Is Property Damage 'Violence?'

--From the point of view of activist protesting, is property damage considered "violence?"

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Broadcast on June 1, 2020

#davidpakmanshow #protests #georgefloyd

[greyhoundTex]

Of course destruction of private property is wrong... destroying the livelihood of your neighbors is ridiculous and should be ridiculed and stopped. There are tons of peaceful protestors working to prevent others from destroying private businesses and those people should be applauded because they are what we represent. Fight the system, not the future of your neighbors.

[mushroomsteve]

Kristallnacht also had a lot of broken windows, but no one would deny that Kristallnacht was an act of violence. So context matters.

[angelalemaire]

Yes it is because it hurts the people owning it

[sttv]

Yeah. It is violence. And people who are in an emotional state to destroy objects are also in a state to harm people. This is well known in other settings. When a man yells at his wife and them smashes objects through the wall, it is obvious that he is being violent and she is in danger. Creating a mindset of fear, stress, and anger in your community is violence. Don’t do it. Don’t condone it. Stories have a hero and a villain. When protests become riots, the roles flip. Scared people side with the police. The point is to win the argument forever, not break a window once.

[vietnamd]

Property damage can certainly turn people against our movement. Nonviolent protest has created positive change in the past, and can do so again today.

[maxkeilen]

If someone spends their life building a shop/resturant or home and someone violates this and destroys your work its a violent act. And should not be excused no matter what the political/social situation.

[Anthropomorphic]

In my experience, arguing about the exact definition of violence is usually an attempt to circumvent a moral discussion one isn't willing to have.

[CatsBestFinds]

I watched interviews with black store owners that had their businesses destroyed or burnt down. They supported their peers. They were confused and devastated that their neighbors would destroy their livelihood when they were WITH them. That is the kind of destruction I have a problem with.

[FilterExel]

If it's done deliberately, then yes, property damage is violence. This isn't disputable.

[shaneyd]

mental gymnastics that are being used here are insane! No matter what you say, it is morally wrong to destroy another persons property! Especially people who have NOTHING to do with your anger!

[basinstreetdesign]

is property damage considered "violence?" OF COURSE it's violence. It is a violent and destructive act against the owner of that property. It is born of selfish greed (to stroke their own ego) and disrespect for the owner(s) of that property.

[pywacket]

I agree with David in that property damage as a form of protest is a very complex issue. However, rather than use up a whole page, I'll just say this. It depends on what kind of property is destroyed. I can understand the destruction of police cars and government facilities, but not small businesses whose owners depend on them for their livelihood. More importantly, destruction of property might send a salient message in some situations, but LOOTING is despicable. Looters are merely opportunists who most likely have very little to do with the spirit of the actual protest.

[VV-wcbg]

Yes it is as it could mean not being able to feed yourself or your family

Burning things down and looting does not achieve the goals that the protesters strive to achieve. A) It takes focus off reforming police, B) it gives police an excuse to be violent. C) if you're stealing from a Target, why would they rebuild there? If you're stealing or burning down a mom and pop store, you're hurting you're own community. I get the anger, it has to be channeled into something better.

[Dash]

Hah. Ask this after your home, job or business is burned down.

[rookmaster]

There are several different motivations for the intentional damaging of property. For example, some people act out of anger, others because they simply love the excitement and the exhilaration of destroying things, and then others see it as an opportunity to loot.

[LTDreams]

I wonder if right wingers were the ones doing the property damage if David would be having this nice academic pondering🤔

[DUSAbruddah]

IT goes both ways. Would you say the same thing if the right wing do it? Will you complain if they break windows and loot?

[TechnicalHotDog]

I really respect you for making this nuanced video David. We can discourage looting while still recognizing it as a natural reaction, and I'm tired of seeing the looting and property damage equivocated with the police brutality. On top of the Boston tea party, one of the most famous and influential moments in democratic/republican history, the storming of the Bastille, featured rioters looting the prison/fortress and taking all the weapons. Systemic change needs to happen, and if we cower away from that because some people are engaging in property damage and opportunistic looting, how can we ever hope for a better, fairer nation?

[ssiipp]

Why is this even a question? Of course it is. The people doing this should be arrested. Blocking police cars and roads is dumb unless you have a permit. Destroying property is not ok, and it is violence. I cant even believe people are defending these actions.