Rioting, looting, destruction, terror, and murder. Those are the appropriate words to describe the destruction occurring in major cities after the Black Lives Matter movement has been hijacked by extremists. One word that does not describe the situation at hand? Reparations. Yet, that’s exactly what Chicago Black Lives Matter organizer Ariel Atkins used to defend the horror.
“I don’t care if somebody decides to loot a Gucci’s or a Macy’s or a Nike because that makes sure that that person eats. That makes sure that that person has clothes” said Atkins at a Monday rally outside Chicago’s South Loop police station. “That’s a reparation,” she said. “Anything they want to take, take it because these businesses have insurance.” Someone needs to look up the definition of reparations.
Atkins also took aim at Chicago celebrity Reverend Jesse Jackson. Jackson tweeted earlier on Monday expressing the “pillaging, robbing & looting” is “humiliating, embarrassing & morally wrong.” Atkins’ response made just as much sense as her reparations argument: “Jesse Jackson has nothing to do with Black Lives Matter” she shot back. “Jesse Jackson was not there for the creation of Black Lives Matter. Jesse Jackson can keep his opinions to himself.”
Atkins’ comments came after an incredibly violent weekend in Chicago, albeit sadly, not the most violent in recent months. The weekend “saw 100 arrests and 13 police officers injured in clashes with looters after a 20-year-old man was shot and wounded by cops on Sunday” reported The New York Post.
“Police identified the man as Latrell Allen, who was hit in the shoulder after opening fire on cops, according to authorities” reported The Post. Allen is recovering at the University of Chicago Hospital and is expected to face attempted-murder charges. The devastation the movement has caused in Chicago has left even Mayor Lori Lightfoot no alternative than to speak up.
“To those that engaged in this criminal activity, it was wrong and outrageous…I pray that you recognize the pain that you have caused. But I also promise you that we will find you and bring you to justice” said Mayor Lightfoot who called the looting “shocking, disheartening, and quite frankly enraging.”
