photos courtesy of Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood was once again the scene of another “Black Lives Matter” protests . It is being reported that there was one arrest for disrupting traffic at the corner of North Broad and East Ridgewood. The demonstration was “otherwise peaceful “. The Protesters marched up and Down Ridgewood Avenue and also protested in front of the Ridgewood police station.
A few observation: while we are firm believers in Free Speech unlike many in the Village , Free Speech carries with it responsibility and consequences , ask Muhammad Ali .While we commend the children for being active and engaged, we are once again concerned over the use of young people to score political points. Some Ridgewood moms tried to compare the arrests to Selma ,saying, “I’m sure they told Selma protesters to stay out of the street/off the bridge too! “. In Selma the Democrats used dogs and water cannons, and the police beat protesters with night sticks . One of the signs read ,”have you ever been f-ed by the system” , folks Ridgewood is the system , and you are living a pretty easy life .
It is odd that a group considered to be some of most “privileged” on the face of the earth is out complaining about “privilege” and are we the only ones that finds it odd that it appeared that no “black people” attended a “Black Lives Matter” march ? Then we noticed the signs for “Reparations” , may parents of the “privileged” must have loved that , however there are more “black ” Americans living in the USA that freely emigrated from Africa since slavery than those living here related to Africans sold by other Africans and brought here as slaves. Our question is will reparations only include Democrats , which created the Confederacy, Jim Crow and the KKK. ? Speaking of reparations, since the merchants in Ridgewood could not open the Central business district pedestrian mall , should not the protesters and their parents be asked to offer reparations to the restaurants and shops who all lost business?
Nothing seems to say “Privilege” more than a bunch of white rich kids speaking for African Americans .
This is the anti American Cancel cultured brats. The spoiled , ignorant, intolerant , left wing indoctrination. Wake up and stop voting democrat. This is no longer the party of JFK. It’s now the party of Marx and Lenin.
Okay boomer
Okay boomer
Black lives matter!! But what about my kids life!! who depend on my business that is located in Ridgewood, that lost money this weekend.
I’m glad at least I learned that Republican and Democratic parties switched platforms in 1936. Now, to address your statement, would you rather young Ridgewood adults remain complacent in this current system? Let’s unpack the prejudice in this article you’ve published, starting specifically with your distaste to pay for reparations. Ridgewood has inherently racist zoning laws by allowing the construction of two family homes and apartments to be strictly in one area of the town, thus limiting who can and cannot move to the town. By paying reparations, we offer back the wealth we have denied the Black community since 1619. Black Americans are the only group denied reparations despite receiving state sanctioned racial discriminations. Slavery was one of the most profitable systems for white familles. These same white families acquired an exuberant amount of (stolen) wealth. This wealth has been passed down generationally, and most likely to some of the wealthiest families in Ridgewood. We should absolutely pay reparations to Black families as white families CONTINUE to profit off an oppressive system.
Hilarious. What are those white girls and the dude wearing a belly shirt doing?
I told one of my black friends he should come out here with a wash basin and let the liberal white simps publicly wash his feet in their front yards for $500 a photo session. We laughed.
Like Selma, the only crime of the protesters in Ridgewood was walking in the street. Don’t twist the statement for your own benefit.
you are really comparing Ridgewood to Selma is that joke?
got to laugh see these people actually take themselves seriously
1619 James town was an English colony
Dems and Repulic switch platforms , yea thats the tickets ,” We shall continue to maintain segregation in Alabama completely and absolutely without violence or ill-will. … I advocate hatred of no man, because hate will only compound the problems facing the South. … We ask for patience and tolerance and make an earnest request that we be allowed to handle state and local affairs without outside interference.”
James – the comparison is the that in both situations, the “crime” was peacefully assembling and walking in the street. Nothing more/nothing less. Your inserting your own conservative commentary for your own gain. . ARE YOU JOKING????
you are really gonna go to Selma ???? and your going to keep it up ???????????????????????????
Gotta love these Ridgewood kids. Bless their little entitled white collar socks.
DWKM
New Organization.
Dopey White Kids Matter.
Platforms switched in 1964 with the Civil Rights bill.
Do any of these kids work out or do they eat ice cream all day ?
Civil disobediance presumes there are laws and consequences for breaking them, on this occasion, the police clearly overreacted by making an arrest. We pay officers to have a bit of judgement about how to respond to pretty minor behavior that technically violates some statute or regulation. There are a lot of alternatives to cuffing the protester. And it is pretty clueless by the police to overreact when these protests were born of police abuse.
Responding to another point, I actually passed by the protest and noticed black people in attendance.
As the silent majority remains silent…
Who wrote this? Lot of pompous opinions without knowledge of real issue. Writer seems heavily anchored in bias.
Dumb a$$ kids, brainwashed by screwed up “edu” industry. My wife and I came to this country in our teens. Lived on below minimal wage, in NY’s ghetto until we could afford to move out to slightly better, immigrant community in Queens. Worked 2 jobs while finishing CUNY (it was basically free even 2 decades ago). Built careers with no connections, no passed along wealth, speaking English with accent. Now own a home in Ridgewood and proud that our kids would be given much more than we were.
I feel so sad for these protestors. They have no faith in anything. Nothing to live for. No urge to overcome and accomplish. Their parents and their schools have failed them.
PJ these kids dont have to worry about jobs because everything is handed to them
Bias by author. Loads of assumptions created by bias in comments. If this is how people think, we’re doomed.
yes Janice you are the only one who knows the truth and you know better than everyone …ugh please stop, pompous much?
