[leereeves]

I've read it a few times.

"It is in solidarity with these latter protesters–along with those who loot–and against politicians and de-escalators everywhere that I offer this critique"

As someone who would like to see de-escalation before this all ends in civil war, the author has declared (correctly, I think) themselves against me.

It is, more than a mere defense of looting, an attack on capitalism and "white supremacy" (by which the author means American society in general, not extremist Neo-Nazis).

I'm as aware as anyone of the failures and injustices of capitalism, but merely taking what one wants isn't a sustainable solution.

[iak8god]

> It is, more than a mere defense of looting, an attack on capitalism and "white supremacy" (by which the author means American society in general, not extremist Neo-Nazis).

Right. Those are some of the reasons it's plausible that someone would recommend it with a more complex intention than "yay, looting."

[leereeves]

I'm sure countless sources could be found that present those arguments without also defending looting.

Perhaps one could even find sources that present a fair criticism of the flaws of other economic systems and the injustices perpetrated by other societies alongside the critique of capitalism and American history.

When a prominent activist like DeRay Mckesson recommends an article like In Defense of Looting, it's likely to encourage looting by some of his followers.