I know this is late, but I think this deserves a thread.

What are you all's thoughts?

I posted about a little about this in the thread about a woman stopping her son from rioting already, so here's the Cliff Notes version:

I am about an hour and a half or two hours south from both Baltimore and DC. I have friends who live/work in and around Baltimore, one of whom is a friend of mine from college. Except for when she was on campus for school, she's lived in Baltimore her whole life. There were stores/buildings on her street that were destroyed. I mourn the loss of Freddie Gray and understand the anger/frustration at the police officers who were there when he died, but it's one thing to protest. It's another to turn to looting and violence.

I just want to see the city find some peace, and luckily it seems like some peace has come already since the clean up began today. I don't know how the curfew is going to go, or what will happen once it's lifted, but I'm trying to focus on hope. This isn't just about Baltimore, this is about the entire state of Maryland (well, really the entire country, but you get my point).

The murder in North Charleston, SC was just as tragic, but I think Baltimore being the (much) larger city made things worse.

One Maryland. Pray For Baltimore. We'll get through this.

Thinking of you, Nate, and everyone else here from Maryland, including SFK and Marco Dane.

Edited April 29, 201510 yr by MissLlanviewPA

Just wait until summer. Things will really pop off then. The only question is where.

Just another event that showcases how some folks are living in a completely different America than others. If I see the words "it's just my opinion" attached to an ignorant statement again I will scream. It's just another way to say "It's how I feel despite MOUNTAINS of evidence on the topic that I choose to ignore but felt the need to open my mouth anyway"

And they keep referencing "black on black crime" and "gang violence". How did drugs and Ak-47's get into ghettos in the first place? Why do ghettos exist anyway? *cough*TheGovernment*cough*

The other one that kills me is when they see "If you don't like it here in America then leave"

Ta-Nahesi Coates covered my feelings very well.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/04/nonviolence-as-compliance/391640/

When nonviolence is preached as an attempt to evade the repercussions of political brutality, it betrays itself. When nonviolence begins halfway through the war with the aggressor calling time out, it exposes itself as a ruse. When nonviolence is preached by the representatives of the state, while the state doles out heaps of violence to its citizens, it reveals itself to be a con. And none of this can mean that rioting or violence is "correct" or "wise," any more than a forest fire can be "correct" or "wise." Wisdom isn't the point tonight. Disrespect is. In this case, disrespect for the hollow law and failed order that so regularly disrespects the community.

Edited April 29, 201510 yr by marceline

My thoughts are alway the same: until someone can explain how robbing a drugstore or an electronics store is in any way a statement demanding civil rights looters should be shot on sight.

Geez.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/should-cleveland-burn-like-baltimore-fail

Geez.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/should-cleveland-burn-like-baltimore-fail

That's my city. They're already having meetings to figure out what to do when our killer cop goes free.

That's my city. They're already having meetings to figure out what to do when our killer cop goes free.

Tamir Rice? What's the status of that case?

No, not Tamir Rice. This is a different killer cop: Michael Brelo. This is one who killed two unarmed people by standing on the hood of their car and firing.

The cops who killed Tamir Rice are still working, just not on the street. I'm sure they'll be getting their pass later in the summer.

No, not Tamir Rice. This is a different killer cop: Michael Brelo. This is one who killed two unarmed people by standing on the hood of their car and firing.

The cops who killed Tamir Rice are still working, just not on the street. I'm sure they'll be getting their pass later in the summer.

Oh yeah I remember this as well. SMH.

There's a demonstration here in Philly later on today. If I didn't have a train to catch, I'd join them.

Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby just announced earlier today that all six BPD police officers involved in arresting Freddie Gray have been charged.

The full list of charges are here:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-freddie-gray-mosby-presser-0502-20150501-story.html#page=1

Edited May 1, 201510 yr by MissLlanviewPA

My thoughts are alway the same: until someone can explain how robbing a drugstore or an electronics store is in any way a statement demanding civil rights looters should be shot on sight.

Looting has nothing to do with protesting any more than vandalism being part of street celebrations of any sports team's victory. Some people just like to take advantage of public assemblies to make trouble.

Whether or not one agrees with the right to protest or even the subject of the protest, vandalism and looting generally distract from peaceful protests to the extent that the message can get ignored.

Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby just announced earlier today that all six BPD police officers involved in arresting Freddie Gray have been charged.

The full list of charges are here:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-freddie-gray-mosby-presser-0502-20150501-story.html#page=1

I honestly didn't think that would happen.