacy. Some of them also hate the police and want a second civil war against the police.

I'm sure many other cities have totally peaceful protests.
Some other cities have police forces shooting teargas into crowds totally unprovoked (we have that too, btw if you look at Lafayette Square last night).
Some others have mostly white supremacists smashing things and setting things on fire.

We've got to keep in our toes here in DC. We will likely have a continually evolving situation.

In my opinion, it would help if the BLM leaders would say, externally or internally, that young white dudes need to follow their lead and not break windows. In my opinion that would work better if they also said that to young AA dudes.

But when your ethic is all about not being hierarchical, it's hard to have a unified message. It's also hard to actually achieve things.

So we'll see what happens. I feel pretty hopeless right now. With a lawless President a highly unemployed president, justified rage without an effective ask, I don't see how things get better in the near future.

Please share: City-wide: Candlelight vigil for victims of police violence, every night at 8:30 while this crisis lasts. Just step outside your home with a candle. Tell your neighbors too."

Anonymous wrote:Looking at non-curated photos and videos, the premise of this post is patently false. The anarchist, violent mob is made up of all colors. I am an accomplished, self-educated black woman. Why is skin color the first thing people see??? That is racism defined.

Well Miss Educated Black woman, I imagine race is brought up is because the looting is being placed on Blacks and BLM. You knew that I’m sure, but you just wanted to let everyone know that you were okay with that in a handkerchief kind of way.

How about the white kids in Santa Monica who broke into the surf shop and rode off with new surf boards on their motorcycles.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Um when you look at the footage, it’s black people. I know that doesn’t fit the narrative you’re trying to create but just look with your eyes at the ton of footage.

This. When you look at hours of footage at cities all over the US it is black males looting. Again, that does not fit your narrative but across hours of footage it is black gangs of looters.

One report I heard this morning said that the rioting and looting are coordinated. The instigators break the windows and leave. Then, the looters come in. They said that in NYC that the looting is local gang related.

I suspect that it is different in every city. In DC, one reporter said that he witnessed a guy with a hammer come down from White House and methodically broke windows. (This was Sunday night.)

Last night, (can't remember which city) they said that people brought crowbars to pull the plywood off the windows. This is planned and coordinated. The looters may just be opportunist, but this is not spontaneous at the start.

I'm guessing that guy is a glass replcement contractor. /s

But all the tough white dudes that ran to a gentrified neighborhood for help. Did that happen? They actually sent out for pizza. Wimps.

No doubt there are white instigators and white looters. Also no doubt that the majority of the looters appear to be black youths and young adults.

FWIW, SE, NE and heavily AA suburbs appear to account for most of the reported MPD arrests: https://mpdc.dc.gov/release/arrests-made-felony-riot-acts-additional-suspects-sought-0

So, for sure, let's acknowledge the mix of people trying to wreak havoc on the streets, but not be totally oblivious as to who is breaking windows and stealing in our nation's cities. It is mostly black people.

Anonymous wrote:So BLM calls for protests, justified, but then tries to escape from responsibility when things get out of hand and people die? They should apply for jobs with the Minneapolis police force. Fit right in.

No, they try to pin responsibility on random Chads who make up a microscopic fraction of the total crazed mobs. Keep up.

Anonymous wrote:gently arrested lol

The arrests I saw last night looked pristine, sitting on the ground and waiting for your number to be called. Hope the protestors and police can keep up this good work. The protestors are getting what they desire, massive media attention for the cause and civil disobedience, and the police are playing their part very professionally. This is how you have protest that makes a point without instigation and mayhem. .

gently arrested lol

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Um when you look at the footage, it’s black people. I know that doesn’t fit the narrative you’re trying to create but just look with your eyes at the ton of footage.

This. When you look at hours of footage at cities all over the US it is black males looting. Again, that does not fit your narrative but across hours of footage it is black gangs of looters.

Not dealing in facts does not help anyone. The fact is, the vast majority of looters are black. The other fact is, most black people are not looters. The looters are making a whole group of people look terrible and destroying the jobs we all need. We all need to condemn the looting. It's so sad.

Can we start by condemning the police actions and police responses, please? The police are empowered in society's name to protect and serve. When they act unlawfully, they are acting unlawfully in society's name.

Honestly the police need our support right now to protect homes, businesses and peoples livelihoods. The police are risking their lives on the frontlines against rampaging gangs.

They seem to be leaving the gangs alone and taking on protesters.

It's called civil disobedience and it would be pretty lame without police and being gently arrested no? If the protestors simply want to protest, they can apply for a permit. The police have no way of knowing which protests will turn into rampaging gangs (some have morphed). I agree that they should be predicting as much as possible, have presence in commercial areas, one scape thoroughfares likes Western Ave, Military road etc. and closing metro early a very good idea.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Um when you look at the footage, it’s black people. I know that doesn’t fit the narrative you’re trying to create but just look with your eyes at the ton of footage.

This. When you look at hours of footage at cities all over the US it is black males looting. Again, that does not fit your narrative but across hours of footage it is black gangs of looters.

Not dealing in facts does not help anyone. The fact is, the vast majority of looters are black. The other fact is, most black people are not looters. The looters are making a whole group of people look terrible and destroying the jobs we all need. We all need to condemn the looting. It's so sad.

Can we start by condemning the police actions and police responses, please? The police are empowered in society's name to protect and serve. When they act unlawfully, they are acting unlawfully in society's name.

Honestly the police need our support right now to protect homes, businesses and peoples livelihoods. The police are risking their lives on the frontlines against rampaging gangs.

They seem to be leaving the gangs alone and taking on protesters.

So are you saying that the crowd that looted Friendship Heights and upper Wisconsin Ave were really dressed in blackface ?