Baltimore getting ugly

[gotbeer]

Tuesday's games cancelled.  

[mtangelsfan]

I enjoyed the video of the mom beating the crap out of her son.

 

It's easy to point the fingers at the rioters...and even some of the decisions by the local government.

 

Unfortunately that doesn't really address some of the underlying issues...a recent Baltimore Sun report highlights just how out of control the local police force is in that city.

 

http://data.baltimoresun.com/news/police-settlements/

 

 

Over the past four years, more than 100 people have won court judgments or settlements related to allegations of brutality and civil rights violations. 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.

And in almost every case, prosecutors or judges dismissed the charges against the victims — if charges were filed at all. In an incident that drew headlines recently, charges against a South Baltimore man were dropped after a video showed an officer repeatedly punching him — a beating that led the police commissioner to say he was “shocked.”

Such beatings, in which the victims are most often African-Americans, carry a hefty cost. They can poison relationships between police and the community, limiting cooperation in the fight against crime, the mayor and police officials say. They also divert money in the city budget — the $5.7 million in taxpayer funds paid out since January 2011 would cover the price of a state-of-the-art rec center or renovations at more than 30 playgrounds. And that doesn’t count the $5.8 million spent by the city on legal fees to defend these claims brought against police.

 

 

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

 

 

I don't agree with all of Mr. Coates statement here...but it offers something to think about

 

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.

 

Except they are fighting the wrong people.  This is why rioting is so bad.  It is also why it rarely accomplishes whatever goal was originally meant.

 

History shows that peaceful movements accomplish more or at least fighting against the actualy forces that are hurting them.

[fan_since79]

LOL at the Baltimore mayor calling on people to destroy her city.

 

She should resign immediately.

Edited April 28, 2015 by fan_since79

[mtangelsfan]

LOL at the Baltimore mayor calling on people to destroy her city.

 

She should resign immediately.

 

Come on, her comment was stupid but that is miles away from what she actually said.

 

Geez.

[gotbeer]

I enjoyed the video of the mom beating the crap out of her son.

 

 

 

Mod Note:  Mom drops the f-bomb about every 5 seconds. NSFW or watch with speakers low or off.

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q16QY7xtCnw

Edited April 28, 2015 by Geoff

[Jay]

Child abuse!

[TobiasFunke]

[Tank]

i'm always troubled by protests that turn into destruction of neighborhoods and property. it's hard to see any logic or reason to it.

 

otoh, if their anger is against the police, you don't want a situation where citizens engage in all-out combat against law enforcement. it'd literally be war. 

 

so what's the happy medium in these cases? how do you get your voice heard and support for your cause in these situations?

[Jay]

i'm always troubled by protests that turn into destruction of neighborhoods and property. it's hard to see any logic or reason to it.

 

otoh, if their anger is against the police, you don't want a situation where citizens engage in all-out combat against law enforcement. it'd literally be war. 

 

so what's the happy medium in these cases? how do you get your voice heard and support for your cause in these situations?

 

You elect an African-American city government.  Wait...

[mrwicked]

classy populace.

 

[Hollyw00d]

Who the hell would overturn a golf cart

[Catwhoshatinthehat]

There's no happy medium because as has been discussed before when rioting happens the people doing the looting and destroying are pretty much just looking for a reason to act like idiots.  Unfortunately for those who want to do something constructive or try to bring about change they're overshadowed by the idiots.   

[fan_since79]

They're destroying the same neighborhoods they destroyed in 1968. Goodbye to any hope of economic progress for the black community there.

 

Stupid in the extreme.

[Tank]

i applaud the mom who smacked her kid for doing stupid things, and i really appreciate the older vietnam vet who stood in the street yelling at the kids to go home. there need to be more people standing up like this, which is admittedly a very difficult thing to do.

[Crampknees]

oh snap

 

[Tank]

these are the times when i'd like to see jesse and al show up and try to use their influence to calm the crowds and channel their anger towards more constructive things.

 

but it'll never happen, and that's just as sad as watching baltimore destroy itself.

[fan_since79]

oh snap

 

If ISIS had their way, she'd be wearing a burka...or worse.

[Crampknees]

fan, I left you that bread crumb.  Was surprised you didn't get to it first. The whole thing does seem weird to me though. 

[LBHalos17]

i'm always troubled by protests that turn into destruction of neighborhoods and property. it's hard to see any logic or reason to it.

 

otoh, if their anger is against the police, you don't want a situation where citizens engage in all-out combat against law enforcement. it'd literally be war. 

 

so what's the happy medium in these cases? how do you get your voice heard and support for your cause in these situations?

First-off, the Balrimore PD and City have to share a lot of the blame for this rioting breaking-out.  They failed to get-out in front of the story, in cooperation with those they serve.  They also failed to properly prepare for the possibility/probability of civil-unrest; it looked like the Rodney King riots all over again regarding the in-action of Police.

