StillaGhost brings up a sentiment that I believe many feel... Why burn and loot your own vicinity?
The reaction of those who experienced horrific treatment back in the '60's serves as an incredibly honorable example of how to handle oneself (his citing Selma in particular) IMHO. I have been EXTREMELY pissed off at others - and I have suffered at the hands of others. But, I have never believed I was entitled or obligated to harm them or their property or for that matter harm someone or something completely unrelated to the subject that caused me grief.
Passion? Rage? Frustration? Anguish? Despair? Hopelessness? Betrayed? Alone? Yes, we have all experienced those emotions and places in our lives that have burned inside us so intensely.
I think many folks on the outside looking in are quickly losing sympathy for the suffering that blacks have experienced when they see the looting, etc. Speaking for myself, I see situations like that and the LA riots, for example, and I am angered that others cannot control themselves. Why cannot folks channel their energetic frustration into something positive? It disgusts me when I see looting and I cannot dismiss it as natural reaction to decades of oppression (oppression that was gladly welcomed, but that's whole other discussion). In a way I can understand OK not wanting to associate with that [looting] deplorable behavior.
Perhaps I do not have all the facts and I am posting a knee-jerk reaction. It is easy for one to project their own feelings and beliefs onto others after all. And I admit to some degree that is what I am doing, rightly or wrongly. I know the shitty things I have been through and haven't taken my rage out on others - especially those who have nothing to do with what happened to me. It's hard for me to muster empathy when what sympathy I had has been squandered by those who merely want revenge - not to remedy their lives or improve their communities or advance their group's (gender, religion, race, or however they associate) self-reliance and liberty.
As for OK perhaps establishing image is paramount? I have no problems with them standing with the small business owners, and if I were one there I would be gracious in welcoming them. Their being present in that capacity is not illegal (so in an abstract/general way for the ignorant why would the LEO's go after them?) and I certainly don't think many would find it immoral. While I don't think that OK is in this for the glory, why shoot yourself in the foot associating with foolishness? And for those Johnny and Suzy Citizens why show them you support illegal activities (legal and illegal a whole other topic, of course). OK is - and I think should be, a recognized and reliable organization for promoting peace and liberty. I assume they are still in the infant stages thus cannot go plopping daisies into the barrel of bean-bag or bullet guns (nor is that necessarily a useful way to go about changing things) I would think that their presence in Texas last year would show their seriousness and commitment to fighting tyranny among the peace lovers.
My apologies for the lengthy commentary and thanks for a place to share such thoughts that tumble around my noggin without always getting sprung free. Back to homeschooling stuff for now...