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How do we think about the George Floyd murder? How do we think about the George Floyd murder?
Our freedom is at stake: the murder exposes a crisis of civil liberties Our freedom is at stake: the murder exposes a crisis of civil liberties
Society creates the nation: the murder exposes America’s deepening social cleavages Society creates the nation: the murder exposes America’s deepening social cleavages
Leaders create nations: the murder exposes the ongoing American political crisis Leaders create nations: the murder exposes the ongoing American political crisis
The murder is simply a murder: It is not representative of wider issues The murder is simply a murder: It is not representative of wider issues
This is a structural issue: American gun laws are to blame This is a structural issue: American gun laws are to blame
The state is threatening individual freedom The state is threatening individual freedom
The riots are detracting from the real issue at hand The riots are detracting from the real issue at hand
We must overturn "qualified immunity" We must overturn "qualified immunity"
The George Floyd crisis exposes deep institutional racism The George Floyd crisis exposes deep institutional racism
America risks turning into a surveillance state America risks turning into a surveillance state
Attacks on the press are undermining freedom of speech Attacks on the press are undermining freedom of speech
The George Floyd debate is really about the right to life The George Floyd debate is really about the right to life
The police are encouraging violence to undermine protestors The police are encouraging violence to undermine protestors
Crushing protests is unpatriotic because it violates the constitution’s protected freedom of speech and ignores American culture Crushing protests is unpatriotic because it violates the constitution’s protected freedom of speech and ignores American culture
America is on the brink of a race war America is on the brink of a race war
Antifa is the "woke" brand of domestic terrorism Antifa is the "woke" brand of domestic terrorism
The riots are part of the fight for truth The riots are part of the fight for truth
Rampant capitalism has created a broken society Rampant capitalism has created a broken society
The riots are an opportunity for peaceful revolution The riots are an opportunity for peaceful revolution
The riots have exposed a contradiction in American values - a contradiction perpetuated by right-wing politics The riots have exposed a contradiction in American values - a contradiction perpetuated by right-wing politics
American racism does not exist American racism does not exist
Poor leadership has led the nation into chaos Poor leadership has led the nation into chaos
An absence of leadership has led the US into chaos An absence of leadership has led the US into chaos
President Trump is weaponising the crisis for personal gain President Trump is weaponising the crisis for personal gain
The age of American authoritarianism is approaching The age of American authoritarianism is approaching
Russia is puppeteering the crisis from behind the scenes Russia is puppeteering the crisis from behind the scenes
The crisis has grown out of protracted political failures The crisis has grown out of protracted political failures
George Floyd had a criminal history and was resisting arrest George Floyd had a criminal history and was resisting arrest
George Floyd was a criminal George Floyd was a criminal
The George Floyd response has been completely unjustified The George Floyd response has been completely unjustified
The black community has unleashed an anti-white campaign of violence The black community has unleashed an anti-white campaign of violence
George Floyd's murder was justified George Floyd's murder was justified
Gun laws increase levels of paranoia on both sides of the law Gun laws increase levels of paranoia on both sides of the law
Tighter gun laws will help reduce violence in low-income communities Tighter gun laws will help reduce violence in low-income communities
Changing gun laws will eradicate colonial roots of gun violence Changing gun laws will eradicate colonial roots of gun violence
Lax gun laws allow people to suppress the ideas of other people Lax gun laws allow people to suppress the ideas of other people
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How do we think about the George Floyd murder?
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Leaders create nations: the murder exposes the ongoing American political crisis

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The age of American authoritarianism is approaching

President Trump's call for political leaders to crush riots with violence signals a sharp turn towards authoritarianism. As riots tore across America, Trump sanctioned a violent attack on peaceful protestors by military and police across from the White House.
Letitia James
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The Argument

President Trump’s reaction to the rioting over George Floyd’s death has been authoritarian. Senators and other public figures have voiced their concerns about a number of his actions. The President appears to show sympathy for far-right militias who have clashed with protestors during the riots. He has also received criticism for tear-gassing protestors during a photo-op. Trump’s use of military force against protestors US was nearly unprecedented in the US.[1] Some global powers— including Russia and China—have highlighted a series of human rights abuses during Donald Trump's tenure. Among their accusations are the use of military force against unarmed protestors, police murders, and the weaponization of armed protesters who support the President.[2] Trump's justification for the use of military force to protect against a small group of militant radicals is a tactic commonly used by dictators.[3] The New York State Attorney General, Letitia James, has raised concerns that Donald Trump believes himself to be above the law. She has stated that he does not have the right to deploy the military across the US to deal with protests and should be taken to court[4]. His actions are the actions of a dictator.

Counter arguments

President Trump's actions are proportional to the disorder caused by the protesters. US Attorney General William Barr has defended the President's actions as a necessary preventative measure to deal with a group of anarchists and left-wing radicals.[5] Violence cannot be tolerated and force is a justifiable response. The anti-fascist organization Antifa has been inciting violence and hijacking the protests. The President has stated he is only taking "law and order" measures to prevent the spread of violence. Trump's behavior is utterly dissimilar to the human rights abuses that occur in other countries; journalism and free debate are still open in the US.[6] The US is still a free society, but the radicals protesting are a more significant threat to liberty than President Trump.

Proponents

Premises

[P1] The government response to the rioting over the George Floyd murder has been disproportionate. [P2] President Trump’s course of action is similar to other authoritarian leaders past and present. [C] America is sliding toward authoritarianism.

Rejecting the premises

[P1] A strong response is needed to tackle violence caused by militant protestors.

References

  1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrats-assail-trumps-threat-to-deploy-military-as-un-american-fascist/2020/06/01/641a4b66-a46c-11ea-b619-3f9133bbb482_story.html
  2. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/06/04/us-rivals-seize-protest-crackdowns-turn-tables-human-rights-criticism/
  3. https://www.justsecurity.org/70544/trumps-moves-are-right-out-of-the-authoritarian-playbook/
  4. https://www.ft.com/content/ed7dc274-f9d7-4377-b9f8-015dfc972aa4
  5. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-william-p-barrs-statement-riots-and-domestic-terrorism
  6. https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/10/george-floyd-pompeo-defense-over-trumps-response-protests/5332459002/

In the Wild

This page was last edited on Friday, 11 Sep 2020 at 06:27 UTC

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