Maybe it’s because they don’t say North Dakota anymore, but the riots hit Fargo last weekend. It went from a peaceful protest on Saturday afternoon attended by thousands of people, to a violent riot in downtown that same night. It included everything from bashing windows to looting and tear gas being thrown out. All these factors causing the police to turn out in riot gear and request assistance from the National Guard.
When something like this happens in North Dakota, it’s a shock to us. We’re not used to it. Hell, you still have a 50/50 chance of finding keys in a rig. We often don’t see the nation’s race problems. In large part because we don’t look and don’t care.
That’s the problem isn’t it? We see things happening and we choose to ignore them. Or we just don’t care because it’ll never happen to us.
But that’s the thing, it did happen to us. Right here in downtown Fargo people took to the streets and rioted. Some just to steal and damage, but some to make a point. They wanted the world to know that they’re not going to take it anymore.
I could make an argument that it’s working. The nation’s attention is on how black men are treated in the judicial system. Pledges are being made and press conferences are being held. All with the same promise of changing things in America.
The violence doesn’t make it right. It’s ugly and it’s illegal. It takes away from the dignity of a peaceful protest. It also takes away from the dignity of George Floyd’s life.
That ugliness found its way to Fargo. A city with enough media to make sure the world knows. A city that no longer has to be explained as being from North Dakota.
It’s things like this that make it just Fargo.
Good riding with you.
Joel Heitkamp
