Why I’m For the Riots

This is the script for my YouTube video of the same name. Although this was written to be heard, not read, I know some people would rather read than watch a video, so here you go.

I hate breaking things. I have always hated breaking things. As a child, I never tore open presents: I carefully undid the tape and saved the paper in a box. I never stomped on a sand castle, I never understood the people who did. I refused to break piñatas at parties, and nothing has changed: I currently have, in my possession, a piñata I bought for a party in 2011 that I couldn’t bear to break because he was so cute. He’s gone through six moves with me.

I bring this up because I’ve noticed that the first thing people say when I defend riots is “You just like to break things” and I need you to understand that it’s not the case.

I hate the sound of broken glass. I hate watching quiet, clean spaces destroyed, goods smashed, serviceable things destroyed. I hate seeing Portland, this city that I love, crumbling a little bit more every night.