“Nothing seems to say “Privilege” more than a bunch of white rich kids speaking for African Americans ”
Er, wouldn’t it be privilege for rich white kids to IGNORE the problems of African Americans? Perhaps I’m mistaken, but I think you’re using the buzzword wrong, James.
lol yes people people in Ridgewood are so oppressed
yes I am very oppressed with a $115 million dollar school budget
@anon
” Lived on below minimal wage, in NY’s ghetto until we could afford to move out to slightly better, immigrant community in Queens. Worked 2 jobs while finishing CUNY (it was basically free even 2 decades ago). Built careers with no connections, no passed along wealth, speaking English with accent. Now own a home in Ridgewood and proud that our kids would be given much more than we were. ”
And yet, you’re now here in the position of arguing AGAINST those who would work so that people don’t have to go through the same hardships you did. Is it just willful ignorance or just a selfish “F**k you, I got mine” thing?
we did it was called the civil war
I believe its called the cycle of life
These kids are fools…no one owes anyone reparations. They are an embarrassment. I
NY’s ghetto you should just shut up pay reparations for all your hard work
Hysterical. I see the wonderful mosaic of color in the pix. White and entitled.
Pulp – Common People (Official Video)
https://youtu.be/yuTMWgOduFM
Give them reparations and we’re done.
We can wash our hands.
That money will be squandered faster than a Pickle Ball game.
If it’s so bad then you can leave.
My Asian neighbors can’t speak English yet their kids are going to Ivy League schools.
Moms are waiting in their giant SUVs at the train station to drive them home. Their feet probably hurt.
Racism is white people that believe blacks can’t make it without their help!
Lived in Ridgewood 25 years . Sad to say that the town is filled with bigots. I am so glad to be out of there.
Good luck keeping your heads in the sand. At least the kids are doing something other than reserving spaces for chairs for that pathetic July 4th parade.
I think native born Americans don’t understand that immigrants coming to this country don’t wanna live in da hood and listen to complaints of ppl who were born here and didn’t make it. Whatever their excuse is. White college kids wasting 4y majoring in women’s studies. Or blacks in da hood who act like they live in North Korea.
entitled white kids who don’t have clue…..read the mission stmt for the BLM organization. nothing to do with helping the black community….if they had a legit mission they would be focused on chicago
This is poorly written. Credibility is lost in what was attempted to be reported.
“Racism is white people that believe blacks can’t make it without their help!” = Democrats!
One sign says ” Stop white – washing education” ??? Are you kidding me? These kids have brain washed, indoctrinated by the system for years . They’re trying to erase American history. No respect. This is what my taxes pay for?
This article is unsurprisingly cynical and just a touch racist, but that’s not as bad as some of the comments. I dare you to sign your names to your racist and bigoted takes on kids peacefully assembling in solidarity with BLM.
ok so white people claiming to speak for black people is not racist ?, it is the very essence of racism
These young people (mostly – that’s what I saw from the photos and videos) were exercising their Constitutional Rights in downtown Ridgewood. They were standing up against what they perceive as serious injustices. They are not acting like brats; they’re acting like responsible citizens. I admire their tenacity and sense of community; they are demanding a level of accountability that a lot of Americans are not frankly ready for. We do need to have these conversations, about racism, about police brutality, about economic injustice. Rich and poor have united together in the past to change the political dynamic; Washington was wealthy, while Thomas Paine was poor. Both pushed against boundaries – and won.
Black Lives Matter but they better never move next to my mom’s and dad’s house.
Are these protesters being paid? Are they really from Ridgewood? Why are they protesting an issue like reparations that Ridgewood can do little about? What are the protesters full names, why do they act anonymously? Why not engage Village council instead of protesting. The lack of transparency here is troubling
You are disgusting. We should be proud of Ridgewood kids sticking up for their beliefs and the rights of their peers
This move is such bullshit. All lives matter people wake up. If we’re going to Be fair across-the-board everyone that is taking a test has to get the same grades. Not because you’re black or Latino you can get a lower grade passing. Everyone sleep on that one good night
That’s all right I’m teaching my kids all lives matter, not one particular group, color, religion, race,
“…a bunch of white kids speaking for African Americans”? Check your typos and be proud of the those in this town who stood up today for what is right!!
“Nothing seems to say ‘Privilege’ more than a bunch of white rich kids speaking for African Americans .”
We should all be incredibly proud of all of the “white rich kids” who protested today in support of Black Lives Matter and stood up for what is right. The “privilege” and “rich”ness is living in a country with free speech where we can stand up for what we believe in. Not everyone who lives here is wealthy — or white.
Also, please check for typos before posting. That was really hard to get through.
This is one of the worse articles I have ever read and I don’t just mean the typos. The writer actually sounds racist. Did he even bother to understand the 4 specific demands of the protesters? I am proud of these kids.
“Among the demands are four specific ones, related to education in Ridgewood. One, that the village’s “Eurocentric” curriculum be dismantled. Two, that there be “mandatory anti-racist trainings for students and teachers.” Three, that there be “more Black teachers, staff and leadership.” And four, that there be a “Ridgewood Public Schools Resource office” to support students of color.
“This is one of the worst articles I have ever read, and I don’t just mean the typos. I am very proud of these kids standing up for justice and for others.
Did the writer even try to understand the specific demands of these protesters?
Among the demands are four specific ones, related to education in Ridgewood. One, that the village’s “Eurocentric” curriculum be dismantled. Two, that there be “mandatory anti-racist trainings for students and teachers.” Three, that there be “more Black teachers, staff and leadership.” And four, that there be a “Ridgewood Public Schools Resource office” to support students of color.“