This post today, is a brief commentary on the dark nature of violent behaviors that attach themselves to otherwise respectful tribute to life (along with peaceful protest against society). The two should not be mixed. A funeral or memorial is for mourning, while peaceful protest (when properly carried out), a constructive display of dissent.

So what happens when people organize memorial, in the same breath as a protest? Unfortunately, the potential chaos that we’ve witnessed.

This has happened this week, delivering most of we peace-loving Americans with some significant grief. On some level, it was not a surprise – rather a continuation of a dialogue that has surfaced to the level of national political speech.

But, what caught many of us surprised (and hugely disappointed by), was the fact that a group we have been told is named “Antifa”, visibly tarnished what we hoped would otherwise be a peaceful and lawful protest of citizens.

It has been confirmed by The Department of Homeland Security to be true, and I do not doubt them as to that assertion made and documented publicly in our mainstream press.

What was the result? It should come as no surprise, that rebellion had to be put down – using dominating and swift government force. As a direct consequence, innocent police officers, peaceful protestors, some of the elderly, and others – faced brutality and violence.

That makes a Christian like me, cringe with anguish and disappointment. These acts, reverse the progress achieved by the many years of truly peaceful dissent – despite political differences, we are to be a peaceful and law abiding people.

Readers, I have to ask you now, and challenge you with this question: How is it, that “Antifa” persons, know where peaceful protestors have been given a green-light to protest in the public streets? More specifically, I ask you to consider that at least one peaceful behaving protestor – announced to at least one violent “Antifa” member, that these protests would take place. And, so there is both marginal culpability and a degree of organizational tactic leaked from all protestors. All participants knew where to congregate and demonstrate.

I do not buy the theory that “Antifa” was excluded from these protests, rather invited. Peaceful protestors share the same political objectives as do “Antifa” members to whatever degree. Therefore, I ask you to consider, that as sad as it is – our government had no choice other than to use force when looting, burning, violence, and lawlessness hit many of the streets of our nation in mixed presence locations.