In a new study released by the Bridging Divides Initiative at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs’ Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination found that 93% of recent actions related to the Black Lives Matter protests have been peaceful actions, but 54% of protests resulting in police intervention have ended in police-instigated violence.
The study reviewed more than 7,700 protests held between May 26th, 2020–the day after George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis while in police custody–and August 22nd. The protests took place at more than 2,400 locations spread across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Even as multiple incidents of unarmed Black people being killed by police increased, the protests remained largely peaceful, with 93% ending with no violence or vandalism. Only 7% had any aspect of violent behavior, with those limited to fewer than 220 locations–many incidents happening in the same city over multiple protests. And much of the violence was instigated by counter-protesting groups.
Public perception of protests, however, is far different than reality, with 42% of respondents to a FiveThirtyEight poll saying “most protesters [associated with the BLM movement] are trying to incite violence or destroy property”
A study by the Anti-Defamation League has found that coordinated efforts are being made to spread disinformation about the protests, and the White House itself has sought to characterize the protests as lawless and violent. In many cases, it was people from far-right groups–such as the Proud Boys, other white supremacist groups and even the Hell’s Angels–who instigated violence and vandalism. The most notable of these is “Umbrella Man,” a member of a Hell’s Angels linked to the Aryan Cowboys, who conducted destructive acts in Minneapolis as other protesters tried to guard the property he was attacking.
Police have intervened in 9% of all protests over this time–but when they have, they have used an unusual and inordinate amount of force. In 54% of cases where police acted, they used forceful, violent measures including rubber bullets, tear gas or the use of batons.
Those numbers translate to police being the aggressor in around 40 peaceful protests around the nation.
Additionally, the study finds dozens of attacks by perpetrators driving cars into protestors, including no fewer than seven times when the vehicle was driven by a on-duty law enforcement officer.
The comprehensive study of the protests documents no fewer than 20 “non-state actors”–that is, groups without a government affiliation–acting to incite violence. Only one of the groups if affiliated with left wing causes: Antifa.
Since the BLM protests began in May, 360 have been met with counterprotests; of these 43, or 12%, resulted in a violent confrontation. Acts of racial intimidation, such as the hanging of nooses in trees or displaying of nooses by counterprotesters, have also increased.