George DeLoache: Parsing protesters

Though I often disagree with Barry Saunders, his columns are often funny, nearly always thought-provoking and generally balanced. But he really missed the mark in his column about the Baltimore riots (“No surprise Baltimore burned,” April 30).

Saunders stated that no one seems willing to make a distinction between protesters and rioters. I will try.

Those who gathered peacefully are protesters. One may even argue that those who were throwing rocks at the police were in some way engaged in protest.

Those who looted stores and burned buildings are criminals.

Saunders’ comparison between the rioters and those who participated in the Boston Tea Party is labored at best; perhaps the most striking difference is that those 1773 patriots didn’t take the tea home with them.

This story was originally published May 5, 2015 at 6:09 PM with the headline "George DeLoache: Parsing protesters."