Benton Harbor Riots
 

Maybe a few of you have read up or heard about the Benton Harbor riots through CNN or some newspaper. But me, I get it in the locals.

It's the usual case of "Nothing interesting happens around here... only other places", and then your area gets hit by semi-national news.

In case you didn't know, the situation started with a police chase in the slums of Benton Harbor (I've never been there... only the economically healthy sections). A motorcyclist apparantly had commited a crime or two (I hear it was drugs) and then fled from a police officer after speeding through a red. Going what was clocked at 100 mph, the motorcyclist lost control and crashed into a building, killing himself.

My initial response? "Had it coming... shouldn't run from the law." and "Learn how to control your vehicle".

However, Benton Harbor thought differently. They, being over 90% black, believed it was the white cop's fault. And, even though he was from around Benton Township, it sounds like their anger is toward St. Joseph, which is moreso a white city with a much better economy and schooling system (that same old story).

So, in retaliation to police beating down their black brothers for no reason... claiming that the officer made him crash, the locals gathered together and lit neighboring homes on fire. The riots continued for two days.

-------------------------------------------------------

My sister's boyfriend has a few close friends who live in the area of the riots. And, word on the street is that a shooting riot was about to go down a couple nights ago... but I guess it was cancelled due to a combination of masses of police and the rain. By the looks of it, I think something will go down tomorrow instead, because that's the day of the cyclist's funeral.

As well, not long ago Jesse Jackson came to town and gave a nice speach... which basically claimed that St. Joseph was the root of all Benton Harbor's problems. Heh, good ol' Reverend... just wants a spot on the camera.



Well, that's my inside scoop for GameTavern.

Re: Benton Harbor Riots
 

Woah! That isn't good! It is amazing how people can be so violent at times, especially for all the wrong reasons. Is your story the full story? Or is their some evidence showing that the white cop could have prevented the black motorcyclist's accident?


And what is a shooting riot?

Re: Benton Harbor Riots
 

I've heard two stories of the crash. One story from a guy who supposedly took the story back after hearing of Jesse Jackson's visit, and one from most other sources.

1) The police car was following the motorcycle at those high speeds and managed to run him off the road.

2) The police officer was too far behind to make a difference, and the motorcyclist lost control.


As for the shooting riot... basically they'll take out their guns and start violence. I hear the locals have more gunpower than the police :unsure:.

Yeah I've heard of this... I think it's stupid... Seems like nowadays if anything serious happens involving a white cop and a black guy, people cry "racism!"...

:shakehead

Re: Benton Harbor Riots
 

Motorcycles aren't the easiest things in the world to control ;)

I think we need to pass a law making it legal to shoot people because they're stupid.

That's the first sign on trouble.

Re: Benton Harbor Riots
 

Why is everything pointed as racism? People need to grow up and blame people for their actions instead of their color. I'm sick of this bull**** I'm hearing from black people (no offense). Has this guy ever had a history of being racist? I doubt it, but if he did, it still doesn't make the problem his fault.

Re: Benton Harbor Riots
 

stupid black racist bastards...:sneaky:




jk :p



but seriously...wtf...don't cop cars have cameras or something?...or is it just in the shows? :p

Re: Benton Harbor Riots
 

They're either too cheap for cameras, or they weren't issued yet. I did hear something about the car not having a camera though.

Re: Benton Harbor Riots
 

I'll say one thing.

These people know how to hold a ****ing riot.

CNN to Benton Harbor. CNN wouldn't come anywere near Englewood (one of Chicago's slums) if it the riots weren't HUGE. Maybe Benton Harbor isn't as bad as Englewood, but either way these people are getting it done.

you know who riots the best? Turkish people, man they are ****ed