We live in world where wars take place far too commonly, and it’s not illegal. In America we have the “right to bear arms”…So we can legally have guns. But yet when people riot there seems to be the negative social connotation associated with this type of behavior. I’m not dealing with the cause of the riot specifically aside from it “appearing” to be that someone died due to injuries sustained while in the custody of law enforcement. But the “right wing” media outlets seem to be portraying a social narrative that the blacks rioting are merely “thugs” behaving in an anti-America fashion… However there were local reports of bloods and crips calling a truce in order to come together and protect the community… But the “right wing” medias “spin” was that the two rival gangs were coming together to join force against “law enforcements” I feel there may be some truth somewhere in between close to how the liberal media is treating aspects of this story.
“A riot is a form of civil disorder commonly characterized by a group lashing out in a violent public disturbance against authority, property or people. Riots typically involve vandalism and the destruction of property, public or private ” Even the definition of a riot clearly shows that it’s an “reactionary event”…meaning it is in response to something… and usually the reason is some form of civil injustice… In the case of these Baltimore Riots it clearly in response to a perceived social in justice. ALSO bare in mind in 1968 the Baltimore broke out into riots of the death of Martin Luther King, I suppose they to his quote “a riot is the language of the unheard”. Very interesting to consider this in the context of all that is happening. Past, present…and maybe future.
TimeLine
11:00 a.m. — The funeral for Freddie Gray is set to begin.
1:42 p.m. — The casket holding Freddie Gray’s body is loaded onto the hearse.
3:00 p.m. — A so-called flier from a local high school says that a “purge” is scheduled to start, according to the Baltimore Sun. The film “The Purge” is about a dystopian society in which crime is low in the United States because all laws are suspended for one 24-hour period every year.
3:30 p.m. — Dozens of police can be seen gathered on the streets of Baltimore.
3:34 p.m. — Protesters begin to confront riot police.
3:41 p.m. — CNN reports that protesters are beginning to throw bottles at police officers and journalists.
That is CNN’s Timeline if it is true it appear that is the presence of law enforcement that led to the “riots” as oppose to the people out “peacefully protesting”. I would also submit to you that I didn’t see as much coverage about this case until the rioting starting. It has brought the issue to the forefront of the public and the youth. It has been trending on twitter for close to 72 hours straight. Issues that raise social awareness about social and civil injustices are often spun as the lower sects of society behaving barbarically when it’s actually a case of very normal, educated people who are tired of being ignored and mourning lost loves ones with no justice in sight. I didn’t get as invested in this story until the rioting broke out and it became an issue I could no longer ignore.
If change is the desired outcome then unfortunately the means by which this change is brought about may not be a passive one. Most of the notable “protest” in civil rights history were organized by people who were very educated and were smart enough to know that we have to get out of our comfort zones and get out there and do something.
I can’t find you personal truth or give you my moral compass. All I can say that if we go to war for change, jail for murder… than there is clearly a more paradox that comes with taking a life. If the police commission couldn’t predict that suspending these offers with pay would lead to civil unrest and that if people are out “peacefully protesting” inserting the presence of law enforcement only inflames the situation. It almost appears that these riots were instigated to some degree to use the actions to push the “social narrative” that our community behaves like bafoons. Fighting authority is something that we sometimes paint as heroic and brave and other times as subversive and the refuge of the ignorant.
I don’t know the fully story all I know is that rioting happens when people feel wronged. Given all the stories “getting coverage” regarding police brutality against minority this Baltimore situation seems like a inevitable act on the road to more events like this.
