President Obama’s Monday night speech on the grand jury decision in Ferguson, Mo., was completely ignored by the arsonists, rioters and looters who took charge there that night. It was almost jarring to watch the president call for calm on one side of the split screen while scenes of the burgeoning riot played on the other.

“Those of you who are watching tonight,” Obama said, “understand that there’s never an excuse for violence, particularly when there are a lot of people of good will out there who are willing to work on these issues.”