Fiery But Mostly Peaceful: The 2020 Riots and the Gaslighting of America

by Julio Rosas

“Fiery, but mostly peaceful protests after police shooting.”



“It’s Not, Generally Speaking, Unruly.”



“CHOP was an Important Experiment in Democracy.”



In the summer of 2020, America was under siege by radical ANTIFA actors across the country. But if you were only reading mainstream headlines, you probably have no idea just how bad it really was. As homes and businesses were being burned to the ground and livelihoods were being destroyed, corporate media engaged in a full-scale attempt to gaslight the American people, pushing Orwellian narratives about the violent riots by mislabeling them as peaceful, democratic demonstrations, all seemingly to bolster their biased political views.



But one intrepid reporter was on the ground at all the major riots and witnessed what really happened — and is telling the full story for the first time.



In his explosive new book, Julio Rosas presents the definitive account of what really happened that summer, exposing the truth behind countless misleading headlines and taking readers inside the shocking and heartbreaking destruction the media refused to cover. Rosas’ groundbreaking reporting of the biggest and most destructive riots that gripped the nation in recent memory — including Kenosha, Minneapolis, Portland, Seattle, and more — decisively uproots the prevailing bogus narratives about destructive woke mobs and sheds much-needed light on the truth about what happened.



Small businesses and citizens of targeted cities are still sifting through the rubble left behind by rioters while the media continues to turn a blind eye. Rosas’ shocking account highlights the ways in which this fallout continues to haunt and devastate communities even to this day.



Thrilling, suspenseful, and packed cover-to-cover with jaw-dropping facts and never-before-told eyewitness accounts, Fiery but Mostly Peaceful pulls back the curtain and sets the record straight on a series of radical events across the country that, despite the media’s attempts to convince Americans otherwise, were anything but peaceful.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, History, Current Affairs, Journalism, American History, American

300 pages, Hardcover

Published May 3, 2022

Reviews

[Brice Karickhoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Less biased than expected for sure. The title of this book says it all. Interestingly, the book’s thesis (that the media often lied about the nature of the racially motivated protests in 2020) was given some credibility by the authors willingness to paint both protestors and law enforcement in a neutral light when describing his experiences with the protests themselves.

Basic summary of the books claims:
Protestors - sometimes right, sometimes wrong
Law enforcement - sometimes right, sometimes wrong
Mainstream media - always wrong

[MoonstoneOwl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fascinating read!

I finished this book in one sitting, and now I want to reread it. Rosas, as a journalist, provided a unique first-person account of what it was like during the 2020 protests. I am impressed by how fair and thorough he is with his reporting. One of my favorite chapters described how small business owners defended themselves. It touched my heart. I plan to reread this book soon, so I'll add some more thoughts next time.

[Briana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting first-person account of the uh.. “mostly peaceful” uh.. “protests” over the last 2 years. Reading this was quite sad and frustrating at times but I highly recommend! Hopefully everyone can learn something new from this book.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like many Americans, the 2020 riots were background noise while I focused on my own life and how I was going to navigate the turbulence of COVID and lockdown. Reading a firsthand account of the numerous riots, from Kenosha to the Capital, was fascinating, surreal, and honestly a little terrifying.

Despite being published by the Daily Wire, I was pleasantly surprised with the lack of a conservative narrative bias, particularly during the account of the January 6th Capital riot. Instead, I believe that this is about as unbiased of a look into what really happened during the riots of 2020 that we will ever get.

[Thomas George Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is Mr. Rosas's first. He gives a detailed account of the mass riots throughout the country in 2020. Some of the cities included Portland, Minneapolis, Kenosha, Philadelphia, and Louisville-my home town. The majority of the Main Stream Media described said riots as "mostly peaceful." Mr. Rosas, however, described the riots as mostly violent. In some of said cities Mr. Rosas, himself, came under attack for his accurate reporting. The BLM and ANTIFA movements wanted a different narrative than the actual violence that occurred. All in all, I found the book fair and balanced.

