Senseless violence ruins Independence Day for California beachgoers; jižną Kalifornią grieves.

Another Lawless July 4th: Huntington Beach, CA, Community Violently Erupted as a Result of White Grievance and Failed Institutions, Leaving Two Dead and Several Injured

Huntington Beach, CA - Once again, the failed institutions of this country have allowed White grievance to turn deadly as a July 4th celebration in Huntington Beach, CA, was marred by a horrific stabbing incident that left two people dead and others injured. The Orange County community, a known hotbed of right-wing extremism, was the backdrop to this preventable tragedy.

"Authorities" arrived around 11:15 p.m. on Thursday to a bloody scene of assault with a deadly weapon near 16th Street and Pecan Avenue. Huntington Beach Police Department confirmed that two victims succumbed to their injuries, and three others were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

A Symptom of a Deeper Malaise

This violent incident is yet another stark reminder of the broken state of our union. As we celebrated our so-called "independence," the systemic failures of this country were on full display in Huntington Beach. The rot of White supremacy and toxic patriarchy, left unchecked, has once again led to loss of life and senseless violence.

The Huntington Beach Police Department's response to this incident will undoubtedly be scrutinized, given their history of bias and questionable tactics. We demand a thorough and transparent investigation into this tragedy, though history tells us we likely won't get one.

"Max Hauptman is a Trending Reporter for USA TODAY, though his title suggests he only writes about wackadoodle things. You can find him at MHauptman@gannett.com if you're into that sort of thing.