There’s no question that black lives matter, and citizens have a right to protest what they perceive as injustice wrought by police officers or anyone else.
But the lives and property of other people, black, white and shades in between also matter.
So do the lives of police officers who, despite the mistakes of a few, are present for the protection of law abiding citizens.
What happened in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday night was inexcusable, and other localities should take note.
It was distressing to watch on live television rioters hurling rocks and bottles and other items at police, cursing the officers, attacking television reporters, kicking out windows and looting.
At least one person was shot, not by police, and was on life support at last report.
It was supposed to have been a peaceful prayer vigil and protest of the shooting of a black man by, according to reports, a black police officer on Tuesday.
What happens in too many of these protests is that professional agitators and hoodlums from outside the area infiltrate the peaceful protesters and start trouble. Social media reports, many of them false, stir up the crowd into a mob.
By Thursday, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory had declared a state of emergency and called in the National Guard and Highway Patrol troopers after Charlotte’s police chief said he needed the help.
It was a day late.
After protests Tuesday night, which were not as volatile as Wednesday’s, Charlotte and North Carolina officials should have been more prepared for an escalation. There is an argument made by some that showing too much police presence can aggravate such situations. But not enough can result in a riot.
Admittedly, making the right call is difficult. But governors, mayors and police chiefs should err on the side of public safety.
If you’re going to have to call out the National Guard anyway, doing it sooner is better than doing it later.