[James Buckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A harrowing but ultimately illuminating chronicle of Julio Rosas’ experiences covering the riots that swept our country in 2020 and afterward, “Fiery …” provided a detailed, man-on-the-street view of the carnage and destruction that accompanied these riots, as well as the hypocrisy and ineptitude of various local and national political leaders who were unable or unwilling to control the riots. Rosas also devotes a lot of coverage to the victims of the rioters, who detail the struggles they faced bouncing back from the destruction. Highly recommended.

[Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A decent account of a personal experience during the 2020 summer protests. Rosas presents a detailed, but biased view of these events. Tends to paint the events/protestors in negative light while painting bystanders and onlookers as victims.

You could find a lot better written narratives by actual journalists that don’t write for biased news sites.

[Kerry Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about what happened at the different locations without the political spin. Just the facts as he saw them.

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read from a journalist who was on the ground throughout the different riots that took place over the last few years. Very thorough and detailed albeit a bit redundant in parts.

[Mario]

Tried the audiobook first, it was horrible.
Book is decently written and his vids back some of his stuff up.
Is it biased, well, yes it is. Still, seems like a believable account of certain events.
If anyone has similar books from a source with a different bias (preferably an on-the-field reporter like Rosas), please recommend.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read. lots of language

I didn’t learn anything new, but I appreciate hearing the stories of what happened at the riots. Crazy to think there is any question that people weren’t self serving while destroying so many businesses, property, and livelihood of so many in communities that did not need this destruction.

[Dave Driver]

Good but self-indulgent

Great detail and solid first person portrayal of events. Too much personal martyrdom gets tiresome. Hyperbole abounds in describing how dangerous it all was and how many times he almost died. Didn't need the preachiness and sob stories of mental anguish at the end either. Just tell the story.

[Samantha Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read with a healthy dose of reality!

Fiery But Mostly Peaceful: The 2020 Riots and the Gaslighting of America

Semi-full disclosure: I am a conservative and have always been a Conservative. Fifteen years ago, I would have been considered a very moderate Conservative, perhaps Libertarian, but as the world has changed, I'm sure the left would consider me far right. Live and let live while not causing damage or harm to others.

That being said, I'm also a seeker of truth, which has me gathering information from all "sides" to form opinions and determine the actual truth and why I really appreciated Julio Rosas' "Fiery (But Mostly Peaceful): The 2020 Riots and the Gaslighting of America."

As someone who lives in one of the "Fiery (But Mostly Peaceful)" states and has been directly affected by the protests and riots (yes, there is a difference), I couldn't help but wonder if I was living in another world altogether from what was being reported by mainstream media.

In "Fiery," Mr. Rosas gives his up close and personal perspective as a member of the live-streaming press covering riots prior to the killing of George Floyd to those following his death, including the events of January 6th. Mr. Rosas remains as neutral as possible in his accounts but can't help but see the absolute twisting of facts and events to suit BLM, Antifa, and the entirety of this country's Left narrative.

Had I only been watching CNN or MSNBC, even my local news, I would have heard nothing but excuses, a downplaying of the events unfolding around me, all trying to convince the masses that the "protests" were nothing more than a few groups marching, any property damage or injury was downplayed and excused, instead of exposed, without a grain of reality.

But I did follow many of the live-streamers coverage of these events and can unequivocally say that the vast majority of those who were on the ground covering from a leftist's POV reveled in the destruction and mayhem, while those on the right tended to be far more neutral and factual, just as Mr. Rosas demonstrates throughout "Fiery," pointing out the issues with both "sides."

Mr. Rosas' coverage of the January 6th events is especially recommended reading for those on the left as well as those on the right. Mainstream media would like their consumers to believe that that day was worse than 9/11, while those on the right have tried to minimize the day to the point that it was nothing more than some errant tourists who made a little mess in the Capitol Building. Mr. Rosas' reporting and perspective fall right between the two and represents what I hope the vast majority of Americans will eventually see as the truth.

