New study shows rioting took place in 48 out 50 major US cities this summer

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) –
A new Princeton University study shows there have been riots associated with the Black Lives Matter movement in 48 out of 50 major US cities, and 74 out of 100 of the largest US cities by population, since the police killing of George Floyd on May 25. The study titled “Demonstrations and Political Violence in America,” also found that in over 93% of all demonstrations connected to the BLM movement during the same period, protestors did not engage in violence or destruction of property.

The study was a joint project between ACLED Data and the Bridging Divides Initiative (BDI) at Princeton University. The introduction to the study explains that its purpose was to collect real-time data on the protests and rioting “in order to provide timely analysis and resources to support civil society efforts to track, prevent, and mitigate the risk of political violence in America.”

The study mapped demonstrations associated with the BLM movement during the period 24 May – 22 August 2020. According to the study, over 550 violent demonstrations have taken place in up to 220 locations and, of the largest 50 cities, only Fresno in California and Mesa in Arizona remained free of political violence this summer.

At the same time, the study reveals that peaceful protests were reported in over 2,400 distinct locations around the country. The study also noted that the relentless rioting in Portland has been “largely confined to specific blocks, rather than dispersed throughout the city.”

In any event, the study authors wrote, a recent poll showed that 42% of respondents believe “most protesters [associated with the BLM movement] are trying to incite violence or destroy property.”

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