Why does it have to be one or the other? The cops that were injured today could be completely innocent and now they're paying the price. I completely agree the excessive use of force by SOME police officers is out of control, but burning buildings and attacking innocent people is not the answer.
Yes, answers...we could prosecute murderers who happen to wear police uniforms, instead of blaming the victims for looking a certain way (you know, black) for starters....
A whole fucking year of peaceful protests and we have an innocent black man DECAPITATED by the police. You tell me what the answer should be. If you answer, "I don't know." Or, "Not this." Then go sit down and shut up.
LOL The maturity of the last part of your response is not helping me taking your opinion seriously. At all. Was this man personally victimized by CVS? Or the neighborhood that's currently under attack by a bunch of cowards? No. I'm not saying there isn't a cause to be upset or angry, because there is. But stealing, looting, and taking selfies with destroyed police cars isn't going to change anything.
Blah blah blah, "I have no answer, so here let me bash your argument style."
A whole fucking year of peaceful protests and we have an innocent black man DECAPITATED by the police. You tell me what the answer should be. If you answer, "I don't know." Or, "Not this." Then go sit down and shut up.
LOL The maturity of the last part of your response is not helping me taking your opinion seriously. At all. Was this man personally victimized by CVS? Or the neighborhood that's currently under attack by a bunch of cowards? No. I'm not saying there isn't a cause to be upset or angry, because there is. But stealing, looting, and taking selfies with destroyed police cars isn't going to change anything.
Does this really bother you though? If your sensibilities were really this delicate, you would have been laid low by the everyday reality of life in these neighborhoods a long time ago. CVS will be ok, I promise.
LOL The maturity of the last part of your response is not helping me taking your opinion seriously. At all. Was this man personally victimized by CVS? Or the neighborhood that's currently under attack by a bunch of cowards? No. I'm not saying there isn't a cause to be upset or angry, because there is. But stealing, looting, and taking selfies with destroyed police cars isn't going to change anything.
Does this really bother you though? If your sensibilities were really this delicate, you would have been laid low by the everyday reality of life in these neighborhoods a long time ago. CVS will be ok, I promise.
I feel like the people who "don't understand how violent protests solve anything" are the same people who are really proud of the US for fighting off the yoke of the oppressive British in the 1700s.
"Brett, speaking only for myself, I agree with your point that the principle of peaceful, non-violent protest and the observance of the rule of law is of utmost importance in any society. MLK, Gandhi, Mandela and all great opposition leaders throughout history have always preached this precept. Further, it is critical that in any democracy, investigation must be completed and due process must be honored before any government or police members are judged responsible.
That said, my greater source of personal concern, outrage and sympathy beyond this particular case is focused neither upon one night’s property damage nor upon the acts, but is focused rather upon the past four-decade period during which an American political elite have shipped middle class and working class jobs away from Baltimore and cities and towns around the U.S. to third-world dictatorships like China and others, plunged tens of millions of good, hard-working Americans into economic devastation, and then followed that action around the nation by diminishing every American’s civil rights protections in order to control an unfairly impoverished population living under an ever-declining standard of living and suffering at the butt end of an ever-more militarized and aggressive surveillance state.
The innocent working families of all backgrounds whose lives and dreams have been cut short by excessive violence, surveillance, and other abuses of the Bill of Rights by government pay the true price, and ultimate price, and one that far exceeds the importances of any kids’ game played tonight, or ever, at Camden Yards. We need to keep in mind people are suffering and dying around the U.S., and while we are thankful no one was injured at Camden Yards, there is a far bigger picture for poor Americans in Baltimore and everywhere who don’t have jobs and are losing economic civil and legal rights, and this makes inconvenience at a ballgame irrelevant in light of the needless suffering government is inflicting upon ordinary Americans."
Full article: ftw.usatoday.com/2015/04/orioles-john-angelos-baltimore-protests-mlb
I want to hear police weigh in on all of this. I have nothing but respect for the profession, but I'm wondering why there haven't been people in the line of duty publicly saying that every group of people has it's share of people who give them a bad name, and that they believe that the police committing these atrocities should be prosecuted and not be allowed to hide behind their badges. I would be fucking furious if I was being associated with these other officers because we all carry a shield, and that they were making my job harder and breaking the laws that they swore to uphold. I think that hearing other officers say "This isn't okay and we want change just as much as everyone else" would go a long way.
LOL The maturity of the last part of your response is not helping me taking your opinion seriously. At all. Was this man personally victimized by CVS? Or the neighborhood that's currently under attack by a bunch of cowards? No. I'm not saying there isn't a cause to be upset or angry, because there is. But stealing, looting, and taking selfies with destroyed police cars isn't going to change anything.
Does this really bother you though? If your sensibilities were really this delicate, you would have been laid low by the everyday reality of life in these neighborhoods a long time ago. CVS will be ok, I promise.
I'm tired of people valuing property more than lives.
I think people don't understand the motivations and psychology behind rioting. These people aren't just being assholes, they're taking back what they feel is a total loss of control. They're directly confronting the system of law and order that has parlously failed them, time and time again. And while I don't condone the riots, I understand them, and understand that this reaction is not only expected, but sometimes necessary to jar a society out of a systemic problem.
This is the smart person way of saying that you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet. And people need a big freaking omelet. I don't want Baltimore to burn, but I really don't want black lives to not matter.
I want to hear police weigh in on all of this. I have nothing but respect for the profession, but I'm wondering why there haven't been people in the line of duty publicly saying that every group of people has it's share of people who give them a bad name, and that they believe that the police committing these atrocities should be prosecuted and not be allowed to hide behind their badges. I would be fucking floor if I was being associated with these other officers because we all carry a shield, and that they were making my job harder and breaking the laws that they swore to uphold. I think that hearing other officers say "This isn't okay and we want change just as much as everyone else" would go a long way.
