What is Mob Violence?

Mob violence is violence committed by more than one person. This kind of violence is often organized, contrary to popular belief. This crowd also shares a common purpose and usually acts in a unified manner. Two examples of mob violence would be rioting and protests turned violent. This type of group violence usually exists because the crowd wants to prevent or accomplish some sort of social change.

 Mob Violence Case in Massachusetts

February 5, 2012 was a sad night for Patriot fans, as they lost to the Giants in Super Bowl XLVI. Most fans quietly mourned their team’s Super Bowl loss and quietly filed back to their cars and public transit stations, although things were rowdier at the University of Massachusetts (Morrison, 2012). Since many riots had previously occurred at the University, “ a large contingent of UMass police, Amherst police and Massachusetts State Police assembled on campus well before the end of the game” (Canova, 2012). At about 10:08 p.m. a dispersal order was issued, about 15 minutes after a large crowd started gathering.  It is said that about 1,500 students gathered in a “common area of the Southwest residential area on campus” (CBS, 2012), although other witnesses claimed that the number of total people gathered was as many as 3,000 (Canova, 2012). According to many sources, it was said that fist fights occurred within this large crowd. However, the extent of how much violence really took place is unclear.
For example, according to one source “students smashed bottles and set off firecrackers and other fireworks, and a fight broke out in the middle of a large mass of people. One student was seen scaling a building, while another was restrained by three officers” (Canova, 2012). Also student “Marissa Faldasz, a junior whose dorm room looks out over where students gathered, said they were chanting ‘U.S.A., U.S.A.,’ and throwing beer cans and toilet paper rolls” (Morrison, 2012). On the other hand according to spokesman Ed Blaguszewski, “There were some fistfights, but no one was hurt badly enough to be taken to a hospital and no property damage was reported” (Morrison, 2012). Also, according to CBS Boston no damage or injury was reported (CBS, 2012).
Nevertheless, police in riot gear with smoke bombs were called in to break up the crowd.  Fourteen people were arrested but plead not guilty to various charges of which included failure to disperse and disorderly conduct. Four of these people are charged with inciting a riot. Thirteen of these people are UMass students and possibly face discipline under the university’s code of conduct also (CBS, 2012). The names of the people involved were not mentioned. As portrayed by the media, this incident was slightly misleading. As mentioned before, according to some sources the event was made to seem much worse than portrayed by others. Therefore, the actual extent of the violence that took place is unclear. Both the offenders and victims are also made unclear in this incident. Although 14 people were arrested, it is said that over 1,500 total were involved; possibly even 3,000, so all who were involved are not mentioned. Moreover, it is said that fist fights broke out but no one was hurt badly enough; also there was no property damage reported, so no actual victims were ever mentioned either.

Media Portrayal

Below are three videos that have been created in reaction to certain events of mob violence.

[Part 1] Second mass Student Protest turns violent in London

[Part 2] Second mass Student Protest turns violent in London
These videos were made in reaction to a student protest that took place in London November 24, 2010. Students were protesting against the rising tuition fees in the university when things got violent.

Media and the Riots - Did the media mess up?

This video was created in order to question the accuracy of media coverage on youths, after the London Riots of August 2011. It seems that youths are being blamed more than anyone for this event.

References

Canova, Brian. (2012). Riot police disperse 1,500 students at UMass-Amherst following Super Bowl. Retrieved from http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/02/riot_erupts_at_umass_amherst_f_1.html

CBS Boston. (2012). 14 Plead Not Guilty After UMass Super Bowl Riot. Retrieved from http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/02/07/14-plead-not-guilty-after-umass-super-bowl-riot/

Morrison, Jim. (2012). Super Bowl Riots: Patriots Loss Leads to 14 People Arrested At University of Massachusetts-Amherst (VIDEO). Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/06/super-bowl-riot-patriots-university-of-massachusetts-amherst_n_1256472.html