What I appreciated most was Mr. Rosas' follow-ups with so many directly affected by the riots. The Left's constant mantra of "It's just property, there's insurance," as well as the SCREAMING guilt-tripping that human life is worth far more than any building, has kept many silent by design. Mr. Rosas' interviews with those who lost their businesses, livelihoods, and every penny they had, along with countless employees of those businesses who were more than simply inconvenienced, gave them a voice to finally speak out. Many supported the cause and stance of the protesters. They watched helplessly as everything they ever had, every benefit they provided for their customers, employees, and communities, went up in smoke. These are not people who got "rich" thanks to insurance. Many found that insurance simply didn't cover the damage caused and would not possibly cover the cost of rebuilding and restock.

As you read through "Fiery (But Mostly Peaceful): The 2020 Riots and the Gaslighting of America," you can't help but see the common denominator in all of the events depicted was mainstream media's constant pushing of the left's narrative of every event. Tweets by celebrities, hastily-written articles and news blurbs all desiring to break the story first, rather than present the truth, served to incite these riots and bring many to a fever-pitch. Many would not have occurred beyond a truly peaceful protest had the masses simply been presented with the truth or even a modicum of neutrality.

Recommended reading for anyone seeking a different perspective or like me, who may feel they are living in some sort of alternate universe, presented in an easy-to-follow timeline format, with comparisons to what was being presented and universally accepted at each event, versus reality.

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the "woke" the People of the United States need.

"The official Black Lives Matter organization, indeed the movement as a whole, supposedly exists to prevent the death of or harm to minorities at the hands of police. But so often it was those same minority populations that were harmed--in some cases killed--when supposedly well-meaning and sincere protests morphed into bedlam and turmoil."
Julio Rosas literally put boots on the ground in the most volatile areas of America during the 2020 riots and reported on the events he saw. Risking his safety, he witnessed the rioting that CNN would ignobly call "Fiery But Mostly Peaceful". Lefty media's willful ignorance and dangerous misinformation to the American people remind me of the scene in the movie The Naked Gun, where there's explosions and a towering conflagration, and in the foreground Frank Drebin is calmly waving people away, saying "Nothing to see here. Please disperse." Seems CNN and lefty media have taken a few pages out of the "files of Police Squad".

Rep. AOC (D-NY) cried that people are probably looting so they don't starve (and let's not forget that it was the rioters who put people in danger of having no access to food in the first place), and so they're just grabbing some bread. Meanwhile Rosas witnessed the grocery section of a Target virtually being avoided like it was "radioactive" while rioters carted out thousands of dollars of electronics and other non-essentials. "Woke" the f--- up.
I also saw plenty of such opportunists in 2020, like a YouTuber catching two looters pull up to a high-end Patagonia shop, one running in and grabbing a pretty expensive looking snowboard, and jumping back on crotch-rocket bike of other said scumbag, both of whom were wearing black-out visors. Before they sped off the videographer was able to ask "What does this have to do with justice for George Floyd?"

"Since the official BLM organization received donations totaling in the millions, its leaders have been exposed as nothing more than opportunistic charlatans... Tamika Palmer, the mother of Breonna Taylor, posted to Facebook about the Louisville BLM chapter and how she 'personally have found them to be [a] fraud.'"

Rosas is honest and objective, stating that he hates riots of any kind, including the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the Capitol (and I have actually voiced very similar thoughts on this as well, including the view that the stupidity of those people gave the left exactly the outlet they were looking for.)

There have been many more outrageous statements made by the leftist media that honestly shouldn't even be dignified with an acknowledgement, but Rosas deigns to examine some of these ignoble statements and patiently points out the absurdity of them.

In chapter 9 where he points out the hypocrisy of the Democrats during the 2020 pandemic, telling everyone to stay home and to not gather with anyone outside the household for Thanksgiving, and he cited a number of instances, he missed one I was looking for. Mayor Hancock of Denver fallaciously pleaded with everyone to stay home for Thanksgiving; the next morning he jumped on a plane to Louisiana to spend Thanksgiving with daughter. 'Woke" Democrat policies, folks. "Woke" to that.
And of course lefty media made no mention of rioters spreading COVID. (Although one Dumocrat indicates that we had to be more cautious because it was getting colder out. Earlier it was good weather to riot, and COVID be damned.)

