Looting: Savage crime that haunts U.S.

lga Khazan, a writer for The Atlantic, has examined the anatomy of looting, the offshoot crime of what’s going on in America these days.

The breaking of windows, burning of property, and stealing of goods are causing prolonged nightmares for merchants, police and the whole uncivilized civilization for America.

“Any time large groups of angry people gather spontaneously, property damage is common,” the author wrote.

Americans should feel ashamed but many of them don’t.

Few sociologists study looting specifically. But interviews with a half-dozen experts on protests and social movements provide insights into looters’ motivations.

In some way, some of the looting is a lashing-out against capitalism, the police and other forces that are seen as perpetuating racism.

During the current protests, the opportunist appeal of looting might be exacerbated by the fact that people across the country have been ordered to stay inside for months in an effort to limit the spread of the Coronavirus. The protests might have seemed, to some, like a release valve.

Some looters aren’t affiliated with protesters’ causes at all. Instead, they seize the moment cause chaos and destruction.

This might be happening in videos where white people can be seen knocking out windows and ransacking businesses. Though it’s not yet clear to what extent, radical-left and white nationalists groups are said to have infiltrated some of the protests and to have been instigating some of the mayhem.

In its recklessness, looting can seem inevitable. But the police, the media, and even protesters can sometime inadvertently encourage looting.

The actions of police and protesters tend to mirror each other. to When police use rubber bullets, flash bombs and pepper spray on peaceful protesters, protesters are then also spurred to aggression – including, in some cases, inciting fellow protesters in looting.

Looting is a side effect of protest, which are a side effect of the conditions that cause the protests.

The writer pointed out that for one thing, looters and peaceful protesters aren’t typically the same people.

People flock to the sites of protests with different motivations, and those who want peace tend to stay peaceful.

In recent days, much of the discussion has settled on how important small businesses are to the nation’s economy. Think then, how disruptive and dreadful looters can be to owners who are barely getting by in good times.

Looting is not a petty crime. It can dangerously damage many owners who are struggling to stay open in good times.