re: #912 Sergey Romanov

It’s really all similar, regardless of country, ethnic origin etc. - you may remember the “Bronze soldier” riots in 2007 in Estonia. The plans to move the Soviet monument led to riots and lootings, where Russian youths together with Estonian youths were doing what these rioters are doing in UK (on a lesser scale - there were no burnings). Obviously, the monument issue was just a spark, and the underlying problem was the lack of Russian integration, with the Estonian policy not really helping the matters.

Not excusing any of the criminal activity, but I thought this was rather to the point:

As political and social protests grip the Middle East, are growing in Europe and a riot exploded in north London this weekend, here’s a sad truth, expressed by a Londoner when asked by a television reporter: Is rioting the correct way to express your discontent?

“Yes,” said the young man. “You wouldn’t be talking to me now if we didn’t riot, would you?”

The TV reporter from Britain’s ITV had no response. So the young man pressed his advantage. “Two months ago we marched to Scotland Yard, more than 2,000 of us, all blacks, and it was peaceful and calm and you know what? Not a word in the press. Last night a bit of rioting and looting and look around you.”

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