"But if the police are going to do anything about the violent ones among the protestors, it almost certainly is going to have to involve an element of violence" - I do not believe this to be true. Most of the 'violence' of the protestors is directed at property, not people. I think most people would agree that it's not worth violently injuring an individual to prevent a broken window or a stolen pair of shoes. For violence of the protestors directed at the police. They're showing up and tear-gassing people. Directly attacking their own citizens with chemical weapons, baton rounds fired from shotguns, sting grenades, etc...
I think it's pretty easy for law enforcement to do the right thing: Don't show up.
When cops don't show up there is little to no violence against people or property.
When cops show up to protests more often than not they initiate violence against people and retaliate for violence against property (or their reputation) with violence against people. This is some fuuuuuuked up behavior and why the protests continue.
Responding to protests against police brutality by violently brutalizing protestors is like a really sad joke.
Vandalism is a crime like any other. If my business or car or house were destroyed, you better believe I'd want the people responsible arrested. Responding to police brutality (a serious problem, to be sure) with more brutality is also a sad joke.
I think it's pretty easy for law enforcement to do the right thing: Don't show up.
When cops don't show up there is little to no violence against people or property. When cops show up to protests more often than not they initiate violence against people and retaliate for violence against property (or their reputation) with violence against people. This is some fuuuuuuked up behavior and why the protests continue.
Responding to protests against police brutality by violently brutalizing protestors is like a really sad joke.