Baltimore Riots Looting Protesters Freddy Gray - Protest Erupts In Chaos A Police Cars [RAW FOOTAGE]

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Not in a civilized society with a system in place to punish those who supposedly did wrong. This case is no different than Missouri or many of the other recent "uprisings" that we've seen. In these cases the justice system was never given the opportunity to work itself out. The rioting and looting happened first (not that there's ever an excuse for it). There were incidents of supposed wrongdoings followed by rioting and looting before there were any real facts known, any trial taken place or judgement handed down. This is not the way a civilized society operates and the people who are acting out are showing themselves to be no better if not worse than the people who committed the supposed wrongs they are rioting against.

A civilized society should not be discriminating against individuals, but yet and still it is done everyday. And for some people, you cannot count on justice to be carried out, in the proper manner, by the U.S. government.

I don't condone it either, but when you feel lost and you have no one to turn to, that hope turns to rage and anger.

[Teddy B 17,251]

I would like to have this conversation with you in PM if you really are interested in knowing why these things keep happening...

Not to be rude Marv, but I don't think that's necessary.

I'm pretty sure I know why it's happening, we talk about how the black community gets slighted at every turn on this board almost daily and I've seen you post this as the reasoning for the riots and looting many times. I am very steadfast on where I stand about this issue and there won't be any changng my mind. It doesn't matter to me what color the people are or what the reasoning is behind it, it is a total disregard for other humans, their businesses and the people they love. It's beyond wrong and there is no excuse for it. This unruly and animalistic behavior has made me think long and hard about getting a gun for protection of my household and the people in it, something I thought I'd never do. To me rioting/looting and the mob mentality is one of the lowest forms of human behavior and the punishment should be administered as such. I rank it right down at the bottom with pedophiles and rapists.

[JohnR! 5,495]

I understand and I agree with what you're saying, except that in a civilized society justice would not have needed to work itself out because said civilized society would not have to deal with certain types of injustice.

All I am saying is that all of us have a breaking point and I can see where certain segments of our society would have reached theirs.

What we do need is an open conversation. Welcome (back) to 1968...

Not in a civilized society with a system in place to punish those who supposedly did wrong. This case is no different than Missouri or many of the other recent "uprisings" that we've seen. In these cases the justice system was never given the opportunity to work itself out. The rioting and looting happened first (not that there's ever an excuse for it). There were incidents of supposed wrongdoings followed by rioting and looting before there were any real facts known, any trial taken place or judgement handed down. This is not the way a civilized society operates and the people who are acting out are showing themselves to be no better if not worse than the people who committed the supposed wrongs they are rioting against.

[Teddy B 17,251]

A civilized society should not be discriminating against individuals, but yet and still it is done everyday. And for some people, you cannot count on justice to be carried out, in the proper manner, by the U.S. government.

I don't condone it either, but when you feel lost and you have no one to turn to, that hope turns to rage and anger.

I understand and I agree with what you're saying, except that in a civilized society justice would not have needed to work itself out because said civilized society would not have to deal with certain types of injustice.

All I am saying is that all of us have a breaking point and I can see where certain segments of our society would have reached theirs.

What we do need is an open conversation. Welcome (back) to 1968...

There always has been and always will be injustices in this world, the answer to these injustices is not more injustice. There are no excuses for this behavior. This has nothing to do with a breaking point, this has to do with people acting like animals because they are being allowed to. I want to see the National Guard called in for cases like this and martial law put in place. Arrest anyone who gets out of line and charge them very harshly. You'd see these riots come to a very quick end.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Not to be rude Marv, but I don't think that's necessary.

I'm pretty sure I know why it's happening, we talk about how the black community gets slighted at every turn on this board almost daily and I've seen you post this as the reasoning for the riots and looting many times. I am very steadfast on where I stand about this issue and there won't be any changng my mind. It doesn't matter to me what color the people are or what the reasoning is behind it, it is a total disregard for other humans, their businesses and the people they love. It's beyond wrong and there is no excuse for it. This unruly and animalistic behavior has made me think long and hard about getting a gun for protection of my household and the people in it, something I thought I'd never do. To me rioting/looting and the mob mentality is one of the lowest forms of human behavior and the punishment should be administered as such. I rank it right down at the bottom with pedophiles and rapists.

This is why I wanted to have this in PM. My response is going to be blasted because of who I am, but here goes.

I don't condone looting or rioting. Period. But as Janelle and John has correctly pointed out, justice doesn't work for black people in this country as it should. There's a disturbing trend of black men being murdered and unarmed but white men with guns and have actually killed people are arrested without incident. And it's getting worse as the days go by. It's wrong to loot and destroy, but what's the proper response? How do you complain to the top when that's where it's coming from?

Personally, I would love to see people of all colors get together and march. Like the old days. But you're talking about years of this going on. How much more do we have to take? How many more men and women have to die before someone is held accountable? Do we keep blaming black people for our own death? What's the proper course of action? Can't wear hoodies, don't buy an expensive car, just lay down when a cop walks up and pray he doesn't shoot you if you sneeze?

