When Ferguson and now Baltimore protests have led to violence, there has been varied responses from my Democratic and Progressive friends as people debate how far to switch gears from voicing support to condemning or making excuses for people who lash out with violence in response to violence….ranging from breaking windows to looting to throwing bricks at cops.

There is no excuse for this behavior...especially because it is even more premeditated and indiscriminate than the original act.

And lets set the record straight. In his 1966 interview with Chris Wallace where he uttered those words, MLK was making an observation NOT an endorsement.

It isn’t a legitimate activism tactic to destroy your own neighborhood and to suggest Dr. King condoned it is a misguided approach that discredits the legacy of Peace and Love that earned him that Monument on the National Mall.

In the below interview this is what he really was saying:

"Violence is impractical and immoral."

"I would hope that we can avoid riots because riots are self-defeating and self-destructive."

Let’s remember that and echo THOSE words when these tragedies happen….just like the family of Freddie Gray and many other residents of Baltimore are doing tonight in interviews on CNN and MSNBC. 

CNN's Van Jones said it well: "Black Jobs Matter. Black Businesses Matter. Black Neighborhoods Matter."

He could have added "COPS Lives Matter" in reference to African-Amercian and other races of police officers also under attack.

Let’s follow the lead of these voices because they represent the people who will live the consequences of these acts....let's not attempt to bury the lede and minimize them. 

One of the greatest tools an activist has is finding common ground....its a well-documented fact. 

So, let's take a break from our talking points and the "yeah, buts" and find common ground that violence is NEVER the answer or in our quest for "Justice For All" we will achieve "Justice For No One." 

- Jim McBride, Network For Progress

WATCH BELOW:

MORE INFO!
THINKPROGRESS: The White House’s new rape prevention campaign puts the emphasis on men

On Sunday, September 21st over 400,000 people in NYC participated in #PeoplesClimate March, the largest global warming event in history, before the UN Climate Summit...

WATCH: President Obama speaks at UN Climate Summit
(Full Text) 

Learn More: http://www.whitehouse.gov/climate-change

Highlights
 "In America, the past decade has been our hottest on record.  Along our east coast, the city of Miami now floods at high tide.  In our west, wildfire season now stretches most of the year.  In our heartland, farms have been parched by the worst drought in generations, and drenched by the wettest spring in our history.  A hurricane left parts of this great city dark and underwater. "

"The United States has made ambitious investments in clean energy, and ambitious reductions in our carbon emissions.  We now harness three times as much electricity from the wind and 10 times as much from the sun as we did when I came into office."

"Within a decade, our cars will go twice as far on a gallon of gas, and already, every major automaker offers electric vehicles.  We’ve made unprecedented investments to cut energy waste in our homes and our buildings and our appliances, all of which will save consumers billions of dollars."

"So, all told, these advances have helped create jobs, grow our economy, and drive our carbon pollution to its lowest levels in nearly two decades -- proving there does not have to be a conflict between a sound environment and strong economic growth."

"Over the past 8 years, the United States has reduced our total carbon pollution by more than any other nation on Earth."


"Five years ago, I pledged America would reduce our carbon emissions in the range of 17 percent below 2005 levels by the year 2020.  America will meet that target."

MORE INFO:
VOX: "Obama says "we have to do more" on climate change. So what would that entail?"

BLOOMBERG: "Fight Against Climate Change Seen Driving Economic Growth"

THINKPROGRESS:  "With Hottest August On Record, 2014 Takes Aim At Hottest Year On Record"

WATCH: Leonardo DiCaprio speaks at UN Climate Summit
(Full Text)

Highlights
"The chief of the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel Locklear,  
recently said that climate change is our single greatest security threat."
(SOURCE: Boston Globe)

"To be clear, this is not about just telling people to change their light bulbs or to buy a hybrid car. 
This disaster has grown BEYOND the choices that individuals make."

"We need to put a pricetag on carbon emissions, and eliminate government subsidies for coal, gas, and oil companies."