MD - Officers Injured, Baltimore Businesses Shut Down Amid Violent Riots - #2

[zencompass]

I understand that each person has his or her opinion. This is my own experience on this subject and as I respect others' opinions I also do value my own.

I live in a multicultural city. What I have observed and experienced in my lifetime where I live and in my many travels is that ethnic groups are treated differently. I have not only seen this but I have had many discussions with individuals about this who have different ethnic culture from my own and those with whom I share a common culture.

From Caucasians to Asians to African American to African to Aboriginal First Nations to Middle East and European cultures I have always, always seen one only one group who is always viewed with condescending attitudes, fear and distrust. This is the group of people from African countries or African Americans.

Until we have an honest and raw discussion about slavery - nothing will change.

There is a responsibility concerning the history of slavery and the utter disregard later shown to black individuals after that time. I believe it is the hard bit in our hearts that bother us so much about this and until we examine, truly examine this hard bit of truth, it will be almost impossible to shift the negative towards the positive.

I will always have hope and belief that positive changes can and will come. I will always believe in the human race to which we all belong. This is only my opinion but it is my truth.

 

[Elley Mae]

Despite a firm denial by Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, a senior law enforcement source charges that she gave an order for police to stand down as riots broke out Monday night, raising more questions about whether some of the violence and looting could have been prevented.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/04/29/source-baltimore-mayor-ordered-police-to-stand-down/

Asked directly if the mayor was the one who gave that order, the source said: "You are God damn right it was."


I believe she gave that order, she already lied about not saying she allowed them room to destroy. jmo idk But I do believe it.

 

[Elley Mae]

I hope she is called up in the future to have to answer to that. And for some reason I am thinking that she was told to have the police stand down. It will come out, watch and see. jmo idk

 

[shadowraiths]

The Brutality of Police Culture in Baltimore

What's crucial to understand, as Baltimore residents take to the streets in long-simmering frustration, is that their general grievances are valid regardless of how this case plays out. For as in Ferguson, where residents suffered through years of misconduct so egregious that most Americans could scarcely conceive of what was going on, the people of Baltimore are policed by an entity that perpetrates stunning abuses. The difference is that this time we needn't wait for a DOJ report to tell us so. Harrowing evidence has been presented. Yet America hasn't looked.

[...]

Victims include a 15-year-old boy riding a dirt bike, a 26-year-old pregnant accountant who had witnessed a beating, a 50-year-old woman selling church raffle tickets, a 65-year-old church deacon rolling a cigarette and an 87-year-old grandmother aiding her wounded grandson. Those cases detail a frightful human toll. Officers have battered dozens of residents who suffered broken bones — jaws, noses, arms, legs, ankles — head trauma, organ failure, and even death, coming during questionable arrests. Some residents were beaten while handcuffed; others were thrown to the pavement.​

​

The Atlantic

 

[CoolJ]

It seems that you are giving these people very little credit and minimizing their own abilities to recognize the need for change or improvement. And also downplaying their capabilities and potential. You seem to be saying they come from generations of addicts and low lives and can't do any better and it's not their fault. Is that helpful? I would rather EMPOWER them and remind them of their personal strengths and personal responsibilities. JMO

I agree with your statement here katy but I don't think that is what Tawny was saying.

How is calling them the T word and other inflammatory names and labels Empowering them?

 

[Elley Mae]

I am hearing on the radio (wnew) thinking it was the mayor and she said we know that they are planning protest this weekend and they are the same ones that were there when the pretest went from peaceful to a riot. WTH? How about just ay NO to the protest/riot. Don't people need a permit to protest? Deny the permit. jmo idk

 

[Sonya610]

Until we have an honest and raw discussion about slavery - nothing will change.

Are you aware of that fact that the "waifs" and criminals in England and Ireland were "given away" as slaves? Shipped to colonies around the world where most were worked to DEATH?

Do you really want to go into the history of slavery? Do you really want to discuss the fact that slavery was rampant in Sub-Saharan African and those slaves were freely traded which explains why it spawned a huge slave trade in the Middle East and Europe and the US?

If African chiefs hadn't been so very very willing to sell off slaves by the tens of thousands no Arab or European slave trader would have dared ventured into the heart of sub-saharan Africa to gather up slaves on their own. The deadly diseases and extreme violence in sub-saharan Africa kept foreigners from venturing in, they simply bought the slaves that were offered for sale, and a LOT were offered.

Yeah I don't think the mods want this thread to turn into a discussion regarding the "facts about slavery" so I will stop and let them sort it out.

