Newsweek wants to know why a "Walk Away" (pro-Trump group encouraging people to "walk away" from the Democrat Party) rally over the weekend was not dispersed from the front of CNN headquarters the way a BLM "rally" (term used loosely) was in May.

Such mysteries cannot be ignored, so let's see if we can figure it out, shall we?

From the Newsweek article:

"Videos showing the seemingly calm Saturday demonstration on social media led many Black Lives Matter backers to question why police had not pushed them off the property."

Could it be that the demonstration was not only "seemingly calm," but in fact was ACTUALLY calm?? And the BLM "protest" involved violence, vandalization, and destruction of property?

Could that possibly explain the disparity in treatment?

Fortunately, Newsweek was on the case, exploring the mysteries surrounding the different treatment Brandon Straka's "Walk Away" group received vs. BLM.

Newsweek leads their piece off with this,

"A few dozen demonstrators chanted 'CNN sucks' around the entrance to the news network's Atlanta headquarters Saturday afternoon,... ."

"A few dozen."

I kind of have this thing for accuracy. Yes, I know, "accuracy" is considered racist now, but permit me to indulge in my privilege here.

Here is a picture that Straka posted. It probably missed a few stragglers on the ends, but it looks like it captures the bulk of the crowd.

A quick headcount nets me not "a few dozen," but nearly five times that.

Probably an innocent mistake, like a rounding error or something. After all, Newsweek is a respected news source and would never attempt to purposefully under-count crowd size in an attempt to minimize the public appeal of an opposing political movement.

That's crazy conspiracy talk!

Back to the opening paragraph. Here it is in full.

"A few dozen demonstrators chanted 'CNN sucks' around the entrance to the news network's Atlanta headquarters Saturday afternoon prompting many Black Lives Matter supporters to ponder why the crowd was not dispersed from the same place as BLM was in late May."

Ponder? I should say so. Straka noted in his tweet above that it was perhaps based on behavior.

Well, I did a little digging and found this video.

Language warning of course. In fact, just assume that from here on out.

Okay, you could argue that the Walk Away event had, and I'm just doing this in my head so forgive any errors, approximately 100% less graffiti, but is that any reason to treat the two groups differently? It's not like the people attending Straka's protest were a bunch of angels, either.

Take a look at this disturbing video. (You might want to have the children leave the room.) People are clearly raising their voices, and there appears to be some aggressive pacing as well. (You do NOT want to get me started on the scuff marks.)

As one BLM protester asked when watching the video,

"Where's the tear gas?"

Indeed.

Now compare that to the earlier BLM protest.

A couple panes of glass get broken and suddenly everyone starts obsessing about violence.

"'I wonder how many of them know they are privileged to be able to protest right in front of CNN. BLM protests were kept away from there every time I was there,' one BLM supporter tweeted in response to the Saturday videos in Atlanta."

I think it's time for many of us to recognize the privilege we exercise every time we don't pick up objects and hurl them at windows.

Fortunately, by condescendingly minimizing the actions of those who are violent, Newsweek in no way damages the credibility of those who sincerely wish to protest against what they perceive to be police brutality or in any way do damage to the message.

I don't know where people get those ideas.