Correct, anon, that's just a guess. Because after that happened, hate-mongers like Musk started a pogrom to burn down a bunch of unrelated people's houses. The act of violence you mentioned is not what got people rioting. Horrible crimes happen every day, after all.
Believe me when I say that as a white person, I'd much rather count some Sudanese immigrants as my neighbors than anyone in these lynch mobs.
That's like saying Gavrilo Princip started World war 1. Of course he played a part but the people owning media and influencing the public debate for their own political goals play a much bigger part.
I would also argue that the killing of George Floyd sparked the BLM riots, if that helps. But yes, I agree that media helps people become aware of these atrocities and certainly riles them up. But it’s not like pogroms didn’t happen before the internet.
I’m not sure you’ll read this because you made an obvious throwaway, but your action/comment is clearly not appropriate for a place like HN. And from the comments in general, it seems like maybe this article isn’t either.
But, you know, that’s just a guess.