Peaceful protests are the only way

When tensions are running high, raising the rhetoric is rarely a good idea. That is why it is unfortunate that California Congresswoman Maxine Waters resorted to issuing threats and calling on people to take to the streets and fight if a guilty verdict was not returned in the trial of Derek Chauvin. Sounds a lot like President Trump calling on supporters to storm the Capitol. Words matter, remember? Waters was in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota over the weekend, taking part in a demonstration. Waters called on people to be confrontational if there was not a murder conviction. Minnesota, and the entire nation were already on edge awaiting a decision in the case. If the verdict were different, what may have happened? No matter the outcome, at difficult times people still need to remain peaceful. Protesting is a right that allows us to speak out about injustice. It is a collective voice. But it must always remain peaceful. Waters’ comments were enough to get the attention of the judge hearing the Chauvin case, who called the comments “abhorrent.” Congresswoman Waters recently admonished a colleague on the House floor, urging him to “shut up.” She should take some of her own advice and bite her tongue, rather than risk further inflame tensions which are already boiling over.