tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1596842032410918820.post5122924916333915714..comments2023-09-02T09:29:19.983-04:00Comments on The Global Atlas: Ferguson Unrest, and Its Effect on Foreign PolicyColin Wolfganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10327733781179096064noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1596842032410918820.post-66905275930977572762014-09-04T12:39:57.313-04:002014-09-04T12:39:57.313-04:00Frank - SO sorry for not getting back to you soone...Frank - SO sorry for not getting back to you sooner. Thanks for reading the article and commenting. In terms of race riots of today and the past, I like to look at the Harlem riot of 1964. That riot lasted only 6 days, but was essentially a battle of police against blacks in both Harlem and Bed-Stuy, resulting in numerous deaths, over 100 injured and far more arrested. Obviously, there are similarities to draw between this and the riots in Ferguson this summer. However, what I find different is the overall American sentiment regarding both issues. There was certainly not as much of an outpouring of anger, sympathy for the victim and his family, or calls for a change in how we address these issues in 1964 as there was this summer. And while the police officer involved in the shooting (of an unarmed 15 year old black male) in Harlem was never found guilty of any crime, the fact that the U.S. Justice Dept is opening a civil rights investigation into police misconduct in Ferguson leads me to agree with you and say yes, I think although there are setbacks, America is moving in the right direction.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15415551008511591287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1596842032410918820.post-15574797257570381962014-08-22T15:56:34.333-04:002014-08-22T15:56:34.333-04:00Colin, great article with some interesting points ...Colin, great article with some interesting points raised. Do you think that these race riots are different from those in the past? Race will always be a hot button issue, I am just not sure why this time is any different. News media is now extremely sensationalist and only the shrillest voices are heard. This creates opportunities for foreign governments to spin the stories in ways that cater to their own agenda. Since the National Guard was pulled in tensions have been subsiding. Rodney King, Oscar Grant, Treyvon Martin, and now Michael Brown are all anecdotal flashpoints but data stemming from provisions in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 points to a marked decrease in hate crimes as well as fatal interactions with police. I think America is moving in the right direction. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317090787748171876noreply@blogger.com