As I start to write about the fourth fruit of the Spirit, I cannot help but think of civil unrest in this nation right now. If there was ever a time for the implementation of the fourth fruit of the Spirit it is now. As I write there are numerous rioting events actively taking place. I realize that not all people are of the Christian faith and will not give heed to this but we all need to consider being longsuffering even those who are not Christian or of any religion. To rashly take up an attitude of violence is not the answer. But loving your neighbor as you would yourself is!
Here are some of the events of this year alone and seemingly increasing.
List of incidents of civil unrest in the United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2016
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2016 – Occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, January–February 2015. 1 killed and several dozen arrested. Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon
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2016 – Salt Lake City, Utah. Feb. 27. Locals clashed with police after the Shooting of Abdullahi Omar Mohamed.
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2016 – 2016 Donald Trump Chicago rally protest, March 11. Five people arrested and two police officers injured during a demonstration at the UIC Pavilion.
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2016 – Democracy Spring rally in April. March to Washington D.C. and sit-ins lead to arrests.
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2016 – Donald Trump rally in Costa Mesa, California, April 29. 20 people were arrested as crowd turns violent outside the Trump rally. Anti-Trump protesters clashed with pro-Trump supporters.
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2016 – Donald Trump rally in Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 25
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2016 – At least 261 people were arrested across the U.S. in protests in New York City, Chicago, St. Paul, Minnesota; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and other cities. In St. Paul, bottles and rocks flew as over twenty officers were injured. The protests were held in response to the officer-involved shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.
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2016 – 2016 Milwaukee riots, Sherman Park, August 13–15. Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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2016 – 2016 Charlotte riot, September 20-21. Riots started in response to the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott by officers. What started as a protest turned violent. Protesters were hijacking trucks, looting their contents then setting them on fire. Traffic on Interstate Highway 275 was stopped, forcing the occupants to drive while rioters sat on top of their vehicles. At the site of the shooting police vehicles were destroyed, and nearby the windows at the Omni Ritz Hotel were shattered. Looting occurred at a Walmart in northeastern Charlotte as well as a CVS pharmacy, a convenience store, and the Charlotte Hornets team store in Uptown Charlotte. After 12 officers were injured, the use of tear gas was approved to disperse the crowds. The National Guard and the North Carolina Highway Patrol were also called in.
