Everyone has the right to assemble and protest according to the Constitution while no one has the right to riot and plunder. The fact that some take advantage on a situation to do the latter is simply a reflection of our society.
Protesters and Rioters are not the same. Sometimes a person may start as a protester and turn to rioting, but mostly that is not the case. The fact that a rioter may assume the guise of a protester does not make him a protester.
Still we see people attack any protest as unlawful and riotous. Situations are different everywhere, but in almost every situation there is a large group of organized protesters exercising their constitutional rights to protest. It really doesn't matter what they are protesting, it is their right.
That event obviously has to be publicized and provides opportunities for counter-protesters, subversive groups and criminal to use it as a distraction. In fact some may join the protest planning to break away to cause mischief or to plunder.
The simple fact is that protesters are protected by the constitution and are not responsible for criminals or anarchist groups that use them as a distraction. The rhetoric equating protesters and rioters is simply wrong and distorts the situation.
We are starting to see violence increase at these events and there is a danger of that escalating. This is still not the fault of the protesters.
The people organizing these protests need to decide if they are effective in drawing attention to their issues.
Fixing the situation is the objective after all.
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