Racial Riots

The death of George Floyd, a black man killed by a white Minneapolis police officer on Memorial Day, sparked widespread violent protests in more than a dozen American cities. Floyd, 46, was pronounced dead Monday night after he was pinned to the ground under the knee of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. In a video recorded by a bystander, Floyd is heard saying he cannot breathe. Four police officers  were fired from the force Tuesday. Chauvin was arrested Friday and charged with murder in the third degree. With the death came protests that led to angry violence and destruction across the country with Minneapolis being the worst. Stores were looted, burned and damaged, along with cars. So many young people came out night after night causing chaos and destruction. Friday night it came to Des Moines after a peaceful protest. The crowd was small and little damage. Saturday a march was held that started protests around 10PM. We turned the television on at 11PM to see first hand the live coverage. The Des Moines SWAT team had a police force protecting and surrounding the capital where the rioters had been getting louder and more aggressive. After 3 threats, they began throwing tear gas. This only moved the crowd back and some even picked up the cans of tear gas and threw it back at the officers. The crowd began throwing water bottles at the officers. I was shocked at the behavior.  The line of police slowly moved forward with more tear gas. It looked to be a group of around 25 that were being the most difficult and rebellious, while hundreds watched to see what would happen. The crowd was young, mostly 18 to twenties. They appeared to be young and just feeding off the thrill and excitement. We watched until midnight as the crowd didn't seem to care and weren't going to stop. Reading up on the events that took place during the rest of the evening, it looked like a mess. There was damage to downtown businesses, Courthouse Brewery and Spaghetti Works had broken doors and windows. This was the first week after a long shut down from COVID that these businesses were able to open up and now this. It was all so sad.

We watched another night of rioting that took place near Merle Hay mall. Large groups were standing around hollering and waiting for something to happen. The Target store had its windows boarded as a precaution. However someone managed to get inside. We watched the news unfold live as people were ramming the carts out into the parking lot. Next people had gotten into the mall and were looting running out the doors with merchandise. We were so shocked to see this happening in our state in a mall where we shop. People have lost their minds!  Where we have a few hundred protestors, in Minneapolis they have hundreds of thousands! I cannot imagine the damage and destruction. This makes me angry, sad, and confused. Our country has been divided over much, and this is adding even more division.
It feels like a bad dream. Is this all really happening? Are we at the end times? It's getting bad, this world is filling with evil and darkness. Take this world and give me Jesus! when the time comes, I will be ready.