Riots & Looting Spell More Woes for Local Businesses

U.S. small, local businesses are struggling to make a comeback. This comes as government lockdown orders forced many to shut down entirely for months. Trying to keep their business afloat in a post-pandemic world was hard enough. But now, the recent protests surrounding the death of an African American man in police custody have created even more difficulties for business owners in many cities.

Demonstrations began last week after a George Floyd, a black man, died in police custody in Minneapolis, MN. A video recording showed a police officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck while Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe. An initial report from a local medical examiner found that Floyd’s death did not result from asphyxiation, but a second report released yesterday officially ruled his death as a homicide. The officer seen in the video lost his job. The authorities also charged him of murder and homicide. The other officers involved in the arrest also lost their jobs. However, widespread violence and looting continue to plague many US cities.

Police are stretched thin. Most of them now need to focus their attention on larger establishments and critical infrastructure. Unfortunately, smaller businesses are usually lower on the priority list than their larger corporate counterparts. Many businesses are already on their last leg thanks to government restrictions and the riots could be the final nail in the coffin for many.

Effects on Local Businesses

Protests recently turned violent in Boston, and many business owners have returned to find their shops emptied and destroyed. Maher Najjar is the owner of Sneaker Junkies, a sneaker store in Boston that was target by looters. He described his ordeal to Fox Business Monday. “They looted the whole store, everything was destroyed,” he said. The looters ravaged the shop and stole thousands of dollars worth of sneakers and other merchandise. Rioters also targeted several other businesses in the area.

Some business owners tried to reason with the rioters by hanging signs proclaiming their support for the protestors. Others identified themselves as minority-owned businesses in hopes that the racially-charged crowds would spare them. However, some instances prove the infectivity of those tactics. Additionally, many still vandalized and looted minority and black-owned businesses.

Magnet for Anarchy

The protests have also become a magnet for anarchist groups and far-left extremists. A tweet from ‘ANTIFA America’ encouraged demonstrators to target residential areas and “take what’s ours”. The NYPD has also reported that anarchist agitators have played a major role in stirring up unrest in the city. On Saturday, Attorney General William Barr said, “In many places, it appears the violence is planned, organized, and driven by far-left extremist groups and anarchic groups using Antifa-like tactics.”

Repercussions

The pandemic hit brick-and-mortar retailers harder than almost any other sector of the economy, and now these same businesses are the ones bearing the brunt of the social unrest. Sadly, there will be no coming back for many businesses, and some will undoubtedly close down for good.

Protests are as American as apple pie, but victimizing innocent people with violence or theft cannot be justified in any circumstances. Right-minded people pushing for social change make up the vast majority of protestors, and people should applaud them for their pursuit of justice. However, that’s no reason to spare condemnation for the criminal elements of the demonstrations. People must see looting privately-owned businesses as absolutely unacceptable and should treat it as such under any circumstances.

Up Next:

• Fully Committed to Provide Justice to George and his Family, says Trump
• Rioting and Looting Follow Day of Peaceful Protests
• George Floyd’s Brother Calls for the End of Violent Protests: “My Brother Was About Peace”