“There seems to be a developing liberal narrative, that the police are being too hard on the rioters.”
That’s been the Anarchists’ strategy for at least 100 years. Keep escalating the vandalism and violence, until you get a strong-enough police response to garner the sympathy of the masses. It’s a real dilemma for political leaders.
I heard somebody say, send in cowboys on horseback.to lasso the rioters.
I heard someone else say send up drones and drop tear gas bombs or slimy grease on them.