The debate about the recent verdict in Ferguson has been very polarizing, with much attention being placed on the looting and vandalism that is taking place in the midst of the riots.
Theft and destruction of property is nothing to be taken lightly, but it is important to remember that the people who are participating in this activity represent a very small number of the people in the area.
In fact, both times that there have been riots in Ferguson this year, there have actually been a number of businesses who had their property defended by protesters.
This week, Cathy and Jerome Jenkins, the owners of a St. Louis area diner called Cathy’s Kitchen, were interviewed on CNN about how their business was defended by members in the community who were protesting the Darren Wilson verdict.
Their diner had the misfortune of being located directly next to the Ferguson Police Department, and was attacked by vandals early on, so the future of their business was uncertain during the first nights of rioting this week. Luckily, just after the store was first vandalized, protesters locked arms around the business to protect it from potential looters.
“I wish I knew who they were, because I really would like to thank them,” Jerome Jenkins told CNN.
The CNN report attempted to portray race as a motivating factor behind this unity, but as was reported by multiple sources, there were also cases of black protesters defending white-owned businesses during the riots.
John Vibes writes for True Activist and is an author, researcher and investigative journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture and the drug war.
