Protest Framing Normalizes Lethal Policing

When commentators and institutions emphasize the provocative conduct of protesters as the defining context for violent police responses, it incrementally shifts legal and political norms toward accepting deadly force as a routine tool of crowd control. Over time this reframing can lower inquiry rigor (forensics, de‑escalation review) and expand operational discretion. — If adopted widely, this narrative changes how use‑of‑force incidents are adjudicated, reduces independent oversight, and affects protest strategy and public policy on civil liberties and policing.