Stop Blaming Police Protests for Gun Violence Spikes
Homicides and gun crimes are rising in some U.S. cities, but rhetoric that focuses on protesters overlooks other glaring factors.
Crime scene tape clings to a fence where in Chicago, where homicides are spiking this summer.
Photographer: Scott Olson/Getty Images North AmericaAs shootings and homicides have taken a turn for the worse this year in several major U.S. cities, some are pinning the uptick in gun violence on anti-police brutality protests that broke out in June.
“It could be any number of reasons but it could be the anti-police rhetoric that’s permeating our country,” Detroit Police Chief James Craig told WDET, referring to a 30% spike in homicides in his city compared to the same period in 2019. Michigan U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider blamed “a great amount of disrespect and hatred of police officers in our country right now.”