06/18: Benton Harbor, Mich. riots

[Freakapotimus]

Police quell second night of riots in Benton Harbor, Mich.
Up to 15 people injured
By JAMES PRICHARD
ASSOCIATED PRESS

BENTON HARBOR, Mich., June 18 - Police quelled a second night of disturbances after rioters protesting the death of a motorcyclist during a police chase set at least five buildings and five cars on fire.

Full story at http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusgen/ap06-18-051226.asp

[RoboTripper]

That's like 15 minutes from where I live. I would've liked to see some footage of it up close, but I guess any white people that are in the area (including reporters and cameramen) are given a beat-down.

The situation up there has always been pretty shitty so anger is somewhat understandable, but this is a dumb reason to riot. The guy drove his motorcycle into the side of a building, that's his own fault.

[BWS]

Wow, I havent heard about that!! I know Benton Harbor isnt the most friendly of places; Im a couple hours from there. Im not sure whose side to take in such circumstances. Its the guys fault for speeding; mainly this guy is the one to blame. I dont think that police should chase people all the time unless given a very good reason to do so. I didnt read the article, or even hear about it, so I dont know what caused it. It seems that the police do go out of their way sometimes when it isnt needed; they should get the plate number and issue a hearing date...thats my opinion.

[takeit2themax]

All it is, is some people looking for a chance to act like animals, injure, kill, steal, and cause mayhem.
Complete and utter assholes.

[Commander-K25]

At 6/18/03 12:47 PM, AmericanBADASS wrote: All it is, is some people looking for a chance to act like animals, injure, kill, steal, and cause mayhem.
Complete and utter assholes.

True. It's like the Rodney King riots, "A black man was killed and we live in the ghetto so let's....uh....BURN AND LOOT THE GHETTO!"

[BWS]

You guys are right. Its sad when people seem to think a violent rampage will solve the problem. You get much farther talking vs. screaming. Its counterproductive and it really demonstrates how ignorant some people can be.

[DrxFeelgood]

At 6/18/03 10:04 AM, Freakapotimus wrote:

BENTON HARBOR, Mich., June 18 - Police quelled a second night of disturbances after rioters protesting the death of a motorcyclist during a police chase set at least five buildings and five cars on fire.

This was all because of the kid who didn't stop when the officer, not even a Benton Harbor officer, chased. The ended up killing himself because he didn't do the right thing. So the people of Benton Harbor felt it was ok to riot, which wasn't a good idea. They felt authorities were wrong, when they weren't. So residence decide to destroy their own habitat, for no reason. They should be brought up on charges for arson. Oakland, and Macomb County Sherriffs went to the scene to help too. In MI, a sherriff has more authority than any local cop. But the point is, the residence were wrong to riot, and they, themsleves payed for it, they didn't resolve anything.

[DrxFeelgood]

Consider the cops side. An idiot crashes his motorcycle while endangering everyone during a police chase and people and riot? Sure, they have excuses, like the the police have been harassing residents for years. If chasing someone is harassing them, then their excuses of harassment must be taken with a grain of salt. They never talk about what the cops have to go through every day in cities such as Detroit, Flint and Pontiac. These residence obviously live with a different interpretation of the laws than the rest of us. To the street cop, a crime is a crime and must be enforced. To the residents, it's harassment.