 

[katydid23]

The Brutality of Police Culture in Baltimore

What's crucial to understand, as Baltimore residents take to the streets in long-simmering frustration, is that their general grievances are valid regardless of how this case plays out. For as in Ferguson, where residents suffered through years of misconduct so egregious that most Americans could scarcely conceive of what was going on, the people of Baltimore are policed by an entity that perpetrates stunning abuses. The difference is that this time we needn't wait for a DOJ report to tell us so. Harrowing evidence has been presented. Yet America hasn't looked.

[...]

Victims include a 15-year-old boy riding a dirt bike, a 26-year-old pregnant accountant who had witnessed a beating, a 50-year-old woman selling church raffle tickets, a 65-year-old church deacon rolling a cigarette and an 87-year-old grandmother aiding her wounded grandson. Those cases detail a frightful human toll. Officers have battered dozens of residents who suffered broken bones — jaws, noses, arms, legs, ankles — head trauma, organ failure, and even death, coming during questionable arrests. Some residents were beaten while handcuffed; others were thrown to the pavement.​

​

The Atlantic

and this:

http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2015/04/race-and-criminal-justice

It does not help, either, that Baltimore is one of the most dangerous cities in America. Its murder rate in 2013 was 37 per 100,000—worse than South Africa’s. In one week of June of that year, the city saw ten murders and 28 shootings among a population of just 622,000. Baltimore is a city where young black men are occasionally killed by the police—and where most days a young black man is murdered by another young black man.

To say that is not to excuse Baltimore’s police department, which has a history of extraordinary violence. But it seems relevant in analysing the problem that many African Americans have with the police. Many young black men resent cops who endlessly search them; who stop their cars and fine them; who treat them like criminals, not fellow citizens. But if you visit a police community meeting in a black neighbourhood, as your correspondent did in the south-east of Washington, DC recently, you discover that the middle-aged, middle-class black women who attend have a different problem. They complain that the police are not doing enough to stop violent crime.

 

[mysteriew]

Despite a firm denial by Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, a senior law enforcement source charges that she gave an order for police to stand down as riots broke out Monday night, raising more questions about whether some of the violence and looting could have been prevented.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/04/29/source-baltimore-mayor-ordered-police-to-stand-down/

Asked directly if the mayor was the one who gave that order, the source said: "You are God damn right it was."


I believe she gave that order, she already lied about not saying she allowed them room to destroy. jmo idk But I do believe it.

There is actually some circumstantial evidence to support that. According to the Govenor he had prepared the State of Emergency paperwork prior to the riot. He had put the NG on alert. He had attempted to make contact with the mayor several times and was unable to reach her. I believe that is connected.

To be fair (and also somewhat pointing to the mayor in a way) after the violence and destruction went so far overboard there was a look on the mayor's face. IMO she looked stunned. Like she didn't believe it could go so wrong.

I don't know if it was incompetantance or if was supposed to be a public shaming of the PD that went wrong. Either way the city has lost a lot both in money and esteem. And it was on her watch.

Also a reminder. Before all this happened they had intelligence that there were threats against the officers lives. Something she should have been aware of. And still hours went by after things got ugly..

 

[MissSunshine]

While the news is reporting everything is peaceful in Baltimore...

Shooting: 3800 block Liberty Heights. Man reported to be shot in the head. Homicide detectives called to the scene.

2:07pm*- 29 Apr 15

https://mobile.twitter.com/BaltimorePolice/status/593476777051299841

This is Baltimore. It is such a common occurence, it doesn't even make it on the news. I will probably never know his name, only will if he was related to someone important.

 

[Nana]

I wonder just how long it will take this town to rebuild?

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

It was already said by another poster that if whites come in to some of these truly down-trodden areas to help, that the blacks distrust them and basically don't take it seriously.

Well then, I ask...what can the black community do to further increase the *right* type of black leaders that are willing to put in the hard work to help? Not just throw money at a problem from far away. And by *right* type of leader, I mean those public volunteers that are doing it from the community's base and not some quasi-political ego driven *leaders* that come in from far away and swoop in for a few days. No, where are the ordinary citizens banding together to teach the children AND adults as to what being a responsible citizen may entail, and that there are opportunities for those that lead a responsible life - keeping their nose clean and out of trouble, getting a decent education, helping others, etc. Don't continue to have more children when you can't afford to feed, clothe, house and mentally/physically support the ones already in the household.

We know there are some small groups (usually faith based) that do that, but more are needed. But what also is needed is those needing the most help to understand that they have to want to work for it. It's possible....

