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Baltimore Residents Begin Clearing Debris After Night of Riots

nytimes.com

31–40 of 110 posts

Re: Baltimore Residents Begin Clearing Debris After Night of Riots

#31
FWIW, David Simon's response: http://davidsimon.com/baltimore/

> Yes, there is a lot to be argued, debated, addressed. And this moment, as inevitable as it has sometimes seemed, can still, in the end, prove transformational, if not redemptive for our city. Changes are necessary and voices need to be heard. All of that is true and all of that is still possible, despite what is now loose in the streets.

> But now — in this moment — the anger and the selfishness and the brutality of those claiming the right to violence in Freddie Gray’s name needs to cease. There was real power and potential in the peaceful protests that spoke in Mr. Gray’s name initially, and there was real unity at his homegoing today. But this, now, in the streets, is an affront to that man’s memory and a dimunition of the absolute moral lesson that underlies his unnecessary death.

> If you can’t seek redress and demand reform without a brick in your hand, you risk losing this moment for all of us in Baltimore. Turn around. Go home. Please.

Re: Baltimore Residents Begin Clearing Debris After Night of Riots

#32
post #7

This is what happens when you have an above the law police force that preys on entire neighborhoods that feel like they have been cast aside.

This is what happens when you have populations that think they are above the law, and that prey on other citizens that aren't like them (FTFY)

Re: Baltimore Residents Begin Clearing Debris After Night of Riots

#33
post #9

It's unfortunate that it had to come to this, but I believe the rioters were justified in their actions. If the police departments in the United States do not account for their actions, or worse, defend officers that have committed acts that show an indiscriminate disregard for the well being of those they're sworn to protect, they should be prepared to face violent resistance from the people.

There is no justification for this kind of violence. And it's not even directed against law enforcement.

Further more, in the near future it will be used as an excuse to further militarize the police, increase its budgets and reduce civil liberties even more - think Camden, NJ where drug traffic is an excuse to discourage white people to walk and black people to sit on street corners (VICE S02E12).

Re: Baltimore Residents Begin Clearing Debris After Night of Riots

#34
post #3

My wife and I live in Baltimore, in Mt. Vernon. We were having dinner the other night in Bolton Hill (a quiet residential area), and four guys ran by the restaurant and tried to throw a chair through the window (chairs turned out to be heavier than they thought). People vandalized the Rite-Aid a few blocks from our apartment, and set fire to a building we could see out our window. Being from Bangladesh I'm not worrie…

[deleted]

Re: Baltimore Residents Begin Clearing Debris After Night of Riots

#35
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Were the police justified when they beat an unarmed suspect and denied him medical attention that would have saved his life? Were they justified when they refused to bring those responsible to justice?

Ah, I see you are advocating a new system where injustices are answered with further injustices.

A new system? This is how society has been since time immemorial. It is the basis of our capital punishment system.

People only point it out as being some sort of new phenomenon when minorities are the ones lashing out.

Re: Baltimore Residents Begin Clearing Debris After Night of Riots

#36
post #18
post #11

Another great opportunity for effective protest lost.

People have been protesting peacefully in Baltimore all last week with 0 answers from the police or elected officials. No media was talking about it, there was no Freddie Gray thread on hackernews, but now the whole world is talking about it.

There is a specific guideline against mainstream politics and crime stories on HN.

Re: Baltimore Residents Begin Clearing Debris After Night of Riots

#37
post #7

This is what happens when you have an above the law police force that preys on entire neighborhoods that feel like they have been cast aside.

There's an article in the Atlantic[1] that explains that there have been a good deal of civil cases settled for police brutality and racism, but none of the perpetrators have been charged. It seems to me that there is no reason for a person to die in custody, but right now, the people in charge of Baltimore don't have an explanation of how Freddy Gray died.

[1] http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/04/nonviole...

Re: Baltimore Residents Begin Clearing Debris After Night of Riots

#38
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sometimes vandalism is faked, created in order to generate propaganda images: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/why-were-police-...

And sometimes it's deemed "sports fans taking to the streets". http://mic.com/articles/116680/11-stunning-images-highlight-...

That list is misleading. One of the items is the Vancouver hockey riot in 2011. It was definitely called a riot at the time, and two years later they were still prosecuting the offenders. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/vpd-rec...

Re: Baltimore Residents Begin Clearing Debris After Night of Riots

#39
post #7

This is what happens when you have an above the law police force that preys on entire neighborhoods that feel like they have been cast aside.

This is what happens when you have populations that think they are above the law, and that prey on other citizens that aren't like them (FTFY)

you can't even stand behind your own comments.

Re: Baltimore Residents Begin Clearing Debris After Night of Riots

#40
post #34
post #3

My wife and I live in Baltimore, in Mt. Vernon. We were having dinner the other night in Bolton Hill (a quiet residential area), and four guys ran by the restaurant and tried to throw a chair through the window (chairs turned out to be heavier than they thought). People vandalized the Rite-Aid a few blocks from our apartment, and set fire to a building we could see out our window. Being from Bangladesh I'm not worrie…

[deleted]

Edit: The original was deleted so I'm removing mine.
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