Downtown Raleigh, like some other major metro downtowns, was ablaze last night. A couple of hours of peaceful demonstrations gave way to riotous violence and frustration boiled over into destruction. “Nearly every shop along Fayetteville Street had shattered windows.”
Before the violence started, the police presence made Raleigh look like it had been taken over by a military junta.
Clearly, the city was preparing for the kind of chaos that was to come.
It’s terrible to see this kind of destruction nearby, in a city where supposedly, “all are welcome.” I pray that we can find answers to how to obtain justice for those in communities of color. I’m pretty sure smashing up a fine purveyor of sweets like Rocket Fizz is not going to win anyone freedom from oppression, but people have to start listening to grievances and taking positive action to address them.