In many ways, these teens are not always that different from other teens...it's a critical time in their life, where dropping out of school, or resorting to crime can and will impact your adult life...in this day and age, trying to steer kids on the right path isn't easy. It often does take the parent (or parental figure) to push to keep them that way!

We can blame the outside influences a lot, but so much really is personal choice...and the knowledge to not always pick the path of least resistance (which is drop out of school, drugs or other crimes, etc.) Who here stayed in school, or continued to college because they loved school? Some kids do, but some don't, but know they need to in order to have a chance at a better life.

IMO, many of these areas or race specific groups need to be more critical of who they elect as their *leaders* and question whether decades of following certain leaders has amounted to improvement. If not, why not? We have a higher population of Hispanics in my city area, but a large % is black. I see each of those races seem to confront their challenges differently. Different community resources supported by their own racial groups. We have LE and fire dept personnel in my household, so we see it in the different areas of the city. Kinda interesting, really.

I know that's rambling, for which I apologize.

 

[galiuro]

So if your kid is being a brat this means you can't call him a brat because um, well that's what he IS at that particular moment? Does this mean said brat will remain a brat the rest of his life because he has been called a brat?
The hands off behavior exhibited by the so called leaders of this community lead me to think that it is not merely the 'kids' who engaged in the t*** behavior but the adults as well. With leaders like this its no wonder nothing ever gets accomplished.

The behavior of a certain political party I used to call my own in this has seriously opened my eyes. I am completely unhappy about being thrown into the arms of the other party. There really is no party of law abiding, hard working Americans out there. I'd have zero problem if my own kids told me they were leaving for another country tomorrow...

 

[Nana]

Deputydawg so good to see you!

Was there a press conference at 2 today? I guess I missed it.

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

Howdy Nana, good to see you too!

I had my fill of pressers, so my TV is on a non-news channel and muted! Ha!

 

[galiuro]

I think using this particular group as a starting point for the 'have nots' is rather an exaggeration. Plenty of working 'have nots' who don't have rap sheets a mile long and don't resort to burning their own town down. Frankly I am a 'have not' who doesn't see burning my pharmacy down as any sort of answer to the problem...and I am pretty sure I am not alone in that.

 

[Wise Old Owl]

Just tuned in to the empty seat baseball game. How odd to watch - not a soul in any seat in that huge stadium

With that - I had a thought and wonder if anyone in authority discussed it.

Why didn't they offer to open the game up to the schools? Let the kids in to watch. I think that would have done wonders to help the community and city as a whole to heal. And the kids would have had a blast.

But maybe logistics and parameters wouldn't have allowed it - IDK. Just a thought that I had ........

 

[lonetraveler]

Thank you!!!

This is what I don't understand -- "your" community is a toilet with no commercialism, no jobs, high crime, poor education systems, abandoned houses, and you continue to elect the SAME people ?! And you continue to trash the area ?! But I guess if you don't own where you live, you have no skin in the game, so to speak . . .

What happened to taking responsibility for your community or even your SELF ?! I've seen many beautiful areas in StL City & North County turn into blighted messes in less than 25 yrs ! And the powers that be question "white flight" . . . no one focuses on the Root Cause & try to find solutions starting at the root

Thank you for your post. Elected officials aren't held accountable for their lack of any progress in their areas. They are instead elected year after year to do the very same thing each year....which is nothing. They are career politicians and the same people just keep electing them without ever questioning why they are in the same situation this year as decades before.

 

[katydid23]

OH MY. MSNBC is interviewing a 'member of the BLOODS gang' and treating him like a celebrity. Oh how wonderful--he was befriending the CRIPS and 'protecting' the police line. I call BS on that. Gangs are full of vicious bloodthirsty criminals. They exploit the community by dealing addictive poison and robbing and carjacking.

' there was a time when gangs were part of the problem--but now we are PART OF THE SOLUTION.' uke:

Ya right, let's turn the future of Baltimore over to the gangs. Great plan. :facepalm:

 

[katydid23]

Just tuned in to the empty seat baseball game. How odd to watch - not a soul in any seat in that huge stadium

With that - I had a thought and wonder if anyone in authority discussed it.

Why didn't they offer to open the game up to the schools? Let the kids in to watch. I think that would have done wonders to help the community and city as a whole to heal. And the kids would have had a blast.

But maybe logistics and parameters wouldn't have allowed it - IDK. Just a thought that I had ........

That would have been a great idea. And they could have let in off duty cops and veterans to hang with the school kids. jmo