 

Commish Batts was previously Chief in Long Beach and Oakland.  He's seen unrest/rioting like this before, and he's very familiar with how protests turn very quickly.  We were well-prepared for our "May-Day" riot with the anarchists years ago, and ended it rather quickly.  He said today that he held his Officers back (and had them retreating), because the rioters were juveniles...  Pure cop-out.

 

Policing in this country is still being run by old-school Cops (Administrators, now really), who are sticking to the old ways of us vs. them.  It's slowly getting better, but it is a battle within to change that mindset.  In LB, I believe we're ahead of the curve.  Our Chiefs/ Dep. Chiefs have stepped-up to speak to protest leaders to inform them of laws and Municipal codes, and to better coordinate and understand the groups' needs.

 

I believe our Chiefs have sought-out family-members of those who have been killed or injured by Officers in an attempt to find compassionate understanding.  They also try to respond to family and community concerns regarding incidents a lot more quickly than before.

 

As far as the Baltimore issue, I think the family, friends, and community of Freddie Gray have the right to be included in the investigation.  They should have representatives knocking on Batts' door everyday, demanding a thorough/fair investigation.  These invests should not be rushed, but the more that family and community feel like they are included in the process, the less-likely rioting becomes.

[Redondo]

In midst of rioting that tore Baltimore

apart, an order to — stand down?

 

DESPITE A FIRM DENIAL by Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, a senior law enforcement source tells Fox News 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.

[Don]

Interesting interview with David Simon, creator of The Wire, published today. Gets to the roots of some issues between the people of Baltimore and the police that go back more than a generation.

http://www.vice.com/read/david-simon-talks-about-where-the-baltimore-police-went-wrong-429

Edited April 30, 2015 by Don

[LBHalos17]

Interesting interview with David Simon, creator of The Wire, published today. Gets to the roots of some issues between the people of Baltimore and the police that go back more than a generation.

http://www.vice.com/read/david-simon-talks-about-where-the-baltimore-police-went-wrong-429

Yeah, that's a pretty clear violation of civil rights to declare a "drug-free zone" like they did.  I'm not surprised to hear about the Black Officers being the more aggressive and violent tho.  They may be taking things personally, because of possibly seeing their own neighborhoods being overrun, or being called "sell-out" once too often.

 

So, the Baltimore DA's office handed-down indictments today against the 6 Officers involved in Mr. Gray's death.  The ruling included un-lawful arrest, homicide, and manslaughter.

 

I think it's a little premature to have filed charges by their office since none of the investigations have been completed, but in this environment of violence in Baltimore it is probably a good thing for it to go to trial.

[mp170.6]

Does anyone think the Baltimore DA screwed up by over-prosecuting the officers?

 

The driver of the van got murder plus separate "manslaughter by vehicle" charges.  How did THREE more officers get charged with manslaughter if they weren't driving?  How did all six officers get charged with 2nd degree assault -- were all six officers in the van?  

 

I'm not defending the officers' actions by any means.  Far from it.  I just have a feeling the case will fall apart at the top leading to a ripple effect where the officers walk away with misdemeanor/probation, and nothing more. 

 

 

 

Officer Garrett E. Miller

1) Assault/second degree (10 yrs.)
2) Assault/second degree (10 yrs,)
3) Misconduct in office (8th Amendment*)
4) Misconduct in office (8th Amendment*)
5) False imprisonment (8th Amendment*)

Sgt. Alicia D. White

1) Manslaughter (involuntary) (10 yrs.)
2) Assault/second degree (10 yrs.)
3) Misconduct in office (8th Amendment*)

Officer Caesar R. Goodson Jr.

1) Second degree depraved heart murder (30 yrs.)
2) Manslaughter (involuntary) (10 yrs.)
3) Assault/second degree (10 yrs.)
4) Manslaughter by vehicle (gross negligence) (10 yrs.)
5) Manslaughter by vehicle (criminal negligence) (3 yrs.)
6) Misconduct in office (8th Amendment* )

Officer William G. Porter

1) Manslaughter (involuntary) (10 yrs.)
2) Assault/second degree (10 yrs.)
3) Misconduct in office (8th Amendment*)

Lt. Brian W. Rice

1) Manslaughter (involuntary) (10 yrs.)
2) Assault/second degree (10 yrs.)
3) Assault/second degree (10 yrs.)
4) Misconduct in office (8th Amendment*)
5) Misconduct in office (8th Amendment*)
6) False imprisonment (8th Amendment*)

Officer Edward M. Nero

1) Assault/second degree (10 yrs.)
2) Assault/second degree (10 yrs.)
3) Misconduct in office (8th Amendment*)
4) Misconduct in office (8th Amendment* )
5) False imprisonment (8th Amendment*)

*Any sentence that does not constitute cruel & unusual punishment

[mtangelsfan]

This is pretty much how things go though.  They toss out multiple charges and then hope to get some kind of deal done before trial where most of the charges go away.

[mp170.6]

This is pretty much how things go though.  They toss out multiple charges and then hope to get some kind of deal done before trial where most of the charges go away.

 

Baltimore is going to have rioting again when the judge at the preliminary hearing (or whatever Maryland calls it) tosses out half the charges.