Wyatt Cenac Quotes
I was arrested when I was 19 for inciting a riot.
Cenac, Wyatt. "Wyatt Cenac Tackles Policing in America." Interview by Terry Gross. Fresh Air, NPR, 12 Apr. 2018.
The demonstration was on August 8, 1643. There are several important aspects to this quotation. First, it shows that a peace movement is not only a creature of modern times. Second, that women were actively involved in political protests and demonstrations in 17th century England. Last, that the police of the time behaved as brutally as many police forces do in later centuries in putting down and surpressing demonstrations.
This quotation is used by the moderate Egyptians and other moderate Arab leaders as well as Israelis and other experts in combating Islamic Fundamentalism to illustrate the thinking process of the Muslim fundamentalist terrorist leader. They are more than willing to sacrifice those they lead (though rarely themselves) if they think that something is to be gained. But if there is nothing to be gained, their “moral” responsibility requires not “wasting” their followers’ lives. Therefore, the way these experts believe they should deal with the radicals is to face them with overwhelming force (a variant of the Powell Doctrine) and never concede anything or let them gain anything from violence. A single concession makes the terrorism, sacrifice and violence worthwhile, but if there is no gain, the leader has wasted the lives of his followers and is less likely to initiate another attack.
Earlier, a virtually all white police force in nearby 67% Black Ferguson, had shot an unarmed black young man who was 20 feet away with his hands up, 7 times killing him and then leaving the body uncovered on the street for over 4 hours. Many people of all races began to peacefully demonstrate in Ferguson and were met with military assault weapons pointed at them and military armored vehicles, with the police illegally (as later determined by the courts) were interfering with the right to protest. The demonstrations turned to riots and there was looting and arson of business establishments. The demonstrations started to spread to nearby St. Louis and other cities as the news spread. While the Ferguson officials had behaved so badly and stupidly, the St. Louis mayor exhibited democratic leadership that was an example for others. Slay was then a 4 term mayor, being reelected more than any other mayor in St. Louis history, and was one of the outstanding politicians in America.
This quote is often cited to imply that Luther endorsed rioting which is not the case. See the related quotes from the same speech for the larger context of the quote which makes clear Luther’s true views of the unproductiveness and destructiveness of rioting.
Wyatt Cenac is an American comedian, actor, producer, and writer. He was a correspondent and writer for The Daily Show from 2008 to 2012. He starred in the TBS series People of Earth and in Barry Jenkins's first feature Medicine for Melancholy. He also hosted and produced the HBO series Wyatt Cenac's Problem Areas.
