Ferguson protests

Colleges and Universities A-Z Washington University in St. Louis
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<p>Just wanted to take some time now to share my thoughts on the Ferguson protests (just the protesting, not he grand jury decision itself). Specifically, I have two main things to get out:</p>

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<li>What are these protesters REALLY protesting about? Everyone claims they're doing it to "raise an issue that's been ignored" but who's ignoring this issue? Police brutality and racial inequality have been pretty household terms for years now. We all watched the news and know what happened; frankly, the grand jury decision disgusted me too. But at this point, what are these protesters trying to accomplish?</li>
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<p>And in addition to those who are affected by this issue (Again, I don't blame you all for feeling the way you do), I now for a fact that not everyone is really affected; I recall specifically some people protesting just because all their friends are or don't want to study. If you're one of these people, you're just a nuisance.</p>

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<li>This is what I'm really pissed about: I was a Dec. grad and I walked out of the recognition ceremony for December grads to the sight of protesters. Again I don't deny for one second the importance of your protesting efforts but in this case I don't agree with your methods and timing, I find this protesting during the ceremony to be disrespectful to all the December grads, as it ruined the ambience of what is intended to be a period of celebration. Obviously I'm pissed since this was something that affected me but in the grand scheme of things, these protesters have trashed the city of Ferguson, caused numerous flight delays, and blocked off several highways across the country. I know Michael Brown's death is a tragic story and a big problem, but that's no excuse to cause another problem.</li>
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<p>Having said that, am I wrong to think the protesting at the graduation was disrespectful? If the protesters were random people it might not have affected me as much, but one of the protesters was someone I thought was my friend. I know she me and I don't intend to talk to her again.</p>

<p>I know I made this thread mostly to rant but I acknowledge there's tons about this issue I'm still not aware of. If in missing some consideration or am wrong about something, please let me know and I'll grant all due apologies.</p>

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<p>Not going to comment in any way for or against the protestors as being an alum kind of gives me a different perspective than when I was a student. The thing is - the protestors WANT to cause these disturbances. And any claim against them is automatically rebuked with a “oh so your 5 minutes out of your day is more important that Mike Brown’s life?” So you complaining likely isn’t going to get you anywhere.</p>

<p>That being said, you should know that protesting at graduations is actually a thing. Hell, in 2008 the protest happened at the ceremony itself (I entered Fall '08, so it was pretty big news back then - <a href=“Washington University Students Protest Phyllis Schlafly - YouTube”>Washington University Students Protest Phyllis Schlafly - YouTube), and I wish I had been there to see it. I will say this - I’m glad they kicked the clean coal protestors out of camping in the quad for spring '14 graduation.</p>

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<p>Since you called it a disturbance, you agree that even though it’s a thing, it’s still a disrespectful act? So then my friend whom I saw at the protest wanted to contribute in this disturbance?</p>

<p>And yes that’s a clever rebuke but at the same time, unreasonable. Regardless now everyone who attended that December graduation probably feels bad. If that’s the protestors’ goal, then they’ve succeeded.</p>

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<p>Has the situation in St. Louis gotten any better?</p>

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<p>Yes. </p>