Young People Might Not Loot If They Had More at Stake
When a good job and home is on the line, smashing a window becomes a lot less attractive.
Nothing to lose.
Photographer: BRYAN R. SMITH/AFPThe vast majority of the Americans pouring into the country’s streets over the past week have been peaceful protesters. Their cause -- decrying police brutality and expressing outrage over the brutal police slaying of black Minneapolis man George Floyd -- is a just one, enjoying broad support from the public. The protests have generated a sharp increase in support for the Black Lives Matter movement and a growing awareness of the racism that still plagues the U.S.
But some of the protesters turned violent, looting stores in a number of major cities and even burning down buildings. While a tiny number of those are right or left extremists intent on sparking civil unrest, much of this violent fringe probably is made up of nothing more than disaffected young people. What is driving them to tear down the cities around them?