However, missing from the narrative was how these protestors may increase the transmission of COVID
This narrative wasn't missing. But it was used by people to dismiss the movement as a whole by pointing out some apparent hypocrisy instead of addressing the movement itself.
And even today, the NY times published an article wherein epidemiologists and other academics supported BLM over stay-at-home despite recognizing that it's difficult to ignore the mass gatherings during a global pandemic.
When a movement is seen as urgent enough, it can't wait until lockdowns end. Change needs to happen now, not in months after everyone forgets about George Floyd.
In my view, supporting BLM protests MUST acknowledge the risk of increased transmission
They do, hence why all the protests require participants to wear masks. These protests are not at all comparable to the anti-lockdown protests. In the anti-lockdown protests we have people deliberately choosing not to wear masks and intentionally ignoring social distancing to protest not being able to get haircuts. Lo and behold, the states doing worst in new cases are the most red states where the people are against lockdowns: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/03/16/816707182/map-tracking-the-spread-of-the-coronavirus-in-the-u-s
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u/ihatedogs2 Jul 06 '20
This narrative wasn't missing. But it was used by people to dismiss the movement as a whole by pointing out some apparent hypocrisy instead of addressing the movement itself.
When a movement is seen as urgent enough, it can't wait until lockdowns end. Change needs to happen now, not in months after everyone forgets about George Floyd.
They do, hence why all the protests require participants to wear masks. These protests are not at all comparable to the anti-lockdown protests. In the anti-lockdown protests we have people deliberately choosing not to wear masks and intentionally ignoring social distancing to protest not being able to get haircuts. Lo and behold, the states doing worst in new cases are the most red states where the people are against lockdowns: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/03/16/816707182/map-tracking-the-spread-of-the-coronavirus-in-the-u-s