We shouldn't have to ask to be treated fairly. It should come with the package. This whole we have to clean up our entire population in order to be treated as equals is unrealistic. As for injustices, when it's happening to a certain demographic consistently, there's a problem. That is what needs to be addressed. We shouldn't have to hear, that's just life. Want to stop looting and rioting? Re-train cops. Learn to tell the difference between a thug and some kid in a hoodie or a 52 year old man going home to see his grandkids.

Edited April 27, 2015 by Stay Woke

[VOL 425]

This has nothing to do with a breaking point, this has to do with people acting like animals because they are being allowed to. I want to see the National Guard called in for cases like this and martial law put in place. Arrest anyone who gets out of line and charge them very harshly. You'd see these riots come to a very quick end.

Agreed....

[yuna628 9,528]

Here's the thing; the city and the BPD has a long history of doing bad things to it's citizens they are sworn to protect and serve. It's easy to say that justice should be allowed to run it's course in Baltimore -- however citizens know from experience that they routinely not only let the bad guys walk out of prison with no charges filed, but when they do bring charges more often than not inner corruption bungles the case. That's not even getting into the smuggling, drugs, and prostitution corruption within the dept. Beyond that though, over the years citizens have lodged legitimate complaints against the BPD for Constitutional rights violations. Instead of ferreting out corrupt cops the city more often than not protected them, and swept charges under the rug by very large settlement payouts to the citizens harmed. Furthermore because of city codes that seek to protect the BPD and the council from embarrassment, winning claimants are not allowed to publically speak about what has been done to them, because then the city will sue them.

Stay Woke: the people of Baltimore are very diverse, many white persons walked alongside black persons in protest when they were heckled and attacked outside the stadium. A few persons from Morgan State went over to the businesses looted and offered to help clean up. But it is not immune to scenes like this. In the 60s many parts of Baltimore burned, even as whites and blacks marched together for equality. These days the inner city is laden with drugs, corruption, gangs, no education, and no hope. There are also still unfortunately racist elements that hang around. In the old days it used to be known as Mobtown, and they were entrenched in the dept, the BPD never lost that stigma especially when gangs essentially pushed in for territory. Things were very bad in the previous city administration, very bad indeed. The crackdowns came, and many abuses of power. Gangs continue to use this to their advantage.

If the BPD had acted appropriately outside of the stadium during that incitement, I think things would of been calmer.

[Teddy B 17,251]

This is why I wanted to have this in PM. My response is going to be blasted because of who I am, but here goes.

I don't condone looting or rioting. Period. But as Janelle and John has correctly pointed out, justice doesn't work for black people in this country as it should. There's a disturbing trend of black men being murdered and unarmed but white men with guns and have actually killed people are arrested without incident. And it's getting worse as the days go by. It's wrong to loot and destroy, but what's the proper response? How do you complain to the top when that's where it's coming from?

Personally, I would love to see people of all colors get together and march. Like the old days. But you're talking about years of this going on. How much more do we have to take? How many more men and women have to die before someone is held accountable? Do we keep blaming black people for our own death? What's the proper course of action? Can't wear hoodies, don't buy an expensive car, just lay down when a cop walks up and pray he doesn't shoot you if you sneeze?

We shouldn't have to ask to be treated fairly. It should come with the package. This whole we have to clean up our entire population in order to be treated as equals is unrealistic. As for injustices, when it's happening to a certain demographic consistently, there's a problem. That is what needs to be addressed. We shouldn't have to hear, that's just life. Want to stop looting and rioting? Re-train cops. Learn to tell the difference between a thug and some kid in a hoodie or a 52 year old man going home to see his grandkids.

The bold is where it ends for me Marv, there is no but to follow.

I get there are underlying issues that desperately need to be addressed. Rioting/looting only makes things worse and hurts more innocent, hard working people than it does anyone else. I will never claim to have all of the answers, but I can assure you that rioting/looting is definitely not one of them. It shouldn't even be in the discussion.

It seems to me that with the last few instances of rioting/looting we've had in this country that it has been the black community jumping the gun and wanting to instill their own brand of justice. They are wanting to be their own judge, jury and executioner. This is the same type of behavior that they claim they are the victims of and has them up in arms to begin with. It makes no sense.

[lostinblue 1,989]

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

The bold is where it ends for me Marv, there is no but to follow.

I get there are underlying issues that desperately need to be addressed. Rioting/looting only makes things worse and hurts more innocent, hard working people than it does anyone else. I will never claim to have all of the answers, but I can assure you that rioting/looting is definitely not one of them. It shouldn't even be in the discussion.

It seems to me that with the last few instances of rioting/looting we've had in this country that it has been the black community jumping the gun and wanting to instill their own brand of justice. They are wanting to be their own judge, jury and executioner. This is the same type of behavior that they claim they are the victims of and has them up in arms to begin with. It makes no sense.

No one is arguing saying that it is right. And it shouldn't be in the equation at all. Non violent protest IMO work better because you need white people on your side. They're the majority here. It's hard to gain empathy for your cause if you're tearing down places.

