Protests have been occurring in Chicago this past week, including today:

November 27, 2015
CHICAGO —Protesters disrupted holiday gift shopping in downtown Chicago on Friday, marching up and down the city’s “Magnificent Mile” retail district, in the largest and most concentrated demonstration since the release of a video late Tuesday showing the shooting death of a black teenager by a white city police officer.
The video showing the October 2014 slaying of Laquan McDonald, 17, by officer Jason Van Dyke, who was charged with first-degree murder this week, has stirred the protests. In the video, taken from a police cruiser, Van Dyke is seen shooting McDonald 16 times.
As they have all week, protesters — frustrated by the fact that it has taken more than a year for Van Dyke to be charged — on Friday demanded the resignation of Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy and the assignment of a special prosecutor to take over the case from Cook County officials. Protesters also accuse Mayor Rahm Emanuel of being tone deaf to what they allege is a systematic trend of police misconduct against African Americans in the city’s most impoverished areas. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/11/27/protesters-shut-down-chicagos-magnificent-mile-in-demonstrations-over-police-slaying-of-laquan-mcdonald/

While I do not know all the details about this, I will state that I believe police often disobey laws and/or act like they are above the law. Too often, certain elements of the police force have been too harsh and/or violent to citizens of various races. But I do not believe that most police officers are looking for an opportunity to harm/kill someone because of race. Furthermore, I also believe that the media and federal government have overly fanned the flames of race and relations with police officers. Enough so, that some people inclined towards violence have attempted to use protests as a cover for their violence.

Notice also the following:

November 27, 2015
At least four police officers and an “unknown number of civilians” were injured Friday in a shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, Colo., where police were still trying to contain the gunman — and determine his identity and motive — hours after the ordeal began.
Very little information was available about what transpired at the health center as evening drew near. Officials described the scene as “very active,” with the suspect holed up in the clinic and gunshots still audible in the area as police used an armored vehicle to evacuate people from the building.
Local businesses were on lockdown as officials with Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains expressed concern about patients and staff at the facility.
“Our top priority is the safety of our patients and staff,” Vicki Cowart, president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to everyone involved in this tragic situation.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/11/27/active-shooter-at-planned-parenthood-in-colorado-springs-police-and-fire-officials-say/

If the shooter was protesting the police and/or abortion, the shooter’s actions were wrong.

Violence is not the answer to injustice. Notice what Jesus said:

52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. (Matthew 26:52, KJV)

Vengeance belongs to God:

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:17-19, NKJV)

What is needed is peace:

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9)

As far as violence goes, the Bible also shows that God is against violence and that destruction will come because of it:

23 ‘Make a chain,
For the land is filled with crimes of blood,
And the city is full of violence.
24 Therefore I will bring the worst of the Gentiles,
And they will possess their houses;
I will cause the pomp of the strong to cease,
And their holy places shall be defiled. (Ezekiel 7:23-24)

read full article

News Presenter: John Hickey