Rosas is a conservative, he served in the Marine Corps Reserves, is a college dropout, and works as a journalist. He makes no bones about any of it and doesn't attempt to propagate a conservative agenda via fallacious journalism, like, EHEMM!! certain people. He reports objectively and with integrity.

Thank you to Julio Rosas for this book.
In truth, Julio simply reports by going to a scene with his phone (camera and recorder), notebook, interviews people when he can, and tells it like it is. But it's the fact that he has integrity as a journalist that makes him a rarity (and commodity), and makes this book so important.

[skip thurnauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julio Rosas is a writer for Townhall, an online conservative news publisher. Because Rosas is not a college graduate and doesn't work for a serious news outlet (Townhall is a conservative outlet to boot), most would cast aside his observations as right-wing hackery. In Fiery, Rosas finds a voice that will resonate with many people and not just conservatives. In 2020 and 2021 he reported on, as noted in the book's subtitle, "Mostly Peaceful" demonstrations across America. His on-the-ground reporting presents a perspective not offered from the major television news networks and newspapers. His chapter titles (many taken from leading media sources) ironically suggest his different perspective on the "summer of love". Here are a few: "The Federal Invasion of Portland", "It's Not, Generally Speaking, Unruly", "Fiery, but Mostly Peaceful", "Mostly True Media Coverage", and "It's Just Property, There's Insurance". When fires raged in cities like Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland, Waukegan, and Kenosha, often of the businesses destroyed belonged to minorities and immigrants. Many owners were forced out of business. Employees lost wages. Insurance often covered only a fraction of the losses. Scott Carpenter owned B&L Office Furniture, a business started in their garage by his father some 40 years. "It's all gone... We have insurance, yeah, but the insurance isn't there so somebody can destroy your things... It causes insurance rates to go up. It's basically theft. Whoever did this stole from us, and that raises the cost of everything." Julio Rosas tells what broadcaster Paul Harvey used refer to, as "page two", the story not covered by leading media sources.

[Kenneth Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best first hand account of the riots inspired by the death of George Floyd and the January 6 riots at the Capital. Mr. Rosas provides eye witness accounts of the riots in Minneapolis, Seattle and Portland. He discusses the absent minded destruction that ultimately only hurt the local economies and did not bring justice to anyone affected by racial conflicts with police. Mr. Rosas discussed the influence that organizations such as Black Lives Matter had in relation to committing acts of destruction in places like Kenosha. He ends the book by discussing his first hand accounts of the mindless attacks on the Capital on 6 January. The book is well written and left be profoundly sad for the state of the country. We have now entered a new period where it is deemed permissible to wanton acts of violence and destruction in order to achieve "justice". I encourage readers who are concerned with the direction of this country to carefully read this book and then hold our elected leaders accountable when they make the claim that their party (Republican or Democrat) does not support violence. I hope this book will encourage readers to take another look and begin to understand that both major political parties should be held accountable for the riots over the last couple of years.

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

You owe it to yourself to read this great book! Rosas was a "boots on the ground" reporter for nearly all of the riots of 2020 and 2021. From Minneapolis through Kenosha and including the riot in Washington DC, Rosas documents what he saw, heard, and experienced through all of those. The title is taken from a mainstream media "reporter" who laughably termed a RIOT to be "Fiery (but mostly peaceful)" as a building literally burns in the background and gunshots and mayhem are overheard! That gives you a clue that if you only tuned into the national media, you did NOT receive a full report of what happened during those horrible riots. Real people were hurt and hurt badly -- both physical injuries as well as being hurt financially. For whatever reason(s), the legacy media gave a pass to Antifa and the other bad actors who rioted in so many cities. Also, Rosas documents that liberal politicians who cynically took advantage of the riots to help themselves and hurt their conservative opponents. READ THIS BOOK! Again, you owe it to YOURSELF to do so.

[Gordon Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fire next time.