For your second piece, it's the ignorant minority of black people that's doing this. Not all of the black community is in on this. I hate looters more than I hate racists, they detract from the actual issue at hand.

[Teddy B 17,251]

No one is arguing saying that it is right. And it shouldn't be in the equation at all. Non violent protest IMO work better because you need white people on your side. They're the majority here. It's hard to gain empathy for your cause if you're tearing down places.

For your second piece, it's the ignorant minority of black people that's doing this. Not all of the black community is in on this. I hate looters more than I hate racists, they detract from the actual issue at hand.

We agree on these aspects 100%.

There were families from Boston who happened to be in Baltimore for the Red Sox/Orioles series over the weekend and they were being interviewed on the news. It was horrible watching these people explain how they were trying to get their young children and wives out of harms way and them being from out of town they didn't know where to go or what to do. I can very easily see someone I know and love getting caught up in this same scenario. This behavior should not be tolerated and to hear the Mayor of Baltimore talk about it as if it were second nature really makes one think about their safety.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

The bold is where it ends for me Marv, there is no but to follow.

I get there are underlying issues that desperately need to be addressed. Rioting/looting only makes things worse and hurts more innocent, hard working people than it does anyone else. I will never claim to have all of the answers, but I can assure you that rioting/looting is definitely not one of them. It shouldn't even be in the discussion.

It seems to me that with the last few instances of rioting/looting we've had in this country that it has been the black community jumping the gun and wanting to instill their own brand of justice. They are wanting to be their own judge, jury and executioner. This is the same type of behavior that they claim they are the victims of and has them up in arms to begin with. It makes no sense.

I'm in Texas. My community does not extend to Baltimore.

Again, what would you like to see happen when justice is denied to a certain community? Should the black who are not rioting suffer as well? When will white men be unfairly arrested and harassed for Colorado, Columbine, Eric, etc? It just won't happen.

Should I have to move to another country if I decided to have a little black boy because I am sacred for him to play in the park? Or should I deny him his first car because I am scared he will be profiled, pulled over and shot and someone will say he reached for his taser?

Huh?

No one is arguing saying that it is right. And it shouldn't be in the equation at all. Non violent protest IMO work better because you need white people on your side. They're the majority here. It's hard to gain empathy for your cause if you're tearing down places.

For your second piece, it's the ignorant minority of black people that's doing this. Not all of the black community is in on this. I hate looters more than I hate racists, they detract from the actual issue at hand.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

We agree on these aspects 100%.

There were families from Boston who happened to be in Baltimore for the Red Sox/Orioles series over the weekend and they were being interviewed on the news. It was horrible watching these people explain how they were trying to get their young children and wives out of harms way and them being from out of town they didn't know where to go or what to do. I can very easily see someone I know and love getting caught up in this same scenario. This behavior should not be tolerated and to hear the Mayor of Baltimore talk about it as if it were second nature really makes one think about their safety.

Trust me, being from STL, I had to call home every day to make sure all was well when I couldn't go home due to the travel ban they had there for the Michael Brown incident, I know the feeling. That was 3 minutes from my parents' house. My old boss lived right in the middle of that debacle and she was scared out of her mind. I knew if I moved back to the city and worked there, I would look to getting a firearm for my house.

[yuna628 9,528]

We agree on these aspects 100%.

There were families from Boston who happened to be in Baltimore for the Red Sox/Orioles series over the weekend and they were being interviewed on the news. It was horrible watching these people explain how they were trying to get their young children and wives out of harms way and them being from out of town they didn't know where to go or what to do. I can very easily see someone I know and love getting caught up in this same scenario. This behavior should not be tolerated and to hear the Mayor of Baltimore talk about it as if it were second nature really makes one think about their safety.

Sorry it's not safe. It never has been down there. And yes, that's exactly it.. it is like second nature. When you go downtown you do so at your own risk, yes even to go to a baseball game. That's why people gave up their homes and fled.

[Teddy B 17,251]

I'm in Texas. My community does not extend to Baltimore.

Again, what would you like to see happen when justice is denied to a certain community? Should the black who are not rioting suffer as well? When will white men be unfairly arrested and harassed for Colorado, Columbine, Eric, etc? It just won't happen.

Should I have to move to another country if I decided to have a little black boy because I am sacred for him to play in the park? Or should I deny him his first car because I am scared he will be profiled, pulled over and shot and someone will say he reached for his taser?

Huh?

Janelle, last pic I saw of you, you were still black, so until that changes you'll always be part of the black community, just as I will always be part of the white community. There is good and bad in all, nonetheless we are all still part of it. I really don't get why this needs to be clarified every time someone mentions "the black community". It's like there's some kind of stigma attached to it. When I say the words "black community" I am referring to black people in general, there are no racist undertones involved. It's simply a way of describing a large group of black people.

As I said, I don't have all of the answers, but peaceful protests and getting people to come together will go a lot further in helping any cause than rioting/looting ever will.