Mob Violence in Minnesota

Mob Violence

Mob violence is a disturbance of the peace by several persons, assembled and acting with a common intent in executing a lawful or unlawful enterprise in a violent and turbulent manner. 2 examples of mob violence are riots and and lynchings. Mob violence exists because it enables those who are scared or unwilling to commit violence independently a way to because their conscious disappears and is replaced by a collective mind. The focus of the crowd converges on a common element as emotions strengthen.

Mob Violence in Minnesota

On a Saturday night in 2009 at the University of Minnesota’s Spring Jam block party, it turned from just that to a violent mob late in the night. It began at 9am and at around 5pm, student began tearing down street signs and trees to ignite an oversized bonfire. Around 8pm, people started jumping on cars, rode in shopping carts and chanted around the fires as the evening progressed. Partygoers attempted to flip cars sporadically through the evening and harassed drivers attempting to navigate through the area. About 70 officers, many dressed in riot gear, were at the scene over the course of the night. They used various chemical irritants, including tear gas and mace, as well as riot sticks and projectiles, such as foam and marking rounds, for crowd control. At 1am it began to rain and the crowd finally dispersed. 12 arrests were made. The University of Minnesota was extremely upset and embarrassed of the situation stating, “This kind of conduct is not reflective of our student body or the University of Minnesota community”.  The neighbors in the area where the mob took place seem to be the victims since they were disturbed by the damage and noise. The offenders are the students involved in the mob and public disturbance.

http://www.mndaily.com/2009/04/27/students-riot-dinkytown

Mob Violence in the Media

"Riot: Real Life Stories Behind the Devastating L.A. Riots of '92" (1997)

This film looked at the Los Angeles riots of 1992 that were partially inspired by the treatment Rodney King received at the hands of the Los Angeles Police Department. The rest of the nation was shocked when rioters were caught on film looting stores and cavalierly walking out with stolen items. Directors Alex Munoz and David Johnson tried to show the desperation and hopelessness that the rioters felt as they chose to participate in their lawless activity.

"Riot" is the fourth single from the album One-X by Three Days Grace. This song is about protesting against the negative things in life, and was inspired by vocalist Adam Gontier's anger when he was in rehab for OxyContin addiction.