If your business was recently burned to the ground by political demonstrations don't you dare call them "rioters".
After more than a week of looting, arson and riots all over the United States, including the destruction of innocent people’s homes, businesses, and property (not to mention violence against police) California's Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters has expressed her concern over a deeply problematic issue: the word "riot" is racist.
In a recent interview, Rep. Waters declared the term “rioting” displays “negative language used far too often in a description of black people by folks who fundamentally don’t see black people the same way they see whites and others.”
“A lot of negative language gets used against black people, describing what whites often believe is true about us: that language includes ‘lazy,’ ‘criminal,’ and ‘rioting,’” Waters said.
Waters said prefers the term “insurrection”.
“I said ‘insurrection’. People acting out of frustration and hopelessness and understanding that they don’t have an establishment — political or otherwise — that really cared about their ability to work or have good health care. Yes, I choose to call it an insurrection.” Waters proclaimed.
Since she brought it up, here's what an “insurrection” looks like...
Riot police officers amid flames by petrol bombs thrown by protesters close to the U.S. embassy, during a demonstration over the death of George Floyd , in Athens, Greece on June 3, 2020. (Photo by Panayotis Tzamaros/NurPhoto via Getty Images)