You and me both. The only responses I've seen from a majority of the LEO I know have not made them seem like they're in this for public service, to say the least.
It's pretty disgusting.
I'm sure there have to be some good cops out there, but if they continue to let the bad cops get away with this shit... it kind of negates all the good.
Does this really bother you though? If your sensibilities were really this delicate, you would have been laid low by the everyday reality of life in these neighborhoods a long time ago. CVS will be ok, I promise.
I'm tired of people valuing property more than lives.Â
To me it's very telling that the people who are in here condemning the rioters uttered not a peep about the murder of Freddie Gray.
To be more upset about a CVS than a man (one of many) who was unjustly and brutally murdered by the police is really gross.
I want to hear police weigh in on all of this. I have nothing but respect for the profession, but I'm wondering why there haven't been people in the line of duty publicly saying that every group of people has it's share of people who give them a bad name, and that they believe that the police committing these atrocities should be prosecuted and not be allowed to hide behind their badges. I would be fucking floor if I was being associated with these other officers because we all carry a shield, and that they were making my job harder and breaking the laws that they swore to uphold. I think that hearing other officers say "This isn't okay and we want change just as much as everyone else" would go a long way.
You and me both. The only responses I've seen from a majority of the LEO I know have not made them seem like they're in this for public service, to say the least.
It's pretty disgusting.
I'm sure there have to be some good cops out there, but if they continue to let the bad cops get away with this shit... it kind of negates all the good.
I do believe that it takes a special person to go into a profession like law enforcement, but it just baffles me that officers aren't lining up to condemn the rogue people in their profession. Even in the case of Walter Scott, which is about as cut and dry as they come, I don't recall seeing statements from police. I just don't get it.
Two wrong don't make a right. Cutting a fire hose? Are you fucking kidding me? How would you feel if this was your backyard, you or your family going to work trying to protect people with their lives on the line? Have these rioters engaged in peaceful protest? Have they volunteered their time to those in their community? Have they written letters to their representatives? Voted? I doubt it.
I am not saying there has not been peaceful protests that have not been heard or underrepresented and oppressed people struggling. But in my opinion the type of people who loot a cvs and cut holes in a fire hose are not the same people who have protested through peaceful means. They are the ones calling for the rioters to stop.
The fuck? Why do you doubt it so much?
The thing is, it doesn't matter if a black man has voted or volunteered or has a fucking PhD...the fact that he is black gets him targeted and possibly killed in a MUCH larger percentage than any other population in the U.S.
I can tell you many a story of my friends and family being treated like shit, falsely arrested, etc by the virtue of their skin color. It mattered not one bit that they mentor young kids in their spare time and wrote their representative last week. Me and my cousin were once harassed by the cops and I said something along the lines of, "we're educated and have the means to legally take action against your wrongdoing" and the cop straight up laughed in my face. They don't care.
So yes, people are frustrated, angry and lighting stuff on fire because there does not seem to be an end in sight to this horribly racist and systematic problem.
I think what the police did to Freddie Gray was horrible. I believe that those involved should be punished severely.
However, I do not believe violent protest accomplish anything. Yes, the protesters are frustrated and weary, they should be allowed to protest and pursue justice for Mr. Gray and anyone else who is innocently murdered by the police. They should educate the public on these events, protest and fight (in the courts and legislature) for justice. Hell, we should all protest! But violence is not and never will be the answer.
Do you really think minorities haven't been "educating the public" for decades? In order to educate, someone has to listen. No one has been listening.
I think what the police did to Freddie Gray was horrible. I believe that those involved should be punished severely.
However, I do not believe violent protest accomplish anything. Yes, the protesters are frustrated and weary, they should be allowed to protest and pursue justice for Mr. Gray and anyone else who is innocently murdered by the police. They should educate the public on these events, protest and fight (in the courts and legislature) for justice. Hell, we should all protest! But violence is not and never will be the answer.
I'm going to ask again. We've had several decades of peaceful protests, and yet nothing has changed. Within the past year there have been non-stop peaceful protests.
What is your answer? Tell me. What is the answer when NOTHING works?
I mean, do people sincerely believe that after the 1960s everything was all hunky dory? "Thanks! That was all the education we needed regarding race relations!"
I mean, do people sincerely believe that after the 1960s everything was all hunky dory? "Thanks! That was all the education we needed regarding race relations!"
I'm going to ask again. We've had several decades of peaceful protests, and yet nothing has changed. Within the past year there have been non-stop peaceful protests.
What is your answer? Tell me. What is the answer when NOTHING works?
Violence doesn't work either. I believe 100% that the police in Baltimore murdered Mr. Gray. But, I don't believe that the riots of today and tonight are going to change anything for the better.
Did the rioting in Ferguson accomplish anything? Is Darren Wilson sitting in jail where he should be?
Actually yes. Pretty much the whole damn system has been exposed as being extremely corrupt. Many of the upper government officials have resigned. The whole town has been put under the review of the DOJ. Their entire judicial system is getting a top down overhaul.
Actually yes. Pretty much the whole damn system has been exposed as being extremely corrupt. Many of the upper government officials have resigned. The whole town has been put under the review of the DOJ. Their entire judicial system is getting a top down overhaul.
Soooooo... your point is?
Who knows, those same things might have been accomplished without burning Ferguson down too.
I am not the enemy. I am not sure why you are so hostile to me. I don't agree with you about riots. I guess we can agree to disagree.