NEWS: Mob Violence Stains Juneteenth Celebration

CULTURE: Mob Violence Stains Juneteenth Celebration

I find large crowds unsettling. In every gathering of a certain size, there’s a hidden potential lurking beneath the surface; it can manifest into laughter, sorrow, outrage, physical destruction, or... nothing at all. But when something does happen, our collective actions seem to distill into sweeping gestures, granting them far more weight and power than the sum of their parts. The 1992 L.A. riots were a particularly nasty example:



The very idea that a group of free-thinking individuals can somehow tap into a collectively unintelligent subconscious is terrifying, especially if you find yourself on the receiving end of a crowd’s rage. The AP reports that just last night in Austin, Texas a crowd lashed out:

An accident happens; the fun-loving crowd transforms into a feral, bloodthirsty mob. I’m sure alcohol played a part, though details of the altercation are scarce. I wonder if race was a factor? Apparently the driver was able to escape the crowd and has been cooperating with police. The child seems to be ok too, as authorities reported the kid was taken to the hospital with “non-life threatening injuries.”

Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, is the celebration of the day news of the Emancipation Proclamation arrived in Texas, effectively abolishing slavery in the state. It’s a shame to see the festivities tainted by bloodshed, but at the end of the day, as they say, the mob rules.

Oh Jesus that is so sick and ironic, I could not help laughing at the this disturbing event.

Laugh?

The exact same sort of violence and rioting happened in my town! I live in Milwaukee Wisconsin. I was shocked and disapointed to hear about this behavior in my home town.

way to stay pc, aaron.

Hmm

The connection between this and the LA riots of 92 is what exactly?

I think you made a wise edit here.

I also live in Milwaukee WI as well, we had violence this year...thankfully after the fest was over. Last year or the one before had a shooting at the end of a huge fight in the middle of the day was no good

Takes away from what was a very positive fest by painting as a "dangerious fest" We had a huge police presence this year during the day at the fest. There was cops in riot gear all over the news tonight.

I already think Juneteenth is a lame holiday. This doesn't help.

Totally - people celebrating freedom is *so* 19th century.

That's what I wondered: there's a weird fear of collective action in this piece that I just don't get.

Well Jiminey Crickets, at least call it something that represents what the day's about. "Freedom Day," "Emanciday," something.

It's like calling Labor Day "Early September Mondayday"

i live in austin, and i hadn't heard a thing about it. i'm not surprised, just disappointed. there is a disturbing undercurrent of racial tension here, as black suspects keep winding up dead by the hands of white police officers. just as the community was still reeling from the trial of one oficer, another recently shot a man to death, and now this.
*sigh*

Yeah, I mean, it's not like that name has any kind of significance at all or anything really.

Jesus, when did the *name* of a holiday become a measure of its legitimacy?

Oops. Double post. My bad.

I'm not trying to downplay the importance of the holiday here, but are you saying there is significance to the name Juneteenth? Because all I get from that article is that it's a portmanteau. Am I missing something?

Sadly, that ain't just Austin.

I just read about this a moment ago and... no, I just don't get it. What did they thought they'd achieve by killing the passenger ?

not only was the drivers friend / passenger murdered but now i suspect he / she is going to get reamed in court by the kids family.

i wonder what will scar the child more getting hit by a car or having to live with the fact that he was the reason a man was beaten to death .

And an undertone of white fear of "black barbarism." I wonder if Mr. Lariviere is a Ron Paul fan?

And this is some weak reporting. The link he gives is two sentences about the event. Here's a better one.

I don't know what to say beyond that. I don't think anyone's going to come down on the side of mob violence here, so there's no much to really debate.

You're expecting logic from an angry mob?

He might also be wise to change his profile pic, especially if he intends to call attention to himself by making obnoxious posts on the boards.

merry juneteenth everybody