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Old 09-23-2008, 12:15 AM  
Drake
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Join Date: Mar 2003
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It's hard to say. Like Dirtywhiteboy said, there would definitely be cries of racism, grief, then life would move on.

As for rioting I'd give it different odds depending on how soon after his inauguration and who shot the bullets. If it happened right out of the gate, emotions would probably run higher, but I'm still not sure if this would set off an actual riot LA style. But if it was going to happen, it'd probably happen the sooner after inauguration than later in the term. If it happened after several years, it'd be seen as a tragedy but closer to the unfortunate demise of some past Presidents'. But maybe it would be just as emotional then too, I dunno.

Thing is, the riots like the ones after Rodney King were a direct reaction to a clearly documented injustice. Government officials meting out 'vigilante justice' on a guy because he was black (note: although I'm in favor of cops beating up all drunk drivers, but until it's law you can't) and getting off the hook scot free in spite of bullet-proof evidence (video) of their crime. Most of the time such beatings are not caught on tape, so the community that bears most of the brunt of police brutality felt the State was giving its Agents a free pass to openly abuse them. The LA riots were a product of fear, anger, frustration, and of course old fashion hooliganism/thuggery of opportunists.

A similar reaction to an Obama assassination is less clear because the perpetrator (assuming it's a lone individual) isn't a representative of the State (officer, judicial system). Secondly, a reaction would be tempered by the mere fact that Obama was elected in the first place which would show that while most of the country was ready for a Black President, some individual(s) in the country weren't. Anger might arise, but there is nobody but the individual perpetrator to pin that anger on. There is also the time of the assissations to the time when it's known who is responsible for it. I think most people would be wondering whodunnit.

Last edited by Drake; 09-23-2008 at 12:17 AM..
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