In before "all of those people were probably right-wing agent provocateurs."

We're having an epistemological breakdown in this country. Reality isnt real when it causes us cognitive dissonance, so we invent a new reality that allows us to continue unimpeded down whatever path we're on. It's not "state senator attacked for no reason." It's a "manifestation of built up frustration." It's not "statues symbolizing human progress being pulled down by vandals." It's "removing symbols that dont represent our city" (that's basically a direct quote from one of the protesters). It's the same kind of equivocation that allows or excuses all kinds of negative actions committed by people on the opposite side of the spectrum. Or even just when it comes to monuments, confederate statues arent "direct representations of people who fought against America." They're "symbols of our heritage."

You dont have to be a political scientist to see where this is leading us.