I think that saying is a description of the next apocalypse. First time was the floods, next time it will be the fire. I think that’s what Rosas is describing here although he may not agree with my interpretation. However the events he describes sound apocryphal.

The people who should be reading this book won’t. They are too smug in their righteousness. I blame educators from secondary school through college as the primary source of today’s insanity. Not all, certainly; but, way too many. Rosas’ analysis of the situation is from a lived experience and I believe it. His book does not make me feel optimistic; but, then, I did not feel optimistic before I read it so I can’t blame Rosas. However, there is Rosas himself. So long as the country is still able to produce men like him, maybe a glimmer of hope remains.

Why not 5 stars? Five stars is something to aim for, like perfection. We all need something to aim for.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure what I expected when I got this book from the library, and I'm not sure whether I got what I was looking for or not. I wish there had been more, but I'm not sure what the something is, except that it isn't vitriol. Perhaps what I was looking for was more information, and less memoir, but I think he does a good job with the memoir and the stories of people whose lives have been damaged by the riots and it's a right approach.
My hat is off to Mr. Rosas for going into those situations and reporting what he and others experienced.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good book that covers the George Floyd protests and riots that got out of hand and the Jan 6th protest and riot. A lot of firsthand reporting from him on how during the day they were mainly peaceful and then at night the looters and troublemakers would arrive, and some cities would devolve into chaos. Good follow up on some cases with the differences in punishment between Jan 6 protestors and people arrested in other cities, vast majority had charges dropped or not charged at all, and how both political parties sought to use the violence to their advantage.

[Laura Bentz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Book on our Recent Civil Unrest

I really was fascinated reading this. It helps chronicle what exactly happened 2 summers ago and the timeline of events. I hope this never happens again because, if it does , the wounds will destroy the United States as we have known it - one of the least racist countries in the world. With a noble legacy of liberty and justice for all. Or, at least, an effort try to be the best country that has ever existed.

[Edy Gies · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I could shelve this under dystopian but unfortunately this is a work of non-fiction. Rosas documents the events of the riots that have swept through the country since 2020. He does so as an observer on the ground and questions how the legacy media has claimed these riots never happened, hence the name of the book. Good read for anyone interested in politics and logical reasoning and thinking as this provides many negative examples.

[N. Niemeier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found out about this book through an interview with Rosas that I caught on CSPAN-2. A decent overview of the 2020-2021 riots that covers a lot of ground we've been over before, but which also highlights the plight of neighborhoods caught in the sights of rioters and looters. I was surprised to see the January 6th Riot included, too. Rosas attempts to stay pretty objective in his accounting of these events.

[Jason Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Really brings perspective to what was happening on the ground that the mainstream media and the Democratic Party tried to hide from the American People. So sad the tragedy people had to endure while they kept telling you it was mostly peaceful. It is a shame and should have never happened in our country. God bless the USA.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fairly in tune with these events as they were happening but I appreciated the eyewitness accounts. While he wasn't totally unbiased, it felt as though Rosas was committed to reporting what happened with journalistic integrity. I appreciate that he and others want to tell us what really had happened and not just the story that has been crafted to further political ambitions.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid eyes on the ground recounting of several riots 2020-21. Between Rojas and Ngo though I think reporters that see the flames and say “Let’s check it out” might be a little off but their work is invaluable.

Rojas demonstrates a open and transparent journalist integrity with what he saw.

[Bill Zawrotny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. I wish we could figure out a way to bring as much attention to the 2020 riots (and their related death and destruction) as the media brought to the January 6 riot, which paled in comparison (both in property damage and deaths).

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read covers George Floyd riots and Jan 6. Progressives didn't mind burning of property as it was insured but book details how burning of properties does much more. A lot of properties burned were minority owned

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most objective eyewitness account of both the summer 2020 riots as well as Jan 6. Other than a great primary account of these riots, the author described the personal physical and emotional toll these riots took on him as a reporter on the ground. Very insightful book all around.

[O Nieto · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good, detailed account from someone on the ground during the 2020 riots in America and the Mainstream media’s part in it. A good short read that will take you no longer than a day to finish.