Whose Streets?

The footage is so valuable. There is no story there. Still, the footage is powerful. I have no idea if the images were carefully edited to show the people in the streets all of African descent and the police all of European descent.

The sad part comes later. Poor people exploited.

Exploited by the thieves and robbers who make use of the revolt to destroy property. Not only they disgrace the manifestation, but they will make the lives of the people living there even worse without shops and restaurants nearby.

Exploited by the police. The police who does not care or interfere with the problems of the people living there only to ask for more money, more wages, more equipment and bigger pensions.

Exploited by the speakers. Young men and women taking about "our kids". Even if the "kid" was quite an adult. Progressive speakers who care about their possible speaking engagements and TV shows. Speakers who put salt on the wounds in the names of "being united". History shows these people usually move beyond the racial lines, in low crime towns and keep talking about the suffering while sending their kids to private schools.

Exploited by the film makers who get to travel and walk the documentary.

And the people are left there. With less police. Less places to shop. Less employments opportunities nearby.