It Matters How a Message Is Delivered [OPINION]

I have yet to find a person who supports the way George Floyd was treated by armed government agents. Americans who are angry need to consider their power.

There is nobody defending the police officers charged with the murder of George Floyd. Anyone who has watched that video sees it for what it was. That was a defenseless person locked in handcuffs being killed in broad daylight while his alleged murderers knew they were being filmed. That is what happens in Third World countries and, unfortunately, it also happens in America.

The people protesting this horrific death have the support of their fellow Americans. Given the uniform support on the issue, it is important the protesters focus on how they deliver their message. They have won the issue, but they can lose the audience with their delivery.

Blocking streets, making noise at night, and demonstrating in front of the homes of elected officials are all counterproductive. Those tactics are used when the public is ignoring the issue and something dramatic needs to be used to gain the attention of the media and the political establishment. I'm not sure those tactics are ever successful in the long run, but they are a way to gain attention. Negative attention is sometimes better than no attention.

But at this moment in time, the conversation has enough momentum to skip the street agitation and move directly to the policy questions. People are policy and policy is what matters.

Blocking a street and making life difficult for innocent people isn't how a mass movement is built. Going to the homes of elected officials in the night and screaming and yelling is a form of intimidation. Intimidation is a tactic used in hell holes like Cuba, Venezuela, and the former Soviet Union.

The Americans protesting the government murder of George Floyd need to understand just how much support they have from the Silent Majority and act accordingly.

Chris McCarthy is the host of The Chris McCarthy Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Contact him at chris.mccarthy@townsquaremedia.com and follow him on Twitter @Chris_topher_Mc. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.