Why didn't "Thoughts and Prayers" work this time?

[packman]

If it wasn't for the video, that's what would have been the mantra from politicians and the police. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family". The sheer brutality and lack of compassion for a dying man unable to breathe galvanized the nation into action. How it will play out has yet to be seen, but it is a turning point long overdue.

As children and others are being slaughtered daily from gun assaults, why isn't there a parallel outcry and anger? Why does the thoughts and prayers seem to satisfy. Perhaps (and I dread typing this) a video of a body ripped with bullets can galvanize the nation in the same way. The NRA and our gun culture needs to be under control .

[murielm99]

1. It isn't working this time because

no one has anything left to lose. Worldwide, economies are in the dumpster. Anyone could die of a horrific disease at any moment.

As I keep hearing, people are sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Trump says, "What do you have to lose?" Well, nothing. But that does not mean what he thinks it means. It means that we go after those who have failed us. It is time to go after the cops, the GOP, the President who does not get on with presidentin'.

[TheBlackAdder]

2. Said perfectly: "people are sick and tired of being sick and tired."

[soothsayer]

3. Some contributing factors for this moment

Super clear and horrible video showing the senseless cruelty in all its grim detail.

We’re all self isolating and thus had time to really watch the horrifying video and think about it and absorb it.

All this on the heels of learning how the virus disproportionately hits minority communities.

Many had time to join protests without missing work or school.

And not to minimize the desire of people to protest injustice, but nicer weather and a yearning to get out didn’t hurt the cause.

And it has been one of those increasingly rare “shared moments.” The kind of thing you used to talk about around the water cooler (E.g., “did you see Seinfeld last night?”) before there were 1000 channels and shows on demand.

Kind of a perfect storm. Plus it’s been a long time coming.